Parking spaces in a strata environment are always a touchy subject. Every building is different, so the parking rules and the number of available spaces are always varied. For example, an apartment building may have underground parking or secure areas that can’t be accessed without a key card. However, it’s visitor parking that is most often abused.
It’s important to remember that both visitors and residents have been known to abuse visitor parking. It could be a resident using a visitor spot because it’s more convenient, or a visitor leaving their car parked for an unacceptable amount of time.
Here are some of the things you can do about visitor parking abuse.
Use clear parking signs
The most obvious way to deal with visitor parking abuse is to ensure that all parking areas are clearly signposted. Most strata properties will already have these in place, but it’s worth checking before you take any further action. Old signs may have become damaged or difficult to read, in which case they should be replaced.
Ensure your signs are easy to read with clear messages, such as ‘Visitor Parking Only’ or ‘Visitor Parking – 2 Hour Limit’. If you’ve never had signs before, it’s a good idea to communicate with all owners and residents that parking rules will now be enforced.
Include visitor parking time limits in your by-laws
Not all strata by-laws include specific details about visitor parking. If yours don’t, it’s worth raising the matter with your committee or at the next General Meeting. By-laws can be amended to include time limits for visitor parking spaces or any rules that may help you manage the problem. In the case that residents have overnight guests, you may want to consider a policy that allows a vehicle to stay for one night only, with time limits enforced during the day.
Serve the offending vehicle with a notice to comply
If parking abuse still occurs, you may need to issue the offending vehicle with a notice to comply. This notice advises that the car’s owner is in breach of the by-laws, and if they don’t comply by moving their vehicle, the matter can be referred to an appeals tribunal. This can result in significant penalties for the offender.
Install parking bollards
Yes, there is an upfront cost to install bollards but they are very effective against people parking in spaces that they shouldn’t. There are many types of parking bollards from manual barriers to automatic Bluetooth enabled versions to suit different budgets.
Tow the car
If nothing else works, or if a car appears to be abandoned, you may be able to have the vehicle towed after satisfying set criteria. Before towing, you’ll need to place a removal notice on the car. This notice needs to be A4 size and protected from the weather (but still visible to the owner). The notice must state that the vehicle will be removed after five days, and also include details of who the owner can contact (i.e. the strata manager or Owners Corporation).
Looking for help with strata management?
If you need assistance with strata management, More Than Strata is happy to help. We’re experts in managing strata schemes on behalf of Owners Corporations, offering our time, skills and experience to help your strata community flourish. Contact our friendly team today and find out how we can help.
