NSW: Best Way to Solve Resident Parking Problems in Your Apartment Building

This article is about the best way to solve resident parking problems in your NSW apartment building.

Table of Contents:

• QUESTION: Do my strata committee members have a say about whether I allow my neighbours to use my parking space while I’m away?
• QUESTION: Residents in our building regularly use our visitor parking. There is no fairness in the system. Is there a way to restrict access to visitor parking? Is there a similar system that controls access to common area EV chargers?
• QUESTION: My elderly mother has a mobility aid. If we stop at the front of her unit on common property to for pick up and drop off, is this a breach of bylaws?
• QUESTION: Are there any parking laws preventing residents from parking 2 cars in a single car space?
• QUESTION: Years ago our OC verbally agreed to residents parking on common property in front of their garages. Recently, they’ve issued a notice stating residents must not park on common property in visitor parking and the turning bay. Can the OC create different rules for different areas of common property?
• QUESTION: Our building has recently installed a license plate reader system and we have a few questions.
• QUESTION: To help solve our resident parking problems, we would like to convert a visitor car park into a unit car space. Our strata manager tells us we can do this without having to comply with our development consent. Is this correct?
• QUESTION: Strata residents are parking in front of their townhouses. This causes common property roads and pedestrian paths to be blocked. How can I get parking rules implemented and enforced?
• QUESTION: My apartment building is solving parking problems by enforcing the rules. I’m happy to get this sorted, however, one of the strata community members uses the visitor parking whenever they want.
• QUESTION: To solve parking problems in our apartment building how do we identify the vehicle owner? Can we require residents to provide their vehicle details?
• ARTICLE: What is the best way to solve resident parking problems in an apartment building?

Question: Do my strata committee members have a say about whether I allow my neighbours to use my parking space while I’m away?

Answer: The strata committee does not have a say in who you allow to park in your parking space while you are away.

The short answer is no. The strata committee does not have a say in who you allow to park in your parking space while you are away.

If the parking space is part of your lot, or a separate lot which you own, it is your property and you can allow your neighbour to use your parking space.

If your use of the parking space is granted by way of an exclusive use by-law, you have the exclusive use of the parking space and can permit your neighbours to use it whilst you are away. The strata committee does not have a say in this unless the by-law provides otherwise, however I would be surprised if the by-law would provide for this.

If the parking space is a common property parking space with no by-law, you may have been granted written consent to park in that space under the model by-law regarding parking. If this is the case, you have been permitted to park there and you cannot allow your neighbour to park in the space unless they have the written consent from the owners corporation, following a resolution of either the strata committee or owners corporation.

Matthew Jenkins
Bannermans Lawyers
E: enquiries@bannermans.com.au
P: 02 9929 0226

This post appears in the December 2023 edition of The NSW Strata Magazine.

Question: Residents in our building regularly use our visitor parking. There is no fairness in the system. Is there a way to restrict access to visitor parking? Is there a similar system that controls access to common area EV chargers?

Answer: You can solve access to visitor parking spot and EV charging station easily by using software in conjunction with digital bollards.

For visitor spots and EV charging stations, you can solve this problem easily using a platform such as MiMOR in conjunction with digital bollards. There are quite a few companies supplying digital bollards. Residents can book a visitor parking spot. It’s the same as booking a common area such as the theatre room or rooftop BBQ area.

When the person with the booking approaches the visitor parking during their booked time, an app will show which space is booked and the driver needs only press a button to activate the removal of the bollard.

The process works the same for EV charging stations. If you install bollards in the EV charging station spots, a resident can book an EV charging station for a set time and, via an app, deactivate the bollard to gain access to the charger.

Jake Sharp
MiMOR
E: jake@mimor.com.au
T: 1300 064 667

This post appears in the April 2023 edition of The NSW Strata Magazine.

Question: My elderly mother has a mobility aid. If we stop at the front of her unit on common property to for pick up and drop off, is this a breach of bylaws?

My elderly mother lives in the block of 4 townhouses and has a mobility aid.

When we pick her up in the car, we park in front of her unit’s front door in the common driveway for approximately 1 minute pick up and drop off.

Is this allowed or is it a breach of the parking bylaw?

Answer: Although technically a breach, it would be appropriate to obtain written approval from the Owners Corporation.

Normally, Owners Corporation of a strata plan would have a parking by-law in place. Please refer to your plan’s by-laws for details.

In most cases, the parking by-law would restrict occupiers from parking in the common areas without written approval of the Owners Corporation. Technically it is a breach of by-law by parking at the common driveway without written approval from Owners Corporation. It would be appropriate to obtain written approval from the Owners Corporation to allow you to kiss and ride since you have reasonable grounds for the application. You can send a request that your strata manager assists you. 

Rick Chang
Australian Strata Management
E: rchang@deewhy.asmstrata.com.au
P: 02 940 155 05

This post appears in Strata News #578.

Question: Are there any parking laws preventing residents from parking 2 cars in a single car space?

Are there any parking laws to stop 2 cars from being parked in a space for 1 car.

New neighbours moved in and are parking 2 cars in their 1 car space. This leaves my car at risk of being scratched due to access problems. I have to park my car right up close to the wall and it makes it hard for my children to get in and out of the vehicle.

Answer: If your neighbours are causing you a nuisance, you could make an application to NCAT.

Your neighbours are causing you a nuisance in breach of the Strata Schemes Management Act, 2015 (NSW) – see Section 153 Owners, occupiers and other persons not to create nuisance. You could make application to NCAT for orders that your neighbours refrain from parking more than one car in their car space (attempted mediation is a precursor).

Initially, we would recommend you ask your neighbours to exercise more consideration, and, if they persist, you could seek the involvement of your strata manager if the cars protrude outside the line markings of the car spaces.

153 Owners, occupiers and other persons not to create nuisance

1. An owner, mortgagee or covenant chargee in possession, tenant or occupier of a lot in a strata scheme must not:
   
   1. use or enjoy the lot, or permit the lot to be used or enjoyed, in a manner or for a purpose that causes a nuisance or hazard to the occupier of any other lot (whether that person is an owner or not), or
   2. use or enjoy the common property in a manner or for a purpose that interferes unreasonably with the use or enjoyment of the common property by the occupier of any other lot (whether that person is an owner or not) or by any other person entitled to the use and enjoyment of the common property, or
   3. use or enjoy the common property in a manner or for a purpose that interferes unreasonably with the use or enjoyment of any other lot by the occupier of the lot (whether that person is an owner or not) or by any other person entitled to the use and enjoyment of the lot.
      
      Note: Depending on the circumstances in which it occurs, the penetration of smoke from smoking into a lot or common property may cause a nuisance or hazard and may interfere unreasonably with the use or enjoyment of the common property or another lot.
2. This section does not operate to prevent the due exercise of rights conferred on a developer by the operation of section 82 of the Strata Schemes Development Act 2015.

Note: Division 1 of Part 6 contains provisions about the circumstances in which owners of lots may carry out work that affects common property.

Leanne Habib
Premium Strata
E: info@premiumstrata.com.au
P: 02 9281 6440

This post appears in the October 2022 edition of The NSW Strata Magazine.

Question: Years ago our OC verbally agreed to residents parking on common property in front of their garages. Recently, they’ve issued a notice stating residents must not park on common property in visitor parking and the turning bay. Can the OC create different rules for different areas of common property?

We own a unit in a complex consisting of 17 units. This complex has 17 garages, 3 dedicated visitor spots, a turning circle and a dedicated wash bay. 

We have 22 cars parking in the complex. For overflow parking, resident use visitor parking, the wash bay and the turning circle.

Recently, the OC sent a letter to all residents stating that no parking is allowed on the common property (i.e. visitor parking, the turning space and the wash bay). 

However, a number of years ago the OC gave residents verbal approval to use the space in front of their garage for parking although this is also common property. 

On one hand, we have a by-law the committee is trying to enforce regarding parking on some areas of common property, while at the same time allowing parking on other particular parts of common property. A previous strata manager stated the OC cannot differentiate between different areas of common property with different rules. 

This issue is causing major angst. Is the OC doing the right thing? There are no clear procedure to follow indicating whether parking on common property is allowed.

Answer: Having conflicting positions on parking circulating around the scheme may lead to confrontation and dispute.

In the context of approval being granted verbally, the advice from your previous strata manager that there can only be one “rule” is generally correct. Technically, there may be more than one rule however the rules should be recorded in writing so that all owners are able to easily access and understand them.

The starting point is to review the by-laws in force for the owners corporation. Assuming the owners corporation has retained the model by-laws there will likely be a by-law prohibiting parking motor vehicles on common property without written approval of the owners corporation. Accordingly, assuming the model by-laws apply, verbal approval is insufficient.

It is important to ensure that you review the up-to-date registered version of the consolidated by-laws because it is not uncommon for owners corporations to repeal the model by-law in relation to vehicles and replace it with a differently worded by-law. There may also be special by-laws granting certain rights over parts of the common property.

The second issue concerns how the owners corporation, or whom, is granting the verbal approval. This is a problem because, for the reasons given above, there is likely no authority to grant verbal approval and having conflicting positions on parking circulating around the scheme may lead to confrontation and dispute. There is also the potential that a motor vehicle on common property may impede access to another lot, and this may constitute a nuisance.

Sending an informal notice to each lot drawing attention to the relevant by-law followed by discussion at strata committee meetings and general meetings should assist in clarifying the position. Section 146 of the Strata Schemes Management Act 2015 sets out how formal notice may be issued on an offender in contravention of a by-law. Section 147 empowers the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal to order the payment of a penalty. Your strata manager will likely be able to assist in issuing the notice, the owners corporation would best obtain legal advice prior to making an application in the Tribunal.

In relation to the proper procedure to follow to allow parking on common property, it depends upon the wording of the applicable by-law in force however there is the option for lot owners to obtain exclusive use rights or enter into a written agreement with the owners corporation to use designated areas of the common property. Ordinarily it is the responsibility of the person seeking use of the common property to obtain legal advice and make a proposal to the owners corporation. The decision to authorise exclusive use will need to be made at a general meeting.

If, for example, a special by-law granting exclusive use to park in a designated area is resolved by the owners corporation, technically this would create another “rule” in relation to parking a motor vehicle on the common property.

Care should be taken to review the conditions of development consent for the building and obtain legal advice prior to making changes to visitor parking or car wash bays as often these are mandated by the local council.

Shane Williamson
Williamson Lawyers Pty Ltd
E: shane@williamsonlawyers.com.au
P: 0404 045 605

This post appears in Strata News #578.

Question: Our building has recently installed a license plate reader system and we have a few questions.

1. Can a building install a Licence Plate Scanning System and disable swipe card access to the car park? If we hire a car or use shared cars we can’t enter our own car spots.
2. If we are moving in and new to the building, how do we access the garage?
3. Can we be blacklisted from entering if we have bylaw breaches?

Answer: We are finding that this system is becoming more common, as when it is used correctly, it assists greatly in tracking by-law breaches for visitor parking.

1. Owners Corporations can resolve to install Licence Plate Recognition (LPR) Systems to assist with the management of security for the building. Should your scheme have installed this system, your former swipe cards will have likely become obsolete. We are finding that this system is becoming more common, as when it is used correctly, it assists greatly in tracking by-law breaches for visitor parking.

   To install a system, the Owners Corporation will have approved the installation of the system at a general meeting and adopt a by-law to detail the management of; the system, the data it collects, access provisions etc. The by-law should also detail who can access the system and under what circumstances, the process of registering the licence plate with the Owners Corporation, and the consequences should the vehicle and its owner be found breaching by-laws.

   Fortunately, updating the LPR system should be very simple for the Strata Manager or Building Manager. Most updates to the system can be done remotely, and instantly. Should you hire a car, or use a shared car, you will need to update management immediately to ensure you are able to access the car park.

2. Strata schemes often have by-laws which outline the moving-in and moving-out procedures for the scheme. Generally speaking, you will need to liaise access with the Strata Manager/Building Manager so that the relevant provisions can be made for you to access the common property, especially where a LPR System is in place.
3. Without having viewed the by-laws for your scheme, the short answer is – no. You cannot be “blacklisted” from accessing your lot within a strata scheme. The Owners Corporation is responsible for the management and administration of the strata scheme, which may involve issuing by-law breach notices should you not comply. This does not allow an Owners Corporation to abuse the technology to further restrict access to your lot. Any reference to removing the ability to access the car park in a by-law is generally a deterrent, and not enforceable.

Jessica Kaye
More Than Strata
E: jessica@morethanstrata.com.au
P: 1300 264 818

This post appears in the August 2021 edition of The NSW Strata Magazine.

Question: To help solve our resident parking problems, we would like to convert a visitor car park into a unit car space. Our strata manager tells us we can do this without having to comply with our development consent. Is this correct?

I am one of the committee members for a 65 apartment building. To help solve our resident parking problems, we would like to convert a visitor car park into a unit car space. Our strata manager tells us we can do this without having to comply with our development consent. They have provided the following information:

“..any visitor car park space can be converted to lot owners car park space by a special resolution in EGM/AGM. There is no such clause saying council will restrict as the DA has been approved prior and once the occupation certificate has been issued, owners have moved in, the building is managed by the strata, it will be the majority vote for the motion to be passed out. The car park usage is manned by the bylaws of the building, all we need is to pass a motion to adopt a new bylaw. We have done this at many buildings.”

We are currently complying with the minimum number of visitor spaces required by our local council development consent of 1 visitor space per 5 units. If we go ahead with the conversion of one visitor space to a resident car space, we will be going against the development consent.

Is our strata manager misleading us based on the information they have provided?

Answer: A strata building cannot simply pass a by-law for the above conversion in direct contravention of the original development consent. This would be invalid.

Development consent for the conversion will likely be required and, if approved by Council, then by-laws, special resolutions and in all likelihood, a strata plan of subdivision will be required. If this is the case, you will need a valuer to re-allocate unit entitlements etc.

A strata building cannot simply pass a by-law for the above conversion in direct contravention of the original development consent. This would be invalid.

At first instance, you may wish to make a telephone enquiry to your local Council to confirm the requirement for a development application and then seek further advice from a planning /strata specialist lawyer. We can provide details of same if you require.

Leanne Habib
Premium Strata
E: info@premiumstrata.com.au
P: 02 9281 6440

This post appears in Strata News #443.

Question: Strata residents are parking in front of their townhouses. This causes common property roads and pedestrian paths to be blocked. How can I get parking rules implemented and enforced?

This is regarding parking in our strata. Our strata was newly created in 2019 for 137 townhouses. Some townhouses have a driveway in front of the garage. Most do not. The townhouses with a driveway were sold for $20k more than those without.

Strata residents are parking in front of their townhouses even if they don’t have a driveway. This causes strata roads to be partially blocked and pedestrian paths to be completely blocked. Residents are forced to walk on the road or zig zag while driving to avoid obstacles.

Initially, when asked what we could do about this situation, our strata manager said they were going to enforce parking rules. Now he is saying that our elected strata team are not approving enforcement of parking law and fines. When I asked our elected strata team they say we should be helpful and considerate to all residents and allow them to park in front of their townhouse, and residents driving or walking should take care.

Most of the owners corporation members are from townhouses with no driveway. This has been going on for more than a year and nothing is being done.

How can I get parking rules implemented and enforced?

Answer: The only way to change current practice is to get agreement from the majority of owners for more enforcement of parking rules.

Parking is a common area that can affect harmony in a strata community. In your case, it sounds like there are rules around parking (presumably in the by-laws) but they are not being enforced. Given the circumstances, I can see why owners without a driveway would like to see a relaxed attitude to parking. However, they must also recognise they are living in a community and should observe the rules.

The only way to change current practice is to get agreement from the majority of owners for more enforcement of parking rules. I assume that it is private land so the local council does not have a role here. However, if current parking arrangements are creating an unsafe environment then it might be possible to get the local council or local police involved.

One of the most direct ways to gain more direct influence in the operation of your community is to get elected to the strata committee. You then have a seat at the table in discussions about this issue. It will require a commitment of time and energy but it might be the best approach. My suggestion would be to approach the issue from one of safety for residents if parked vehicles are adversely affecting visibility, for example. I’m not sure if there is a central area for community parking or owners with no driveway have no other place to park. These circumstances may also be affecting attitudes to this issue. If owners find it difficult to carry heavy groceries etc from their cars to their property, there might be an option to allow short term parking outside their townhouse for certain purposes.

Overall, the by-laws for the strata community are the rules for living there. To get new or amended rules implemented and enforced, you will need to have changes made to current by-laws. This will require support from other owners. If there is no support for change, it will be difficult to resolve this issue, unless some external influence from local council or police can be brought to bear.

I hope that helps. If you’d like to discuss this issue further we’d be happy to provide some additional comments on more specific aspects of this issue. You can contact us at info@eyeon.com.au.

Michael Ferrier
Eyeon Property Inspections
P: 02 9260 5510
E: michael.ferrier@eyeon.com.au

This post appears in Strata News #419.

Question: My apartment building is solving parking problems by enforcing the rules. I’m happy to get this sorted, however, one of the strata community members uses the visitor parking whenever they want.

We are a block of around 100 units on the Central Coast of NSW.

The strata community has gone on the attack of visitors parking, enforcing one lot one car space. They have been placing stickers on car windows and using surveillance cameras to see whose car is coming into the car park.

I have no problem with this and look forward to us solving our parking problems. However, one of the strata community members has two cars and uses visitor parking whenever they want. I feel this is totally unacceptable.

Answer: Enquire, not accuse, first.

I suggest you first write to your agent (given the size I am sure you have one) and raise this issue from the following perspective of the strata law:

We welcome the committee pursuing those who are breaching the parking on common property bylaws

It seems from our observations that the rules are not being equally applied as one of the committee is also parking illegally. Can you please advise why they are being treated differently?

Depending on the answer received, you may wish to refer to one or both of the following pieces of legislation:

This part of Schedule 2 regarding committee meetings – 18 Disclosure of pecuniary interests

1. If–
   
   1. a member of a strata committee has a direct or indirect pecuniary interest in a matter being considered or about to be considered at a meeting, and
   2. the interest appears to raise a conflict with the proper performance of the member’s duties in relation to the consideration of the matter,

   the member must, as soon as possible after the relevant facts have come to the member’s knowledge, disclose the nature of the interest at a meeting of the strata committee.
   : Maximum penalty–10 penalty units.

2. A disclosure by a member at a meeting of the strata committee that the member–
   
   1. is a member, or is in the employment, of a specified corporation or other body, or
   2. is a partner, or is in the employment, of a specified person, or
   3. has some other specified interest relating to a specified corporation or other body or to a specified person,

   is a sufficient disclosure of the nature of the interest in any matter relating to that corporation or other body or to that person which may arise after the date of the disclosure and which is required to be disclosed under subclause (1).

3. Particulars of any disclosure made under this clause must be recorded by the strata committee in a book kept for the purpose and that book must be open at all reasonable hours to inspection by any person on payment of the fee determined by the strata committee.
4. After a member has disclosed the nature of an interest in any matter, the member must not, unless the strata committee otherwise determines–
   
   1. be present during any deliberation of the strata committee with respect to the matter, or
   2. take part in any decision of the strata committee with respect to the matter.
5. For the purposes of the making of a determination by the strata committee under subclause (4), a member who has a direct or indirect pecuniary interest in a matter to which the disclosure relates must not–
   
   1. be present during any deliberation of the strata committee for the purpose of making the determination, or
   2. take part in the making by the strata committee of the determination.
6. A contravention of this clause does not invalidate any decision of the strata committee.
7. Without limiting subclause (1), a person has an indirect pecuniary interest in a matter if a person connected with the person has a direct interest in the matter.

This is because they are receiving a benefit. If they are gaining an advantage by parking and it has been gained without payment.

STRATA SCHEMES MANAGEMENT ACT 2015: Section 37 Duty of members of strata committee

It is the duty of each member of a strata committee of an owners corporation to carry out his or her functions for the benefit, so far as practicable, of the owners corporation and with due care and diligence.

Note: Section 260 provides protection from personal liability for members of strata committees who act in good faith.

This is in the Strata Act itself. Note the reference to S260. So the person can only rely on the protection if they are acting in good faith. Such current abuse of power (if that is what it turns out to be) while attempting to solving the parking problems at the apartment building may mean they are to afford that protection and thus if referred to NCAT, would need to defend themselves.

Everything hinges on the initial enquiry and reply as there may be an argument for instance that it is a gratuity for their work on the committee. However, as you can see, if this is what they advise then it needs to be raised/covered at the AGM.

Section 46 Payment of officers of owners corporation

An owners corporation may pay to a person who is an officer of the owners corporation or another member of the strata committee of the owners corporation an amount determined by the owners corporation at an annual general meeting in recognition of services performed by the person for the owners corporation in the period since the last annual general meeting.

So you should enquire, not accuse, first and then see if your concern is resolved or it raises yet a further query. It’s quite possible the agent is not aware of the situation and so will need to address it with the committee and offender.

Karina Heinz
W: https://www.prostrata.com.au/
E: manager@prostrata.com.au
P: 02 9389 9599

This post appears in Strata News #281.

Question: To solve parking problems in our apartment building how do we identify the vehicle owner? Can we require residents to provide their vehicle details?

A potential issue with enforcing strata by-laws relating to parking that is of concern to the strata committee of which I am a member is identifying the owner of a vehicle not complying with parking by-laws.

Can the Owners Corporation/Strata Committee require all residents to provide ownership details of their vehicles? If a parking non-compliance case is taken to the NCAT, can the Tribunal identify the owner from official records?

Our strata scheme does not have a building manager on the premises and we still use only keys for entry.

Answer: The scheme can pass a bylaw requiring an owner/agent to submit this information within 7 days of moving in/leasing the property or obtaining a new vehicle.

The legislation can be difficult in this area. They provide the scheme with the obligation to manage the common property but not necessarily all the tools.

The police can only deal in criminal matters and therefore cannot provide this personal information. Section 22 of the Strata Scheme’s Management Act 2015 – which is a regulated form as to the required content for notice of information to be placed on the strata roll – does not require an owner or their agent to provide this information. To overcome this, the scheme can pass a bylaw requiring an owner/agent to submit this information within 7 days of moving in/leasing the property or obtaining a new vehicle.

An application to NCAT requires that you name the applicant whom you require to do something (or desist). As there is no requirement under the legislation for the owner to advise the tenant’s registration, the Member would not have the power to make such an order. They can only issue orders for breaches of legislation or of your bylaws. Once you have the above bylaw, however, you could make an application to NCAT against the owner if they fail to do as your bylaw states.

An alternative may be to engage with your local Council. Under the 2015 legislation, there is the option that they can assist by policing these issues, however, this is an opt-in for them, not a service they are required to provide. In this respect, no registration information would be required. They deal with it just like a parking offence on the street. See this recent article NSW Case Study: Is your illegal parking notice just an empty threat?

Karina Heinz
W: https://www.prostrata.com.au/
E: manager@prostrata.com.au
P: 02 9389 9599

This post appears in Strata News #262.

What is the best way to solve resident parking problems in an apartment building?

We received a comment on one of our other Parking posts a few days ago. Rather than have one of our fabulous contributors offer a reply, I thought we’d try something new and throw the question out to our Community. We are asking you: our residents, lot owners, strata managers, building managers, strata lawyers and other members of our community. How do you solve the parking problems? What works in your building?

Comment from Ginny Lowndes:

It was suggested that owner/s & occupiers/new renter/s provide their plate/s & mobile phone number/s to the NSW strata managers so that the Committee was able to identify a rogue car parker quickly & contact them or remove an unauthorized parker. Was told it couldn’t be done. As it stands the Committee has no way of identifying who owns what cars to take any action at all.

The NSW law is nothing but waffle without identification of who owns the cars.

All the car parking spaces have been turned into unauthorized garages that store junk & owners/occupiers want to park their 2-3 cars in any space on the common area as their “right”. That is approximately 100+ cars a day.

Anyone else got any clues as to what to do about it?

Update: We received this answer in the comment section below from Philip Colless, a building manager from Pyrmont. We’ve decided to include the response in the main article, so the information does not get lost as it gets pushed down the comments list:

I am a building manager for a Pyrmont apartment complex with 8 visitor spaces. Despite all 76 apartments having one or two lock garages each, preventing residents from parking in visitors, or visitors parking too long requires daily attention.

To know what’s going on, I keep a register with car rego’s of all residents and known visitors.

I get this information from periodic walkarounds of the private garages, recording car details.

If there is a car I don’t know that overstays in visitors, I get this information by reviewing the CCTV combined with our access control system.

Enforcement steps:

Pass bylaws and signage in your visitor parking area that sets out time limits and who is eligible (or not) to park there. This building allows residents to park in visitors for 15 minutes to “drop off” (which invites abuse of the privilege. I recommend residents never be allowed to park in visitors, over the years having heard every conceivable excuse why they stayed more than 15 minutes)

Pass another bylaw giving the OC power to disable or restrict access devices (fobs and remotes) that are used to facilitate breach of a bylaw.

When transgression starts:

1. Pre-prepared notice on car windscreen
2. Letter from strata manager to resident owner or agent & tenant and a warning sticker on the car window.
3. Final letter warning legal consequences (NCAT fine) and that fob/remote will be disabled without further notice if there is a further breach.
4. Follow through on warning and disable remote. It will only be reinstated at the pleasure of the strata committee.

This really works. Instant consequences. And going to NCAT is time consuming and costs the owners corporation money.

These steps may not be applicable to all buildings. Much depends on the level of on site security equipment. There is a fair bit of work required to put all this in place, but the results are worth it.

Cheers, Phil

This post appears in Strata News #250.

Don’t miss the rest of the comments below. There are some great ideas on ways to solve parking problems in your apartment building.

Can you relate to this situation? Is something similar happening at your scheme? What have you tried to solve your building’s parking problems? What worked? What didn’t work? Let us know below in the comment section.

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Read next:

• NSW: Q&A Adequate ByLaw to Combat Abuse of Visitor Parking Spaces
• NSW: Can parking offenders be towed from common property?
• NSW: 5 Most Useful By-laws: 3. Parking By-Law
• NSW: Q&A Disabled Parking in Apartments – Can I Use the parking space?

Visit Strata Parking OR NSW Strata Legislation pages.

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