SA: Q&A Strata Regulations About Car Parking Rules

These questions are about issues around strata car parking and fines in SA strata schemes.

Table of Contents:

• QUESTION: We are elderly and our lot’s parking spot is a long way from our door. Is there anything we can do to have a closer parking space allocated to our lot? 
• QUESTION: We’re trying to include an addition to our strata regulations concerning fines for breaking strata parking rules. Three of our eight unit owners refuse to vote so they can avoid being caught and fined.
• QUESTION: What is the best way to keep everyone informed of our parking rules? Is there a template in SA for notifying new residents about lot owner and visitor car parking allocations?
• QUESTION: There are constant complaints of non-residents, owners or tenants parking in other peoples car parks – trespassing. We have strata bylaws where strata parking fines can be issued. What are the legal requirements for issuing strata parking fines?

Question: We are elderly and our lot’s parking spot is a long way from our door. Is there anything we can do to have a closer parking space allocated to our lot? 

We purchased a unit 2 years ago. There are 6 units. My problem is all units have designated guest parking and all the other units have theirs in front of their front doors all except ours which is behind another unit a long way from our door.

My husband is 85 and they will not allow me to park or drop him off by our front door. What can I do about this problem?

Answer: If the plan allocates specific parks, then those parks are owned by the individual units, making it very difficult to make any alterations.

Parking creates concerns and issues for many reasons at a LOT of strata and community complexes around the entire Country. There are many different queries that come from parking but each site is different and has their specific problems in relation to parking, sometimes depending on the development of the site, sometimes the number of parks available or how they are allocated, guest parking and other issues.

The first question to ask here is whether the assigned guest parks are marked on the plan or whether the Members have assigned to them by policy decision. If the plan allocates specific parks, then those parks are owned by the individual units, making it very difficult to make any alterations.

If the parks are simply assigned by a policy decision of the group, then members can re-evaluate this.

Of course, the practicality of where a group can facilitate parking of vehicles is another question that I cannot answer without viewing the strata plans or seeing the developed site.

Groups may agree to a short term allowance for one unit to park on common property perhaps, under extenuating circumstances. Alternatively, handshake arrangements can be made simply between two residents to say swap a park temporarily, whilst both parties are in agreement. This naturally requires agreement of both Residents and is not legally binding.

Strata Corporations do of course need to be reasonable and practical, and whilst parking may not be allowed by your front door, the group could at a meeting ensure that quick drop offs are permissible as long as the vehicle does not park in this location.

It would be difficult to elaborate more without additional information, but hope we have added some background.

Tony Johnson
Stratarama
E: [email protected]
P: 08 82760426

This post appears in Strata News #432.

Question: We’re trying to include an addition to our strata regulations concerning fines for breaking strata parking rules. Three of our eight unit owners refuse to vote so they can avoid being caught and fined.

We are trying to include an addition to our strata regulations concerning fines for breaking strata parking rules. Three of our eight unit owners who regularly break parking rules refuse to vote so that they will not be caught and fined. What is our alternative?

They have been given copies of our strata regulations that include details regarding parking and have been given several warnings in writing but they are aware that without the new addition to our regulations we can do nothing.

Can they be asked to present to a magistrate? We are in South Australia.

Answer: Yes! The Strata can apply to the Magistrates Court for enforcement of the group’s articles.

Tony Johnson
Stratarama
SCA (SA) Strata Community Manager of the Year 2018, 2017 & 2016
E: [email protected]

This post appears in Strata News #273.

Question: What is the best way to keep everyone informed of our parking rules? Is there a template in SA for notifying new residents about lot owner and visitor car parking allocations?

We are a small 6 unit Strata Scheme and one unit sold last year and is now an investment property.

We’ve had one lot of tenants already and had a lot of trouble with no respect as to where they and their visitor’s park.

The next tenant is about to move in and l would like to be proactive and provide a friendly notification about our car parking arrangements.

What is the best way to keep everyone informed of our parking rules? Is there some type of template in SA for notifying residents about lot owner and visitor car parking allocations?

Answer: There is no template as it were for notifying Members/ Residents unless the group have set up their own set of “house rules”.

I love this question because it is really about respect and approaching things in the right manner.

Parking is definitely a large issue that affects Strata Corporations in SA, and if Tenants/ Residents are parking in others spaces or on common property and if not addressed this can create a domino effect of others doing the same. There is no template as it were for notifying Members/ Residents unless the group have set up their own set of “house rules” which could be distributed to residents when they move in.

It would certainly be advisable if an Owner such as yourself had at hand a set of Strata plans and the Articles from the Strata Title Act 1988 (which highlights that Members must park in their own designated areas) which you could present to new Residents in a nice manner when they arrive.

Alternatively as mentioned, this information could be put together by Members inside a set of House Rules which the group develop and approve at a meeting.

As always and with all things, approaching these matters in a friendly and amicable way usually provides the best results. When everyone knows right at the beginning what their rights and responsibilities are, it goes a long way to avoiding possible issues.

Tony Johnson
Stratarama
E: [email protected]
P: 08 82760426

This post appears in Strata News #260.

Question: There are constant complaints of non-residents, owners or tenants parking in other peoples car parks – trespassing. We have strata bylaws where strata parking fines can be issued. What are the legal requirements for issuing strata parking fines?

Regarding a block of apartments in South Australia, each unit has a car park space as part of their property.

There are constant complaints of non residents, owners or tenants parking in other peoples car parks – trespassing. We have strata bylaws where strata parking fines can be issued.

1. Is there a legal requirement of a written warning?
2. Is there a legal requirement in regard to who issues strata parking fines – the strata manager, presiding officer etc.
3. Does the owner of the property being trespassed against need to instigate the complaint or can a committee member take it upon them self to issue a fine?

Answer: For Owners, it should be noted that the fine stays with the Unit, so a Landlord should take all necessary steps to ensure their Tenants comply.

Parking is definitely a large issue that affects Strata Corporations in South Australia, and if Tenants / Residents are parking in other people’s spaces this can be not only upsetting, but also create a domino effect of breaches (similar to someone sitting in your seats at a Cinema, so you sit somewhere else, and then those ticket holders can’t access their seats).

For Strata Corporations, the Fining system remains relatively new, having only been introduced to SA legislation in 2013. I take, from the wording of your question, this does relate to a Strata group of units rather than a Community Title. I believe your group has already created a by-law at a properly convened meeting, allowing for the provision of the fining system.

It seems that the groups biggest concern is in fact non-Residents parking in assigned spaces. Not knowing who these non-residents are would be the first hurdle, as the fining system does not provide for fining non-Members of the group.

It is the responsibility of all residents to ensure that their Visitors know that there is no Visitor parking. Now would be an opportune time to remind all Tenants / Residents and Landlords that the carparks are assigned (perhaps show them a copy of the parking plan) and that the group does have a by-law allowing for reasonable fines to be imposed against those breaching the rules.

For Owners, it should be noted that the fine stays with the Unit, so a Landlord should take all necessary steps to ensure their Tenants comply. Although they can pass these fines on to the Tenant, it is naturally an unwanted burden to deal with, and one which they could get stuck with.

To specifically answer your queries:

1. There is no legal requirement to issue a written warning before a fine, however, all fines can be disputed in the Magistrates court and the fines must be deemed to be “reasonable” and as such I would find that the Courts would be more receptive to a warning having first been issued.
2. The Act actually states that a Strata Manager cannot issue a fine. This is made very clear. The Strata Manager may distribute the fine, but only at the direction of those with the power to issue said fine. A Fine must be issued by the Corporation at a duly convened meeting or by the Management Committee (should the group have one in place).
3. Refer point 2.

Below is an Extract Taken from the South Australian Legal Services Guide (available at the Legal Services Commission).

Penalties for breaching the articles

The articles of a strata corporation may impose a penalty of up to $500 [s 19(5)(b)] for contravention of, or failure to comply with, any articles [s 19(3a)].

Note that the articles set out in Schedule 3 of the Act (see above) do not include provision for imposing a penalty for a breach of the articles. If a corporation wants this power, it must amend its articles accordingly.

If the articles state that the corporation ‘may impose a penalty of up to $500’ for a breach of the articles, this does not mean that any penalty must be $500. A corporation should ensure that the amount of any penalty imposed is reasonable in relation to the nature and extent of the breach. The amount of a penalty could be disputed in the Magistrates Court if it is oppressive, unreasonable or unjust [s 41A].

Note that it is the strata corporation that may impose a penalty for an alleged breach. If a corporation has a management committee, the management committee may act for the corporation. Thus, unless some other valid delegation has been made, a properly called meeting of either the corporation or the management committee will be needed to impose a penalty for an alleged breach of the articles. A strata manager cannot impose a penalty for an alleged breach of the articles.

Tony Johnson
Stratarama
E: [email protected]
P: 08 82760426

This post appears in Strata News #182.

Have a question about strata parking and fines in SA or something to add to the article? Leave a comment below.

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This article is not intended to be personal advice and you should not rely on it as a substitute for any form of advice.

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