Parking. You’d think it would be simple. If you have a space, park in it. If you don’t, you don’t. And yet, ask any strata resident and they’ll tell you—visitor parking is one of the most common sources of conflict.

Take Sarah, a Sydney strata resident, who recently shared her frustration: new tenants in her complex had taken over visitor parking with two or three cars, blocked access to another owner’s garage, and ignored polite notes asking them to stop. Sound familiar?

So what’s the right way to deal with parking abuse in strata? Let’s break it down.

1. What the By-Laws Say

Under the Strata Schemes Management Act 2015 (NSW), every strata scheme must have by-laws regulating the use of common property—including visitor parking. Using visitor spaces as a second car park for residents is a breach of by-laws.

Breaches can attract fines of up to $550, and repeat offenders risk more serious consequences if the matter escalates to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT).

2. Why “Polite Notes” Backfire

It’s tempting to leave a friendly note, but wording matters. Telling someone it’s “okay to park there on occasion” can be interpreted as permission. A better approach is to:

• Document the breach with photos and dates.
• Report it to your strata committee or managing agent.
• Allow formal notice procedures to take their course.

This ensures the complaint is handled properly and avoids undermining enforcement later.

3. Formal Action the Owners Corporation Can Take

If informal discussions don’t work, the owners corporation (through the strata committee and managing agent) can:

• Send a written breach notice citing the by-law.
• Notify the landlord or rental agent if the offender is a tenant.
• Issue a Notice to Comply (Section 146), which allows fines to be imposed.
• Escalate to NCAT if the behaviour continues.

Parking on grass verges or blocking access ramps is particularly serious—it can create safety hazards, expose the scheme to liability, and give grounds for urgent enforcement.

4. Tenancy Implications

Tenants who breach by-laws are also in breach of their rental agreement. Landlords and rental agents must ensure their tenants comply with strata rules, and persistent breaches can ultimately lead to termination of the lease.

5. Metro Strata’s Advice

Parking issues can quickly sour community living. At Metro Strata, we’ve seen how visitor parking misuse can escalate into heated disputes if not addressed promptly and fairly. Our approach is to:

• Remind residents of the by-laws clearly and consistently.
• Use documented evidence to back enforcement actions.
• Support committees in escalating to formal action when needed.

The takeaway: visitor spaces are for visitors, full stop. If your scheme is dealing with repeat offenders, don’t rely on handwritten notes—use the proper channels.