Apartment managers exasperated by unauthorised parking on their premises have resorted to placing a wheel clamp on their own cars in visitor parking bays as a deterrent.
The practice has been successful for some apartment managers who have watched as parking bays become filled by people using nearby facilities in areas where parking is a premium.
Archers the Strata Professionals partner Grant Mifsud said unauthorised parking has been one of the biggest bugbears for bodies corporate, particularly in areas close to shopping and entertainment precincts.
“Parking is one of the 4 Ps that cause grief in strata residential complexes along with pets, parties and passive smoking,” Mr Mifsud said.
He said one enterprising apartment manager had come up with a plan to discourage illegal parkers by positioning a clamped car of one of his staff in the visitor parking bay.
“The apartment manager just leaves the clamped vehicle in the parking space long enough for people to see it, which has worked,” Mr Mifsud said.
“People see the clamped car and they go elsewhere because they think it could happen to them. There are not even warning signs. The clamp speaks for itself.”
Mr Mifsud said most strata schemes experience the frustrations of illegal parking on common property and it has always been a hot topic for body corporate committees as to the legalities and liabilities around towing an offending vehicle without authority.
He said the Queensland government’s crackdown on the towing industry has made no difference to bodies corporate who want to have an unauthorised vehicle parked on the property removed.
“An order from the Commissioner for Body Corporate and Community Management is required to enforce the parking by-laws before any offending vehicle can be legally towed,” Mr Mifsud said.
“Once an order is obtained, the body corporate may then enter into a contract with the chosen towing company authorising the removal of the vehicles on the property. Tow truck drivers and assistants must be accredited, and tow trucks must be licensed," he said.
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