How to Get Approval for a Parking Bollard in Your Rented Parking Space

Living in a strata apartment building often presents parking space challenges, particularly when you return home only to find your designated spot occupied. You’re not alone in dealing with this frustrating situation, and fortunately, there’s a solution: installing a parking bollard. But before you rush into installation, you must go through the appropriate approval processes with your strata or owners’ committee.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps to obtain approval for installing a parking bollard in your building, plus offer advice on how to present your proposal and navigate the strata parking regulations.

Why Consider Installing a Parking Bollard?

Parking in a shared strata building can be stressful, especially when there’s limited visitor parking, or neighbors fail to follow the rules. Installing a parking bollard offers a simple but effective solution to prevent unauthorized vehicles from using your designated space.

Here are the key benefits of installing a parking bollard in your residential strata:

• Peace of mind: Ensure that your space is always available when you arrive home, without worrying about intruders.
• Security: Parking bollards create a physical barrier that prevents unauthorized parking and protects your allocated spot.
• Convenience: Many modern bollards are automated or retractable, so you can operate them remotely with minimal effort.
• Cost-effective: Compared to more complex parking control systems, bollards are an affordable option for maintaining your parking rights.
• Compliance: Installing a bollard also ensures that your parking spot is exclusively used by you, following the building’s regulations on parking allocation.

Understanding Strata Parking Space and By-Laws

Before embarking on your parking bollard installation journey, it’s essential to familiarize yourself with your building’s by-laws and strata parking regulations. Strata regulations often outline specific rules about modifications to common property, such as parking spaces. Knowing the rules will help you understand how to frame your request and what documentation you’ll need for strata approval.

Step-by-Step Guide to Securing Strata Approval for a Parking Bollard in your Parking Space

To ensure a smooth approval process, follow these steps:

1. Review Your Building’s By-Laws and Strata Regulations

Before anything else, check your strata building’s by-laws. Strata buildings often have strict guidelines governing what you can and cannot do on common property—including parking spaces. Understanding these regulations will help you build a stronger case when requesting approval to install your parking bollard.

Some strata by-laws specify whether parking spots are considered common property or individually owned. Depending on your strata, parking may be subject to different regulations, which will influence your approval process. It’s critical to understand your building’s specific rules before proceeding.

2. Submit a Written Proposal

Once you’ve reviewed the relevant by-laws, the next step is to submit a formal, written proposal to the strata committee or owners’ corporation. Most strata buildings require written consent for any modifications to common areas, including parking spots.

Your proposal should include:

• The location of the proposed parking bollard.
• The type of bollard you intend to install (remote control, manual, or smartphone-operated).
• The reason for your request, such as preventing unauthorized parking or ensuring exclusive use of your designated spot.
• The benefits to the strata community, such as reducing parking disputes and enhancing building security.

Pro tip: Highlight how installing a parking bollard will reduce the need for frequent parking enforcement and improve parking efficiency for everyone in the building.

3. Presenting Your Proposal to the Strata Committee

When presenting your proposal, it’s important to emphasize how installing a bollard benefits both you and the broader strata community. For example, you might point out that the bollard will reduce disputes over parking spots and help maintain order in the parking area.

Here’s what to include:

• Clear benefits to the community: Focus on how the bollard will reduce unauthorized parking and free up staff or strata management resources.
• Professional installation: Reassure the strata committee that the bollard will be professionally installed and will not cause damage to common property or pose safety hazards.
• Visual aids: If possible, include images, diagrams, or case studies showing successful installations of parking bollards in other strata buildings. (For an example, check out our visitor parking solutions case study).

4. Use a Template Letter to Streamline the Process

At ThatsMySpot, we offer a pre-prepared template letter designed to help you streamline the approval process. This template contains essential details such as the technical specifications of the parking bollard, the benefits to both the resident and strata community, and how the installation will be professionally managed.

Using this template will help reduce unnecessary back-and-forth communication and ensure your proposal is complete.

5. Final Steps After Approval

Once the strata committee has approved your request, you can proceed with the installation of the parking bollard. Here’s what to do next:

• Hire a professional installer: Ensure you choose a certified installer to avoid any potential damage to common property and guarantee compliance with safety standards.
• Notify the committee after installation: Once the bollard is installed, inform your strata committee so that they can update their records. This will help prevent misunderstandings about the presence of the bollard.

Parking Bollard Options from That’s My Spot for your Parking Space

At ThatsMySpot, we offer several types of parking bollards, each designed to meet different needs:

1. Remote-Control Parking Bollards

Our remote-control bollards allow you to open and close the barrier with the press of a button. These are a convenient option for users who want full control of their parking space without leaving their vehicle. Ideal for apartment buildings where frequent access is needed.

2. Manual Parking Bollards

Our manual bollards are budget-friendly and offer a reliable, low-tech solution for parking control. Simply raise or lower the bollard by hand. Perfect for those looking for an affordable option with easy maintenance.

3. Smartphone-Operated Parking Bollards

These bollards can be operated directly from your smartphone via an app. Offering high-tech convenience, they integrate seamlessly with modern lifestyles, making parking as easy as a tap on your phone. They’re especially ideal for those who prefer the latest in smart technology and minimal hassle.

How Parking Bollards Can Address Visitor Parking Solutions

If your strata building struggles with visitor parking solutions, parking bollards are an ideal way to manage parking efficiently. Install them in visitor parking spaces to ensure availability for guests without risking unauthorized vehicles taking up the spots. Parking bollards also help reduce parking disputes between residents and visitors.

At ThatsMySpot.com.au, we understand that finding the right parking solution can transform your daily routine. Our innovative range of parking bollards is designed to cater to various needs, from securing your designated spot to managing parking flow effectively. Whether you’re a property manager seeking to enhance the parking experience for tenants looking to protect your personal space, our products provide a practical and efficient solution.