Hi again! Today, I want to share a story from back in 2012, when my business, Parking Made Easy, found itself at the centre of a surprising conflict. You see, the platform I created allows homeowners to rent out their driveways or garages to drivers needing parking, especially in crowded areas. However, this concept didn’t sit well with everyone—specifically, the mayor of Nedlands, Max Hipkins, in Perth, Western Australia.
The Issue:At its core, Parking Made Easy is a simple idea: connect people with unused parking spaces to those who need them, and help homeowners earn a little extra income. However, Mayor Hipkins had a different perspective. He accused the platform of encouraging residents to rent out council-owned verge space for parking, which he claimed was illegal. He went even further, stating that even renting out private driveways would require planning approval, which he wouldn’t grant. According to him, these practices were cluttering up the streets of Nedlands and generating complaints from locals.
My Position:I believe that Parking Made Easy is a straightforward marketplace, providing value to drivers and homeowners alike. I’ve never encouraged anyone to rent out verge space—that’s not what the platform is about, and it’s not something we support. My aim is to provide a solution to a problem: a shortage of affordable parking, particularly in busy areas. By doing so, I’m giving people more freedom to use their private property as they see fit, which I see as a fundamental right.
The mayor’s opposition felt like an attack on that very freedom. It’s disappointing to think that a local government would want to stand in the way of a service that could make life a little easier for its residents. After all, leveraging private property in this way seems like a reasonable and innovative solution to parking issues. For anyone interested in my approach to innovation, check out "Frustration to Innovation: How I Created Parking Made Easy".
The Conflict:Mayor Hipkins called for the shutdown of Parking Made Easy, but I firmly believe in the legality and value of what I’ve built. While Nedlands' planning regulations might require home businesses to seek approval, it’s unclear if renting out a driveway even qualifies as a “business” in the traditional sense. I’ve received a lot of support from the community, and I’m confident that I have a strong legal foundation to back me up if this dispute escalates. You can also learn more about how I navigate challenges like these when my business idea was stolen.
At the heart of this clash is a classic battle between local government control and entrepreneurial freedom. I’m committed to fighting for the right of homeowners to make use of their private spaces as they see fit, particularly when it comes to solving an acknowledged problem like parking.
Thanks for reading my take on this unexpected conflict. Parking Made Easy is here to stay, and I’m excited to see how it continues to grow and help people, despite a few bumps along the road.
