With Brisbane’s CBD parking prices rapidly catching up to those in Sydney and Melboune, The Brisbane Times claims that a large number of inner city residents are leasing their garages and driveways to motorists, keen to avoid the off-street parking fees and on-street parking meters.

Figures supplied from RentMyCarPark.com.au show that the average weekly rent for these off market spaces is $79, equating to just over $4,000 per year in extra income for owners, and cheaper than the cheapest early bird rates at the off-street private car parks.

A Council spokesman has condemned the practice as illegal, with the private parking provider essentially operating a car parking business without city planning approval.

The increase in demand for off-street parking has meant a significant increase in the number of people using the service across Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane inner-city areas.