Frequently Asked Questions

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These are legal constraints on what can and cannot be done on land in Little Midhurst.  They were put in place when the development was originally built to protect the character of the estate and the enjoyment of it by residents.

The restrictive covenants are enforcable in a court of law and LMML has the right to do so.  It is not within the power of LMML to change the covenants, nor give permission to residents to do something that they forbid.  You should read your property deeds carefully and ask a solicitor if you are unsure what the covenants mean.

All residents are reminded to respect the covenenants and remember that they exist to keep Little Midhurst a beautiful and pleasant place to live.

These works would contravene the covenants.  It is possible that previous committees may have given some form of 'approval' to existing alterations, but this does not necessarily make them authorised.

Please note that although the planning system may allow certain alterations without planning permission (under 'permitted development'), these alterations may still contravene the covenants so in legal terms should not be allowed to exist.  This is particularly the case where they change the footprint of the buildings on the estate.

The current committee’s position is that it is not our role to approve any alterations or additions to individual properties.  Giving approval or opinions on planning permission for any alterations does not lie within the remit of LMML.

Unfortunately, residents have very limited options when it comes to supplying power to garages that are not directly connected to the main property.  There are no plans to extend LMML electrical infrastructure into the garage areas for the use of residents.  

Historically, where a garage is directly adjacent to a home, some residents have buried cables across LMML land to supply their garages.  However, these installations have subsequently had to be removed, as they were classed as a permanent trespass.  LMML is unable to authorise such works due to potential safety and liability concerns.

The covenants restrict any alterations or additions to the properties, which include both the houses and the garages.  The current committee’s position is that it is not our role to approve any alterations or additions to individual properties. 

Solar panels in particular have proven to be a divisive issue within the development, with strong views both for and against.  For example, some say it is not desirable for solar panels to be installed on the front of properties in order to protect the character of the estate, whilst others say it would be unfair to allow solar panels on any rear facing roof, because not all roofs face the correct direction so some properties could not benefit.  This debate has progressed to the point where legal representation has been sought in the past and we have taken the above decision to avoid any recurrence of a similar nature.  

No, this is prohibited under the restrictive covenants.  It should be painted in a colour as close to the original as possible, to maintain the much loved character of Little Midhurst.  Our advice is to chip a tiny area of original paint take it the local hardware store who will colour match the shade, in our experience tester pots are best sourced as it can take a couple of attempts!

Yes, but they must remain in keeping with the previous doors and windows in accordance with the restrictive covenants.

All properties within the Little Midhurst Community are subject to various restrictive covenants.  Please speak with your conveyancer to understand what you can and can’t do without prior approval from Little Midhurst Management Limited.

Communal spaces, such as lawns and garage areas are owned by LMML and residents are kindly asked not to store goods or fly tip on these areas.

Yes, however, if it is being placed on LMML land you must first seek permission from the Committee to ensure it will not cause an obstruction.  If you are planning to hire a skip, we ask that you only keep it on site for the minimum amount of time possible.

The whole of the Little Midhurst estate is covered by a Woodland Area TPO (W1, MI/82/01100/TPO).  To carry out works on TPO trees consent is required.  See the Chichester District Council website for more information.

It is company policy not to make any recommendations for trades or other services.  We suggest the use of online sources such as social media to gauge local opinion.

Each property owner is a shareholder of the company and pays an annual fee to enable the LMML board to fulfil the remit of the company.  This is known as the 'service charge'.

Invoices are issued to each property owner at the end of August each year and full payment is due within 30 days of the invoice date.

Fees vary depending on the property they apply to.  The preferred payment method is bank transfer.

The sinking fund is a sum of money that is added to each year from a percentage of collected service charges.  It exists to provide LMML with funds to carry out repairs or other works that cannot be covered by the annual expenditure budget.  For example, if a large area of car park became damaged and dangerous, requiring immediate repair, the sinking fund would be drawn upon to pay for this.

A bit like council tax, the fee varies by property.  The individual rates were set when the development was originally built, based on the characteristics of each dwelling.  They will not be changed because this cannot be done easily and there is no overwhelming reason to do so.

We regret that this facility is not currently available.  It has been considered several times but for various reasons there are no plans to introduce it in the forseeable future.

The full service charge is due at the time of invoicing, so in the majority of cases the answer is no. 

However, we do understand that some people may occasionally experience unexpected circumstances that prevent this.  If this is the case, please get in touch with us for a confidential discussion on whether other arrangements can be made.

No refund of service charges paid in previous years will be due when a resident sells their property in Little Midhurst.

Service charges provide the funds necessary to run LMML and maintain the estate on an annual basis.  Similar to a local authority collecting council tax, the collection of service charges provides the entire budget for the year and this will be spent in full as required.  LMML does not seek to make a profit and aims not to make a loss.

Each year the budget is allocated to various areas of spending, based on previous years.  When service charge invoices are issued, a statement of anticipated expenditure is also produced, setting out what each of these areas are and how much of the budget is allocated to them.  In most years the full budget will be used, but if any funds remain at the end of the year these are added to the sinking fund for the good of the estate.

Parking areas are marked in many places and each property has a garage.  

Parking is out of the committee’s remit, however our advice is to be neighbourly and use a system that suits you and your neighbours.  We would also request that residents do not use cones to reserve parking bays.

Believe it or not, when the estate was first built the spaces were for ‘guests’ and all residents would park in their garages.  Most family cars would not fit into our garages now, but if you have a small car and are comfortable parking it in your garage then that is ideal as it leaves more outdoor spaces available.

No, there are no allocated parking spaces anywhere within the Little Midhurst community and nobody has a right to park in a particular space within communal areas.  We politely ask that you park courteously and give thought to leaving space for other vehicles, especially those owned by residents that may have restricted mobility or other requirements meaning they would benefit from being able to park in a particular space.  Situations like this are best dealt with using friendly conversation between neighbours.  Please note that it is not within the remit of LMML to become involved in such arrangements, or disputes.

Little Midhurst has many communal bin areas spread across the estate.  See the plan of the estate for details of these areas.  Also see 'Which bin store should I use?' below.  

It is usually preferable to use the one closest to your property.  However, there is nothing to stop you using other bin stores found across the estate if your nearest one is full.  In fact, we encourage you to do so instead of overloading the bins or leaving rubbish on the ground, which can attract rats.

Here is useful waste and recycling information that tells you exactly what can and can't go in the bins and what should be taken to a recycling centre.  In short:

• Black bins are for household waste (excluding garden waste and anything that should be taken directly to a recycling centre).  

• Red / burgundy bins are for unbagged recycling.  Remember... Clean, Dry, Loose.

The local household waste and recycling centre can be found here.  Do use and support it so that it has the best possible chance of being kept open!

Each property has a kitchen caddy and a small food waste bin that is emptied from once a week.  The rest of the time, these bins should be kept at the rear of your property wherever possible.

Yes, however this must be stored at the rear of your property and not at the front.

These can be purchased direct from Chichester District Council via this page and should be stored at the rear of your property and not at the front, nor in the communal bin stores.  These will only be emptied from the front of your property on collection day. 

Please do not put this in the communal bins.  Contact Chichester District Council to arrange collections.

Please check the Chichester District Council page here for details, as collection day can vary, or use their mobile app that will send you reminders.  You will only need to put out food waste bins and any bins you have purchased, such as garden waste bins or additional wheelie bins.

It is not within the remit of Little Midhurst Management Limited to become involved in neighbourbly matters.

Check your deed documents.  Property boundaries should be marked with a 'T' that signifies ownership.  If the 'T' is on your side of the fence, then the upkeep of that fence is your responsibility.  As far as has been possible, we have indicated the responsibility for boundaries on the Plan of the estate, based on available deed plans.

LMML is our shortened way of referring to Little Midhurst Management Limited.  This is the shareholder-run, not for profit Management Company responsible for looking after the communal areas across the Little Midhurst Community.  These include car parks, pathways, bin stores, trees, lawns, flower beds, fencing and street lighting away from the main roads.  The company is managed by volunteers and every freeholder of property on the estate is an equal shareholder.

The remit of the company includes:

• Maintenance of communal areas of the Barlavington Way and Poplar Way Estates

• Communication with residents about meetings and other company business that may be of interest

• Supporting those looking to move in and out of the estate

Little Midhurst has many communal areas of garden and lawns, which are maintained by LMML as part of it’s remit, along with infrastructure.  The plan of the estate shows these areas.  Private garden areas and property (including garages) are the responsibility of each freeholder.

Some roads are adopted and managed by local authority highways departments.  Others are managed by LMML.  The Plan of the Estate indicates which applies to each section of road and car park.

Tall green light columns on the main roads are maintained by the local authority.  Short black 'Narnia' stlye lamp columns found in car parks and other communal areas are maintained by LMML.  The latter turn off during the night to save electricity and preserve the dark night skies of the South Downs National Park.

Please report it to Southern Water on 0800 820 999.

Now and again we receive reports of sightings of rats on the estate.  Midhurst is a rural town and rats are an inevitable presence, so please minimise potential food sources such as bird seed and food waste on the ground in gardens and communal areas. 

We politely ask that residents avoid using poison, as it can be fatal to pets and wildlife.  An animal doesn’t need to eat the poison itself to suffer harmful effects.  If a rat consumes poison and is then eaten by a cat, the cat is very likely to end up extremely ill as a result.  Poison can also be directly consumed by the wrong animal.  In some cases this can be fatal, so please consider the impact of your actions beyond your own property.

These fish are already well fed, so we politely ask that you please don't feed them.  Extra food is not good for the fish and if left uneaten could attract rats and be harmful to water quality.

This is a document that provides buyers with details on service charges, management company information, insurance, and maintenance obligations.  It is also known as an FME1 (Freehold Management Enquiries) form.

Use the Request an FME1 page.  Ensure that your Solicitor or Estate Agent have not already placed a request, as they can also do so on your behalf.  If you place the request for an FME1, make sure you provide your representatives with a copy of the form and associated documents as soon as possible.

Current information can be found on the Request an FME1 page.