The Landings Management Company

This document is contains very important information for all residents, even long standing ones. Please do read it carefully and file it for future reference.

Frequently Asked Questions for all residents

What is the Landings Management Company?

The LMC consists of one shareholder per household, usually the first named person on the property transfer deed signed on purchase. The Company is run by the Board. The Board is an elected group of residents who volunteer their services to manage the development. One third of the Board must resign and may stand for re-election each year.

What does the Board do?

The Board is responsible for managing all aspects of the development. Each member of the Board has a specific role: Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, Garden management, Tree management and Maintenance. The Board is tasked with making decisions that are in the best interests of the residents of the estate overall.

The decisions of the Board are binding on all residents. Votes on contentious issues may be held at the discretion of the Chairman.

The Board meets monthly and residents may attend to discuss a specific issue if they wish, by prior arrangement.

What is the management fee used for?

Each household pays a management fee which is set annually by the Board. It may be paid monthly or annually. The accumulated fees are used to pay for our financial commitments and to enable us to be future-proofed against large expenditure. As the estate is aging we have to ensure we are prepared.

There is a list of repeat expenditure. We pay gardeners monthly to maintain all the communal areas. Tree management is supported by a consultant to advise us on the required work on a three year cycle. Qualified tree surgeons are employed as required to undertake the work schedule. The Landings owns one of the river weirs and there is an annual fee for the management of the weir payable to the National Trust for their 24/7 service. The Board regularly reviews expenditure and seeks to minimise costs wherever possible.

Why is there an AGM?

The AGM is held each year towards the end of March/beginning of April. Every Landings resident, owner or tenant is welcome to attend. The agenda is sent out three weeks before the set date each year, with a copy of the annual accounts. This is an opportunity for all residents to hear about the work of the previous year and any future plans. It is also an opportunity to raise issues of concern. This is also the time when new people may to apply to join the Board. Application forms are included with the agenda delivered to each household and are required to be filled out by the applicant, a proposer and a seconder from two different properties and must be handed to the Secretary no later than a week before the meeting. The proposer and seconder of the individual MUST also attend the meeting. A vote is taken on each individual applicant.

How is the Covenant applied?

Some aspects of the covenant have had to be adapted over time but some certainly still apply.

  • A resident may not conduct a business from their home where clients may be visiting.
  • All properties must apply in writing to the Board, with copies of any plans, before beginning any external alterations to the property. Extensions are also subject to the usual planning rules.
  • All window and door frames must be in a dark brown finish. This position was upheld in a shareholder vote at the 2018 AGM in an overwhelming majority.

What are the rules on parking?

All vehicles parked on Landings roads and turning areas or lay-bys must be currently taxed and insured. There are many more cars on the road than was probably envisaged in 1983 when the first Landings Covenant was drawn up!

We ask first that residents park their cars in their garage or on their driveway, and then the area in front of your garage where in a block (if practicable). This then leaves the roadside and parking bays free on a first come first served basis for residents’ additional cars, visitors, work vans and delivery lorries and vans.

Please do politely challenge someone whom you think might be using the Landings to park before heading to the Mill surgery or pharmacy. The Landings is a private road.

How are the communal areas used?

The footpaths and grassed areas beyond our property boundaries belong to us all and residents and their visitors are encouraged to enjoy them whilst respecting another resident’s privacy.

We ask that residents do NOT restrict access by putting planted pots or seats and tables on the footpaths. They also need to be kept clear to allow the gardeners to go about their work without obstacles.

Sometimes we use part of the communal areas for a social event e.g. the Royal Wedding party.

What should I do with any garden waste?

Your garden waste must be disposed of by you either in your own compost bin, by taking it to the nearby tip at the recycling site at Witley or by putting it in a brown bin available from Waverley Borough Council and collected fortnightly. Garden rubbish must NOT be put on the river bank or left on any of the communal areas.

What about the riverbank or garden area beyond my boundary?

The LMC owns the freehold to all the land on the development beyond your own property boundary. The riverbank and areas beyond your garden boundary are not for individual households to manage. If you feel something needs to be done in an area – garden, woodland, rockery or riverbank - then you must first speak with the Board member in charge of gardens before taking any action yourself. S/he will then be able to decide on the most appropriate course of action.

Where your garden borders the pathway around The Landings we ask that you keep any overhanging plant growth cut back from the path so they do not impede the walkway for pedestrians and pushchairs. Furniture and pots should not obstruct the path.

We hold working parties two or three times each year when we seek resident support on agreed tasks on the communal areas and the woodland. This helps us keep gardening costs to a minimum and enables us to meet other neighbours.

Are we able to use the river?

Any use of the river is entirely at the users’ risk. Children should be supervised at all times on or near the water.

All boats, however small, require a licence from the National Trust. Small boats, canoes and paddle boards should NOT be left on the riverbank or footpaths. Please store them in your own garden or garage.

Several people have, over the years, installed landing stages but again you must gain permission from the Environment Agency before beginning any works. The Landings Management Company will NOT take responsibility for any landing stage so it is important that you maintain them.

Sometimes people do swim in the river.

We are lucky to live in such a diverse and wonderful environment and ask that everyone respects the habitat particularly at times when birds may be nesting or have young.

What do I need to know about selling a Landings Property?

If you have decided to sell your Landings property, in addition to any paperwork pertaining to your actual property, e.g. a gas certificate, you will need the following:

Required

  • Copies of Last 3 years accounts

    Landings solicitor or Board Or you may have filed your annual accounts copy provided every year with the Agenda for the AG

  • Confirmation that the Vendor is up to date with management fees

    Treasurer N.B. Must be conformed BEFORE completion

  • Confirmation that the Landings is covered for Public Liability

    Copy of certificate to be obtained from the LMC Treasurer

  • Name of Management Company’s solicitors

    (so that s/he can prepare the Deed of Covenant and Management Company’s approval of the transfer for registration of the title at Land Registry) Vendor to buyer as early as possible

N.B The Deed of Covenant and Approval of Transfer MUST be signed by Directors of the Board BEFORE completion

What will buyers and their solicitors need to know?

If you decide to sell your Landings property you will have a much smoother process if you share the following information with your buyers and urge them to pass it on to their solicitor at the very beginning of the process.

Your buyers might like a copy of the FAQs too. It would help them to understand a great deal about how things work on the Landings.

The Landings is a private development. How is it managed?

See FAQs. All members of the Management Board are volunteers.

What is the management fee for?

The whole management fee is used to maintain the communal areas. See FAQs

Solicitors and Conveyancers often think we are a Leasehold property. That is certainly not the case.

All the houses (there are no flats!) are freehold and the Landings Management Company owns the freehold of the communal areas. This should be made clear right from the start. It will save a great deal of wasted time spent sending out and returning inappropriate paperwork.

There is a Deed of Covenant to be signed by the Board.

The Deed of Covenant and Approval of Transfer MUST be signed by Directors of the Board BEFORE completion.