No bins, astro, washing on Sundays - inside the UK's strictest estate

A neighbourhood has been dubbed the ‘UK’s strictest estate’ after residents revealed they have to follow a 32-page handbook of rules. Everyone who moves into a home in Birmingham's leafy Calthorpe Estate is issued with the dos and don’ts.

This includes a ban on hanging up washing on a Sunday, a strict ‘no artificial grass’ rule, and rules about keeping the bins out of view. Residents must also pay an annual maintenance charge to live on the estate, which stretches through Edgbaston and into Harborne and Quinton.

Howard Scriben, who has lived on Calthorpe Estate for six years, says he thinks it’s ‘strange’ that they have to pay an annual fee. The 50-year-old said: “It’s strange to buy a freehold house – which you spend a lot of money on – and then you still have to pay them each year.

“You have no choice about it, either. I remember getting fined for not paying it once. But I’m not sure what we’re paying for. It obviously appears to be about maintenance – but we’re all already paying council tax.

“It seems to me like they’re just pocketing a bunch of money.” Mr Scriben, who runs a maintenance company, said he didn't know about the rules before he moved in. “No one exactly comes out and says it,” he said.

“You just start getting bills. It’s sort of known in the area – but no one actually tells you. One bill I got hit with was when I wanted to do an extension. I obviously got planning permission via the council like everyone does, but here, you have to make an application to Calthorpe too. That costs £300.”

As for the rules, he says he doesn’t take too much notice of them. “I can’t say I’ve read the handbook, so I don’t follow all that stuff too much,” he said. “I know other estates have rules – on one nearby residents have to keep their doors green – but those don’t charge a fee, so that’s more my issue.

“I’d actually say they don’t enforce them too much as there have been properties recently with skips out front, and rubbish left there for months. So again, I don’t know where my money is going.”

Principle Estate Management, which runs Calthorpe, claims the dos and don’ts help the estate maintain its ‘charm’. A statement at the beginning of its Residents' Handbook reads: "At Calthorpe Estates we have always invested in maintaining the integrity and period charm of the Estate, to provide a quality environment where people want to live.

"We have produced a Residents’ Handbook which provides an explanation of the Calthorpe Estate Scheme of Management, and guidance on maintaining or extending your property. "The Scheme of Management was originally introduced under Section 19 of the Leasehold Reform Act 1967, to ensure that the original character of individual properties and the uniqueness of residential developments are retained within properties comprising the original Estate.

"Under the Scheme it places obligations on freehold property owners to ensure they adhere to a number of requirements. "We hope you will find it useful and support us in upholding the standards of the Estate for the benefit of current and future generations."

On gardens, the Residents' Handbook says:

- Timber sheds, glazed greenhouses, and other similar garden structures in your rear garden can measure no more than 2m width x 3m length x 2.1m high

- The use of artificial grass is not permitted to the front of your property or public areas

- Railings and/or gates should be painted in one colour (preferably black) and should not contain overly decorative features

On driveways and 'parking areas', it states:

- Any driveway and parking area should be proportional to your garden area. Excessive areas of hard standing will not be permitted.

- Commercial vehicles, caravans, and motorhomes may be parked on driveways for short periods and for temporary purposes, although we do encourage that larger vehicles such as motorhomes, trailers, boats and caravans be parked out of sight.

On TV aerials and satellite dishes, it adds:

- Only mini satellite dishes are permitted and they should be sited so they are as inconspicuous as possible, ensuring they are not visible from the road or other public spaces.

- To install a satellite dish you must submit an application to the Scheme of Management, who will provide guidance on permitted locations

And on bins, it says:

- We encourage people to be good neighbours by putting their bins out on to the street only on the night/or morning before they are due to be collected.

- Residents should then move the bins to their bin storage area at the rear or side of the property where they are not publicly visible.

- If you are not around, you may wish to ask a neighbour or friend to move the bins for you.