The Landlord Must Clean The Gutter

But is the landlord or responsible for clearing gutters during a tenancy and why kaylee ferguson department manager for the property exchange in subiaco wa explains where responsibility falls for gutter cleaning.

The landlord must clean the gutter.

With this in mind many tenants end up arguing that gutter maintenance and cleaning is the responsibility of landlords. Is the landlord responsible for cleaning out the gutters. Landlords that own several properties do not have the time to take care of every single detail in every house. Many property owners don t want the liability of sending a renter up on a ladder to handle the dangerous task of gutter cleaning.

Under this act the landlord must keep in repair the structure and exterior amongst other things. S11 1 a makes it clear the definition of structure and exterior includes drains gutters and external pipes. While they can hire someone to clean the gutters these are expenses that accumulate over time. Who is responsible for a rental property s outdoor maintenance such as tree trimming and gutter cleaning depends on what it says in the lease agreement.

Similarly a landlord should keep the gutters clean as well since the gutters are part of the roofing system. Wouldn t it be safer for the landlord to employ a suitable gutter cleaner and just up the rent to cover it 1. The user then offers an alternative for landlords. Another user who has both a gutter cleaning business and a gutter clearing business states.

Gutters are a part of the structural integrity of a property so in this sense it does make sense for landlords or owners to address any chores associated with the gutters. Our basement flooded recently due to backed up gutters and the owner of the house in a fit of rage blamed us the tenants for not having them cleaned out saying it was our responsibility as it is part of landscaping maintenance. We would have cleaned the gutters prior to moving out however they were full of ice and it was not. Gutter cleaning and gutter clearing are two separate services.

If the lease is silent on the subject the landlord owns the whole property and is responsible for the maintenance in all areas. In terms of a lease the two parties landlord and tenant can come to any division of maintenance they want. So if your lease establishes that your landlord will take care of the gutters just let him do so. There is of course a distinct separation between keeping something in repair and improving it.

Upon move out they withheld a portion of our security deposit for gutters even though we d had them cleaned earlier in the year. Why your landlord might want you to do it.