When it comes to maintaining the gutters of a rental property, the responsibility lies with the landlord. Regular maintenance and cleaning of gutters is important to prevent damage that can result in costly repairs. And to confirm the above, the RTA (the Residential Leasing Authority) clearly stipulates who is actually responsible for cleaning gutters in a rental property, as well as some exceptions to the rule. If you own an investment property and want to extend the life of your investment while mitigating the risks associated with poor maintenance practices, you should organize a professional gutter as soon as possible.
If you are a homeowner and your investment property's gutters are not properly cleaned, plant material and other debris build up to the point where the gutters and downspouts become clogged. As a landlord, I fully agree with you Kaylee, that it is the owner's responsibility to clean the gutters. If the gutters are not cleaned and water overflows from the gutters, it will fall along the foundation of the building. Keeping gutters clean is a simple task that can help prevent problems such as clogged downpipes and rainwater leaks in the roof cavity.
It is too easy to forget or postpone the provision for routine gutter and downspout inspection and cleaning. Otherwise, the general rule is that gutter cleaning should be done once every 12 months, better - in late autumn, when nearby trees have already lost their leaves. Tenants are expected to keep the property they rent in good condition, but cleaning gutters is considered a safety hazard, so it's up to the landlord to organize and pay. However, if you have specific tree species in your garden near the house that shed flowers and leaves during the summer, inspecting and cleaning your gutters then and later in the colder months will save you from worrying about both fire hazards and water damage to the property.
Although tenants have a responsibility to keep the rented property in good condition, take care of the garden, and address minor repair issues, cleaning and maintaining gutters is often a landlord's obligation. If you notice your gutters starting to leak or overflow, it's a sign that they need cleaning (or professional inspection). That said, someone still has to foot the bill for gutters to be properly cleaned and checked. How often gutters and downspouts are cleaned depends on the location of the property and its surroundings.
Therefore, regular gutter cleaning ensures that fallen leaves and twigs, tree flowers, and sometimes insect, rodent and bird nests and debris, are removed in time and long before major blockages occur.
