Is annual gutter cleaning necessary for every property?

Which homes need cleaning every year?

Homes that need cleaning every year include those with trees within a few metres of the roof, roofs with visible moss, and older roofs that shed grit. Terraced houses on a shared gutter run also benefit from yearly cleaning, because one neighbour's blockage affects the houses next door. In Blackburn, frequent heavy rain means a partly blocked gutter overflows sooner than it would in a drier part of the country.

Which homes can go longer?

Homes that can sometimes go longer between cleans are those on open sites with no trees nearby, newer roofs with no moss, and deep gutters with a good fall to the outlets. Even then, a yearly look from the ground, during heavy rain, is worthwhile. If you see no overflowing and no plants in the gutter, you may be able to leave a professional clean for another year.

Why is a yearly check worthwhile even when cleaning isn't needed?

A yearly check is worthwhile because gutters fail gradually. Brackets loosen, seals perish and gutters lose their fall, and you rarely notice until water is running down the wall. Catching a dripping joint or a loose bracket early is a small job. Leaving it can mean damp walls or a sagging gutter that needs repairing.

Do flats and bungalows need yearly cleaning?

Flats and bungalows face the same issues. Bungalows have low gutters that are easy to check, so owners can often see when cleaning is due. In blocks of flats, gutters are usually the responsibility of the freeholder or management company, so check before booking anything yourself.

What about rented homes?

In rented homes, gutters are usually the landlord's responsibility, because they're part of the structure and exterior of the property. Tenants should report overflowing gutters or damp to the landlord promptly. Landlords with several properties often book yearly cleans for all of them, and photos from the contractor help show the work was done.

How do you decide for your home?

You decide by watching how your gutters behave in heavy rain and how much falls into them. If you're unsure, book a clean and ask the contractor how full the gutters were. Their answer tells you whether once a year is right, or whether you can go longer.