Who is Liable for Home Guttering?

Anybody who has ever rented a property will know that both the landlord and tenant have certain responsibilities, which are normally detailed in the tenancy agreement signed when the tenant moves into the property. In addition to any tenancy agreement, however, there are also a number of laws that govern the relationship between a landlord and a tenant, and the most prominent of these within the United Kingdom is the Landlord and Tenant Act, 1985.

Under the terms of Section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act, 1985, responsibility for the maintenance and repair of external structures, including drains, gutters and external pipes, falls squarely on the shoulders of the landlord. In addition, while it is often thought that the tenant can be given the responsibility for keeping the gutters on the property clear of such things as leaves, this is not in fact the case, and the tenant’s only responsibility is for any blockage or damage caused by his own actions.

So, if you are a landlord, responsibility for the guttering on your property is something that you should think about carefully, because replacing the guttering could be an expensive job. That said, there are ways to save yourself a lot of money in terms of replacement, and maintenance, in the future.

Many people choose to fit plastic, or PVC, guttering because it is generally quite easy to install, is a reasonably cheap option, and does not rust. Plastic guttering however does not stand up to the elements very well and exposure to the ultra violet rays of the sun, widely differing summer and winter temperatures and such things as snow, rain and wind, causes deterioration to the plastic, which can buckle or crack over time. In addition plastic guttering cannot match the appearance, and the variety of shapes, seen in traditional metal guttering, often clashing with the appearance of the property and, quite frankly, simply looking cheap.

A much better alternative is to fit aluminium, copper, zinc, cast iron or GRP guttering and a leading player in this field for several years now has been Yeoman Rainguard which was established 30 years ago and provides a nationwide service.

Aluminium gutters are ideal for many traditional buildings, but can also fit perfectly into plans for new building projects. Unlike many other forms of guttering, aluminium can be styled easily to fit both older, traditional property designs, as well as modern designs. Aluminium guttering is extremely durable and can be given either a paint finish or left unpainted, in which case it will gradually oxidize to a dull grey colour, with its oxidation protecting the surface from further weathering.

If you want to capture that truly classic look though, you will need to turn to cast iron gutters, which both look beautiful and are extremely durable. They will however need to be repainted every 3 to 5 five years, depending upon how exposed your property is.

For an aesthetically striking result, you cannot do much better than to choose either zinc or copper guttering. In both cases these metals can be left to weather naturally to produce both a wonderful appearance and an oxidized finish that will protect the system for many years to come.

Finally, GRP is also a perfect replacement for traditional guttering, and has the advantage of being one of the most versatile and durable materials available today for rainwater systems. This is a very good choice if you wish to maintain the traditional image of the property, but to work with materials that have been designed for use in the twenty-first century.

Choosing the correct guttering is essential if you want your property to look good, wish to cut down on maintenance costs, and are looking for something that will last for many years into the future. Investing in the right rainwater system today, will save you a lot of time, trouble and expense later on.