Signs you may have a guttering problems claim
- Water overflowing from gutters when it rains
- Gutters sagging, cracked or hanging off
- Downpipes broken, blocked or disconnected
- Green staining or algae on external walls
- Damp patches inside near the top of walls
- Plants growing in the gutters
Gutters are the landlord's job
Gutters, downpipes, hoppers and gullies are part of the exterior of the building and are expressly covered by Section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985. Keeping them clear is routine maintenance a landlord is expected to carry out, not something a tenant should have to climb a ladder to do.
What goes wrong
Over time gutters fill with leaves, moss and grit, sag on failed brackets, crack at the joints or come away from the fascia. Downpipes split or get disconnected from the drain. Every time it rains, water that should be carried away is instead poured down the face of the wall or onto the ground beside the foundations.
The damage that follows
Walls that are soaked for months lose their ability to keep water out. The result is penetrating damp inside the home, usually high up on external walls or around window heads, followed by mould, peeling decoration and rotting timber. Water at the foot of the wall can bridge the damp-proof course and cause rising damp, and in winter saturated walls make the whole home colder and more expensive to heat.
What you can claim
- Clearing, repair or replacement of the guttering and downpipes.
- Repair of the internal damage: damp treatment, plastering, redecoration.
- Compensation as a percentage of rent for the period the damp affected your home.
- Replacement of belongings damaged by damp and mould.
Evidence that helps
Film the gutters overflowing in the rain. Photograph the stained external wall and the damp inside. Note each time you reported it.
Think you have a housing disrepair claim?
Tell us what is wrong with your home and we will check, free of charge, whether you can claim repairs and compensation on a no win, no fee basis.
Guttering disrepair: your questions answered
My landlord says gutters are not urgent. Are they right?
Clearing a gutter is not an emergency in itself, but once it is causing damp inside the home it is disrepair and must be dealt with promptly.
I live in a flat. Who is responsible for the gutters?
Your landlord, even if the building is managed by someone else. They must arrange the repair with the freeholder or management company.
Can I claim if only the outside wall is affected so far?
Section 11 covers the exterior regardless, and you can insist on repair. Compensation is higher once the inside of your home is affected.
Should I clear the gutters myself?
No. It is dangerous and it is not your responsibility. Report it in writing instead.