Emptying Gutters in Winter Saves Time and Money

Winter is well and truly with us, and with it the usual rain, wind and storms, all combining to make our lives miserable, with blocked gutters being one of the chores we least feel like doing at this time of the year. It’s bad enough cleaning the gutters in our own houses, but as landlords, we really need to check our rental properties as well, if we are keen to save money. Allen Realty have recently published on their blogsite an article regarding their recommendations to landlords to make clearing out their gutters during the winter months an essential requirement. As they point out in the blog, gutters are obviously not our biggest concern but we need to be aware that water leaks can be caused by blocked spouting and downpipes, which can ultimately lead to the need for major repairs and unnecessary expense.

We neglect our blocked gutters ‘to our peril”! It really doesn’t take a lot of work to clear our gutters of dirt, leaves and other debris, keeping in mind, for those on tank water, that this can make a substantial difference to the quality of the drinking water. As the Allen Realty team recommend, it is a good idea to have a winter maintenance list, as similarly we will have a spring/summer maintenance list, detailing the issues that need to be addressed each winter, including spouting and drains, chimney sweeping and tree-trimming.

Award winning Allen Realty property management offers landlords all of these services on an annual basis, helping their landlords to avoid damage which may cost time and big money. It goes without saying that a constant leak can also affect the foundations of a property and lead to more moisture in the home which can result in mould and mildew. A more serious result could be the tenant making a complaint to the Tenancy Tribunal.

As the Allen Realty blog points out “It is a landlord’s responsibility to maintain the property, and this includes ensuring there are no leaky pipes. Section 45 of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986 requires a landlord to ‘provide and maintain the premises in a reasonable state of repair’ and roofs and spouting are no exception.”

For anyone requiring assistance to manage their rental property, the team at Allen Realty are there to help. Please visit their website at www.allenrealty.co.nz .