Finding a gutter cleaning company in London is easy. Finding one that will do the job properly, treat your property with care, and not disappear when something goes wrong is a different matter. The market is full of one-man operations with a ladder and a Facebook page, and distinguishing them from genuine professionals is not always straightforward.
These are the seven questions every homeowner in central London should ask before handing over a booking — and what the answers tell you about the company you are about to hire.
1. Are You Fully Insured?
This is non-negotiable. Any company working at height on your property must carry public liability insurance — minimum £1 million, ideally £2 million or more. Ask for the policy number and insurer name. A legitimate company will provide this without hesitation.
If a company hesitates, deflects, or tells you insurance is not necessary for a small job, end the conversation. If something goes wrong on your property — a damaged fascia, a cracked tile, a worker injured on site — you are exposed if they are not insured.
At ExteriorCare, we carry full public liability insurance on every job across all central London postcodes. We provide documentation on request.
1. Are You Fully Insured?
This is non-negotiable. Any company working at height on your property must carry public liability insurance — minimum £1 million, ideally £2 million or more. Ask for the policy number and insurer name. A legitimate company will provide this without hesitation.
If a company hesitates, deflects, or tells you insurance is not necessary for a small job, end the conversation. If something goes wrong on your property — a damaged fascia board, a cracked tile, a worker injured on site — you are exposed if they are not insured.
At ExteriorCare, we carry full public liability insurance on every job across all central London postcodes. We provide documentation on request.
2. Do You Use Ladders Against the Building?
For period properties — Victorian terraces, stucco render, painted brick — ladder contact with the building is a real risk. Ladder feet and tops leave marks, chip render, and can crack decorative stonework. On a Belgravia townhouse or a South Kensington stucco terrace, that damage is expensive to repair.
Ask specifically whether the company uses ground-level vacuum equipment or high-reach systems that avoid direct contact with the building. See how we approach access on period properties.
3. What Exactly Does the Service Include?
A gutter clean should always include debris removal from all accessible channels, downpipe flushing to confirm clear flow, and a basic condition check. Many companies quote a low price and then charge separately for downpipe work, or leave debris on the pavement for you to clear.
Ask for a written scope of work before confirming. If a company cannot tell you clearly what is and is not included, their quote is meaningless.
4. Will You Provide a Condition Report and Photographs?
After every professional clean, you should receive photographic evidence of the work completed — before and after shots of the gutter runs, and a written note of anything that requires attention. Every ExteriorCare gutter cleaning visit includes a full photographic report at no extra charge.
This is your documentation for insurance purposes, for building sale records, and for any future dispute about property condition. Companies that resist this request are usually companies that do not want a record of what they found — or what they missed.
5. Do You Have Experience With Period Properties?
Victorian and Edwardian properties — which make up the majority of residential stock in Knightsbridge, Hampstead, Chelsea, and Notting Hill — have specific characteristics that require specialist knowledge. Cast iron guttering behaves differently from uPVC. Parapet roofs with hidden valley gutters require a different inspection approach. Stucco and painted render demand careful handling around the gutter line.
Ask whether the company has experience with the type of property you own. Read how we handle roof and gutter maintenance on North London period homes.
6. Are There Any Additional Charges Not in the Quote?
Congestion Charge Zone surcharges, parking costs, additional fees for downpipe work, call-out charges if access is more complex than expected — these are all legitimate costs, but they should be disclosed upfront, not added to the invoice after the job.
Ask specifically: is this the final price, and under what circumstances would it change? A professional company will give you a clear answer. If the answer is vague, budget for surprises.
7. Can You Provide References or Reviews From Properties in My Area?
A company that regularly works in Chelsea, Mayfair, or Hampstead will have clients in those areas who are willing to vouch for them. Ask for references, or check Google reviews specifically for mentions of your postcode or property type.
Volume of reviews matters less than specificity. Ten reviews from homeowners in SW3 and NW3 are worth more than a hundred generic five-star ratings with no detail.
The Answer to All Seven Questions
ExteriorCare operates across central and North London — SW1, SW3, SW5, SW7, W1, W8, W11, NW3, NW8, and TW9. We carry full public liability insurance, use ground-level access equipment where possible, provide photographic condition reports on every visit, and quote a fixed price with no hidden charges.
If your property also has a driveway or patio that needs attention, our patio and driveway cleaning service can be combined with a gutter clean in a single visit.
Ready to book? Call ExteriorCare on +44 7851 135711. We provide a free quote within 30 minutes and operate 7 days a week across central and North London
