Gutters are best cleared in late autumn once the trees are bare, once a year for most houses. The work earns ROT, not RUT, and only if you own a detached house. In a bostadsrätt you get no deduction for it at all.
Why it matters
A blocked gutter does not get rid of the water. It runs over the edge and down the facade instead, exactly where it should not.
- Damp damage to the facade and foundations, expensive and slow to spot
- Ice and icicles in winter, where standing water freezes
- The gutter pulling loose under the weight of wet leaves, snow and ice
- Frost splitting gutters left full of water
This is maintenance, not cosmetics. A two-hour clearance is cheaper than a damp facade.
When and how often
| Situation | How often |
|---|---|
| No trees near the house | Once a year, in late autumn |
| Deciduous trees near the roof | Twice: early and late autumn |
| Pine or spruce near the house | Two to three times, needles fall year round |
| After a storm | An extra check whatever the season |
The important one is the clearance once the trees are bare, usually November. Do it too early and the gutter simply fills again with the leaves that follow.
An extra check in spring after the snow melts is worth the effort, since ice and snow tend to move debris around over winter.
What it costs
2026 guide figures, before ROT:
| Before ROT | After ROT | |
|---|---|---|
| Single-storey, easy access | 1,500–2,500 SEK | 1,050–1,750 SEK |
| Two-storey | 2,500–4,000 SEK | 1,750–2,800 SEK |
| Difficult access or a lift | 4,000–8,000 SEK | 2,800–5,600 SEK |
ROT is 30 percent of the labour, so less generous than RUT's 50 percent. Price is driven by the height and length of the roof, and above all by how easy it is to reach. If scaffolding or a lift is needed the cost climbs quickly, and the equipment itself earns no deduction.
Many firms will clear gutters, inspect the roof and wash the tiles in the same visit. Since the call-out applies anyway, it is usually worth asking for a combined price.
ROT, not RUT
This catches nearly everyone out, and it is easy to miscalculate.
Garden work such as raking leaves is RUT, at 50 percent. But cleaning roofs and gutters is ROT, at 30 percent (Skatteverket). The same autumn day, the same leaves, two different deductions.
Two practical consequences:
- Ask for separate lines on the invoice if the same firm clears leaves on the ground and clears the gutters. Otherwise you risk the wrong deduction being applied to the whole amount.
- ROT and RUT share one ceiling, 75,000 SEK per person per year, of which at most 50,000 may be ROT.
Detached houses only
ROT for cleaning roofs and gutters applies only to a småhus, meaning a villa, terraced house or holiday home that you own.
- Bostadsrätt: no deduction. Cleaning facades, roofs, roof tiles and gutters is specifically excluded, not even if the bostadsrätt is a terraced house.
- Ägarlägenhet: no deduction for roofs and gutters.
- Renting: no ROT at all, and the roof is the landlord's responsibility.
If you live in an apartment building the roof belongs to the association. If you see the gutters overflowing, report it to them rather than ordering the work yourself.
More on what applies to each housing type in the ROT deduction.
Doing it yourself
You can, but this is work at height, and it is the most common cause of serious accidents around the home.
If you do it anyway:
- Ladder on firm, level ground, never on wet grass or loose gravel
- Set the angle properly and let the ladder extend well past the roof edge
- Have someone at home who knows you are up there
- Never reach sideways from a ladder, move it instead
- Do not go up on a wet or frosty roof
If the roof is steep, high or slippery, or you feel at all unsure, this is a job for someone with the right equipment and insurance. It is also the only way to get the deduction.
Common questions
When should gutters be cleared?
In late autumn once the trees are bare, usually November. With many deciduous trees nearby, an earlier pass helps too.
How often do gutters need clearing?
Once a year for most houses, twice if there are trees close to the roof.
What does gutter cleaning cost?
Around 1,500 to 4,000 SEK for a normal house roof before ROT, depending on height and access.
Is gutter cleaning ROT or RUT?
ROT, at 30 percent of the labour (Skatteverket), and only for detached houses.
Do I get the deduction in a bostadsrätt?
No, cleaning roofs and gutters is excluded for a bostadsrätt and an ägarlägenhet.
What happens if gutters are never cleared?
Water runs over the edge, causing damp damage to the facade and foundations, plus ice and icicles in winter.
Related guides: the autumn garden cleanup, leaf removal cost and the ROT deduction. Back to handyman services in Stockholm.