Who is responsible for gutter and roof cleaning in Queensland strata schemes?

QLD

Maintenance & Common Property

Who is responsible in QLD for cleaning gutters and roofs?

Who is responsible in QLD for cleaning gutters and roofs? Is this the responsibility of the lot owner or the body corporate?
If blocked gutters are the cause of internal ceiling or wall damage, is strata management responsible for this?

The responsible party depends on whether the lots in the scheme are created in a standard format plan or building format plan.

The responsible party depends on whether the lots in the scheme are created in a standard format plan or building format plan. If the lots are created in a standard format plan – the responsibility will ordinarily lie with the lot owner. If the lots are created in a building format plan – the responsibility will ordinarily lie with the body corporate (unless the gutter only services one lot and forms part of a device).
Strata management won't be responsible but the body corporate will be if it can be proven that:
1. The body corporate had a maintenance obligation and failed to discharge that duty; and
2. The cause of the damage was directly attributable to the maintenance failure.

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Published: 21 Apr 2026

Last Updated: 7 Jul 2026

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Answer by

Todd Garsden

Mahoneys

Todd is an experienced property lawyer who heads up Mahoneys body corporate team.

Todd specialises in body corporate law and predominantly acts for bodies corporate, body corporate managers and lot owners on all matters affecting bodies corporate.

Todd is an active member of the Strata Community Association (Qld). In 2019 he was appointed to the Strata Community Association (Qld) legislation committee and assists in making submissions on behalf of the Strata Community Association (Qld) on issues such as legislative reform in body corporate law.

As Todd is also a body corporate committee member, he understands the day to day requirements of administering a body corporate.

Todd has a focus on achieving practical and commercial results for his clients and understands the market in which bodies corporate operate within.

Todd also provides body corporate managers, and other industry stakeholders, with presentations and training on matters affecting the body corporate industry.