Cleaning gutters in upstairs flat - no access to back garden

[DK123]

I'm hoping someone might know what to do!

I need to get the gutters cleaned out in a first floor flat in a converted old house. The front can be reached easily but the back has downstairs' extension's flat roof sticking out some way below it and their back garden, so I can't see how anyone could access the gutters at the back of the first floor. The people downstairs are not very friendly either and don't usually reply or answer the door if you try to ask them anything.

Has anyone else worked out how to sort this out and has any idea what to do?

Thank you!

Do you not have any access to the back at all? I got my gutters cleaned out by a guy that had a gutter hoover type thing on a pole system so he didn't need to climb up ladders or anything and was all done from ground level

@dementedpixie thank you for replying. The problem is the ground floor flat belongs to someone else and that includes the garden. I can't get any access to it (it's a terrace so you can't get down the sides either)

Legally they have to allow you access for maintenance. Also the gutters are the responsibility of the freeholder to maintain - if you share the freehold, they should share the cost of cleaning them

It's in the interests of all in the building to allow this!

Is your flat share of freehold or leasehold? There will be something written into the management agreement or lease which requires the downstairs flat to allow reasonable access to the rear of the property for maintenance and repairs. If you’re a leaseholder contact your freeholder and they can send a letter of notice. If you share freehold then there should be something written into the management agreement about how to give notice. Or, even if the downstairs neighbours aren’t friendly, drop a letter through their door explaining what you need to do and suggesting some dates for access. As previous poster says, gutters are usually cleaned with rods from ground level so you shouldn’t need ladders.

I recently had a gutter repaired above a window that couldn't be reached from the back. A roofing company came, climbed out the front window, went over the roof and repaired the gutter at the back - charged £60!

Can you get a ladder out of the window and put it n the flat roof (on a board) and reach the gutter like that?

Sorry - I should say they climbed out of the Velux skylight window that is on the front slope of the roof.

As @ComtesseDeSpair said

Thank you for replying everyone.

It's a leasehold flat but the gutter are my responsibility, not the freeholder's. I am hoping that perhaps someone can get onto downstairs' kitchen extension roof to do it from there maybe

Just coming on to echo @Clymene - the folks downstairs are legally obliged to allow you onto their property to undertake reasonable maintenance to your own.

I live in the downstairs flat with the same set up (but am v friendly!) Maybe put a note through their door and then if they don't respond look at someone going on to the roof as a last resort. At least you'd have proof that you had tried to contact them!