Snow clearing and shovelling – agreements, responsibility and RUT

What snow clearing involves

Snow clearing can be anything from shovelling steps and paths by hand to ploughing a driveway with machinery. Many companies offer seasonal agreements where they come automatically at a certain snow depth, while others take jobs as needed.

• Clearing driveways, paths, steps and entrances.
• Gritting or salting against ice.
• Removing snow when the piles get too big.
• Clearing snow from the roof when there are large amounts.

Responsibility for the pavement and roof

In many municipalities the property owner is responsible for keeping the pavement outside the property clear of snow and ice. The rules vary, so check what applies in your municipality. Snow and ice on the roof can also be a hazard to passers-by, and as the property owner you are responsible for making sure it does not fall and injure anyone.

Clearing a roof involves risks and requires safety equipment. Ask the company how they work safely and make sure they have liability insurance.

What affects the price?

Snow clearing is often priced per season, per visit or per hour. Ask for a quote and compare what is included.

• The size of the area and whether the work is done by hand or by machine.
• At what snow depth the company comes and how quickly.
• Whether gritting, salting and snow removal are included.
• The number of visits included in a seasonal agreement.
• Roof clearing, which takes more time and requires safety equipment.

RUT deduction

Snow shovelling at your home – on your property and on the roof of the house – qualifies for the RUT deduction of 50 % of the labour cost. Snow clearing of streets or roads outside the property, and snow clearing for a joint property association or cooperative, does not normally qualify. Materials such as grit and salt do not qualify. ROT and RUT combined may not exceed SEK 75,000 per person per year. If you are unsure, check with Skatteverket. Read more in our guide to ROT and RUT deductions.

What the agreement should include

• Which areas are to be cleared and in what order of priority.
• At what snow depth the company comes and how quickly.
• Whether gritting, salting and snow removal are included.
• Price per season, per visit or per hour.
• Contract period and termination.
• Labour cost and RUT deduction shown separately.

Preparation

• Mark edges, fences, drains and other obstacles before the snow arrives.
• Say where the snow may be piled so it does not cause problems when it thaws.
• Remove loose objects from the areas to be ploughed.
• Consider whether you need help with the roof.

Questions to ask and common mistakes

• How quickly do you come after a snowfall?
• What happens if you cannot make it?
• Do you have liability insurance if something is damaged during ploughing?
• How do you work safely when clearing roofs?

Common mistakes include signing an agreement without a clear snow depth and response time, forgetting the pavement you may be responsible for, letting snow be piled against the house wall and waiting too long to have the roof cleared.

It is also wise to sign the agreement well before winter. Once the first snow has arrived, many companies are already fully booked and it can be hard to get help. Agree on how you will communicate during the season, for example whether the company lets you know when they have been. Keep the agreement and the invoices, as they are needed if something is damaged or if you want to check your RUT deduction afterwards.

Getting quotes through Fixtorget

Describe the areas, their approximate size and whether you want a seasonal agreement or help as needed when you post your request for free. Up to four vetted companies can contact you. On the company profile you can see whether the insurance has been reviewed by Fixtorget and what previous customers thought.

Frequently asked questions