While there is no fixed clearance requirement in the NCC or council guidelines purely for maintenance purposes, Expandify generally recommends a minimum of 1 metre of clearance around all sides of the home where possible.

This allows:

Access for general upkeep such as cleaning windows and walls

Safe inspection of gutters, downpipes, and roof trim

Visual checks of the footing system for pest or moisture issues

Some blocks may not allow this clearance due to setbacks or boundary constraints. If your home is closer than 1 metre to another structure or fence, it's important to ensure access is still possible from at least one side.