Homeowners who clear pavements of snow and ice could leave themselves open to claims if anyone slips on the pavement, the House of Lords has confirmed.
Those who clear away snow, but leave the underlying ice on the pavement could become the victims of compensation claims, despite their good intentions, a report claimed.
Lord Davies of Oldham, putting the government's position forward in the House of Lords, said: "No householder is at all responsible, providing they do not touch the pavement, which is owned by the local authority.
"The moment they address the issue of the pavement with a view to improving things - which may lead to a deterioration - it may be their action makes them culpable."
According to the report, those sued for compensation over this matter would only be protect by their insurance if they had taken out an extra personal injury indemnity policy.
Even then, the insurer could claim the householder had acted negligently if they had made the pathway dangerous, claimed the report.
"If people completely and utterly and totally clear away all the snow and return the pavement to the situation it was in before the snow landed, they have done an excellent job.
"If it's done in a less than complete manner and leaves ice, which is more dangerous than the original covering of snow, it may not necessarily be the local authority that's responsible but the householder."
Tory Baroness Carnegy demanded that the law be changed to protect those trying to "do their bit" for the community, concluded the report.
