We live on the 1st floor of a 3 storey (sounds kind a weird, as ground floor is floor 0...) sandstone built townhouse that is converted into 3 flats.
Scaffolding costs a fortune...
For DIY work (gutter cleaning, minor repairs etc.) could you install a line of resin anchor points along the top of the wall and suspend some kind of work platform off it? You still want to be roped to an anchor, but it seems like you could do a fair bit that way.
I've seen Fall Arrest PPE anchor points installed on buildings before, and on modern buildings the windows are often cleaned from suspended gantries.
Madness or genius?
(personal use only...)