Six checks, done before any money changes hands, filter out almost every rogue roofer. Roofing is one of the few trades where you cannot easily check the work, since it happens ten metres up, behind scaffolding, and looks finished long before you get a proper view.
That is exactly why rogue traders gravitate to it. Here is what actually protects you.
1. Check the accreditations that mean something
Two schemes carry real weight in UK roofing. TrustMark is the UK government-endorsed quality scheme for trades that work in and around the home. It vets registered businesses against required standards and customer-service promises, and gives you a formal complaints process if a job goes wrong.
NFRC (National Federation of Roofing Contractors) checks its members and asks them to back their guarantees with insurance. The NFRC Competent Person Scheme (formerly branded CompetentRoofer) lets a roofer self-certify that roof refurbishment work complies with Building Regulations, once 50% or more of the roof is being replaced.
Neither scheme is required by law, so plenty of good roofers work without one. Membership is still a strong, positive sign. It takes moments to check a number on the scheme’s own site, rather than trusting a logo on a van.
2. Confirm the business is real on Companies House
If a roofer trades as a limited company, look them up on the free Companies House register. Check the company is active, see how long it has traded, and note whether it files accounts on time.
A new company is not always a problem. A string of dissolved companies at the same address is a warning sign worth asking about directly.
3. Ask to see public liability insurance
Any roofer working on your property should carry public liability insurance, typically at least £2 million. This is what pays out if a tile falls on a car, or water damage follows a botched repair.
Ask for the certificate, check the date, and note the insurer’s name. Our public liability insurance guide explains why this one document matters more than most homeowners realise. A roofer who bristles at the question is telling you something.
4. Get everything in writing
A proper roofer quotes from a survey, not a glance from the pavement, and puts it in writing. A good written quote names the materials — tile or slate type, membrane, lead code — and itemises scaffolding on its own line.
It states clearly what the price covers and what it does not, and it gives a guarantee period. Our what to check with a roof installer guide sets out exactly what a solid quote should cover. A single number scribbled on a business card gives you nothing to hold anyone to later.
5. Never pay a large deposit
This is the single most important rule. A roofing scam almost always follows the same pattern. A large deposit changes hands, then the roofer vanishes or keeps making excuses.
A small deposit for materials, on a full re-roof, can be fair. Never hand over a large sum before work starts, and never pay in full until you have seen the finished job. Pay by a method that gives you some protection, and hold back a small retention until you are happy with the result.
6. Compare two or three quotes
Identical roofing jobs often attract quotes that vary by thousands of pounds. Get two or three itemised quotes and compare like with like.
The cheapest often skips scaffolding or uses a lesser membrane, while the priciest is not always the best. Comparing forces each roofer to justify their price, and it shows you the outlier straight away.
Specialist jobs need a specialist check
A few jobs reward a sharper look. Flat roofing rewards a fitter who works with it often, since installation quality matters more than the material itself — our flat roofing specialist vs general roofer guide explains why.
Chimney work is another. Ask specifically about chimney flashing leaks, and whether the job needs repointing or a full rebuild, since both are common chimney faults a generalist can miss.
If a quote includes gutter work, our gutter repair vs replacement guide helps you judge whether that scope makes sense. And if the job follows storm damage, read our storm damage repair guide before you agree a price, since insurance-funded jobs draw more than their share of chancers.
An asbestos garage or outbuilding roof needs a roofer who knows the safe removal rules, not just anyone with a ladder.
Where we fit in
Find Trusted Roofers is a national network that connects homeowners with local roofers, including roof repair specialists in Derby and roofers in Bristol and Birmingham, as well as roofers covering Newcastle upon Tyne. We are not a roofing contractor, and we do not claim to vet or verify every roofer in our network.
Run the six checks above yourself, whoever introduces you to a roofer, since that is what actually protects you. See our full roof repairs guide for everything else the job might involve. Tell us about yours and we will match you with a local roofer covering your postcode.
