How to Spot Rogue Roofers: What to Look Out For

A rogue roofer is someone who turns up at your door uninvited, tells you your roof needs urgent work, and pressures you into agreeing there and then.

Kent County Council Trading Standards puts it simply: reputable roofers don’t cold call. If someone knocks out of the blue, you don’t have to agree to anything, and you shouldn’t hand over any money.

If you’ve already agreed to work worth more than £42 at your door, you usually have 14 days to cancel. You can report the trader to the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 0808 223 1133, and if you ever feel threatened, call 999.

Rogue roofers sell roofing work through pressure, deception, or both. Kent Trading Standards groups them with cowboy builders and gardening scammers under a single label: doorstep criminals.

They usually start with something small and believable, such as a few slipped tiles, a cracked chimney stack or gutters that supposedly need replacing.

The goal isn’t to fix your roof properly. It’s to get paid, ideally in cash, and move on before anyone can trace them. Kent County Council notes that doorstep criminals rarely leave paperwork, often give false names and addresses, and use phone numbers that soon stop being answered.

The details vary, but Trading Standards and roofing trade bodies see the same pattern again and again:

1. The knock. They tell you they’re working on a house nearby and happened to notice a problem with your roof.
2. The “evidence”. They point up at the roof or show you a photo on their phone. There’s no way of knowing that photo is actually of your house.
3. The deal. You’re offered a good price, but only if you agree today while they’re in the area.
4. The bigger problem. Once they’re up there, they suddenly find something much worse, and the price goes up with it.
5. The payment. They ask for cash, sometimes offering to drive you to the bank to get it.
6. The disappearance. The work is poor, half-finished or was never needed, and the number you were given no longer connects.

The Confederation of Roofing Contractors (CORC) says this switch from a small job to a much bigger one is the most common complaint it hears about doorstep “roofers”.

It doesn’t always end there. Kent County Council warns that criminals sometimes go back to homes they’ve already targeted, this time posing as police or Trading Standards officers, and ask for money in connection with a supposed court case.

• They turned up without being asked.
• They insist the work has to be done today, or the price will go up.
• They want paying in cash, or in full before they start.
• They offer to take you to the bank or a cashpoint.
• There’s no landline, no business address, or just a first name.
• You don’t get a written quote or contract.
• They don’t mention your right to cancel, or say it doesn’t apply to you.
• They’re keen to get started straight away.
• The price climbs once they’re on the roof.
• They claim to belong to a trade association but go quiet when you ask which one.

Any one of these on its own isn’t proof of a scam. But if you’re seeing two or three, it’s time to say no and close the door.

If you agree to work in your own home, the law gives you a lot of protection. Under the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013, it counts as an “off-premises” contract, which means:

• You usually have 14 days to cancel any contract over £42, and you don’t have to give a reason.
• The trader must give you your cancellation rights in writing before you’re bound by the contract. Failing to do so is a criminal offence.
• If they never told you about your right to cancel, your cancellation period can be extended by up to 12 months.
• A trader can only charge for work done during those 14 days if you asked them, in writing, to start early. If they started without being asked, or never gave you the cancellation information, you won’t have to pay for that work if you cancel.

There’s one exception worth knowing about. If you called a roofer out yourself for an urgent repair, you don’t get the 14-day right to cancel that repair, although any extra work they offer while they’re there is still covered. This is set out in Trading Standards’ Business Companion guidance.

To cancel, just tell the trader clearly. It’s best to do this in writing and keep a copy, so you can show when you sent it.

1. Don’t agree to anything on the doorstep. You’re entitled to say no.
2. Don’t let them into your home or up onto your roof.
3. Don’t pay or sign anything.
4. Ask them to leave. If you’re unsure, tell them to book an appointment for when a friend or family member can be there.
5. If you feel frightened or threatened, call 999. For anything non-urgent, call the police on 101.
6. If it’s safe to, make a note of their van, registration and any names or numbers they gave you.
7. Report them to the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 0808 223 1133, which passes reports on to Trading Standards.
8. Let your neighbours know, especially anyone older or living alone.

The safest roofer is one you found and contacted yourself. Before you agree to any work, it’s worth checking a few things:

• Trade association membership. Search the CORC member directory or call CORC on 01206 306600. CORC checks members’ identity, address, credit history and roofing insurance, among other things, before approving them. A logo on a van or website isn’t proof on its own, so always check with the association directly.
• Kent’s approved trader list. Kent County Council runs Trading Standards Checked, a list of vetted local home improvement traders.
• A genuine business address and landline.
• Three written quotes, each setting out the work, materials and total price including VAT.
• Insurance that specifically covers roofing work, not just general building.
• Sensible payment terms. Never pay the full amount up front, and avoid paying in cash.
• Independent reviews on Google or trusted trade sites, ideally from people in your area.

It’s also worth knowing that CORC’s code of conduct says members should avoid cold calling and doorstep pressure selling. Any member caught doing it is suspended while CORC investigates.

If someone has told you your roof needs urgent work, an independent inspection is the quickest way to find out whether they’re right.

At On Call Roofing and Repair Service, our drone roof inspection lets us check your roof without anyone needing to climb up. You get to see the photos and footage for yourself, so you’re not relying on a stranger’s word or a picture on their phone. If there is a genuine problem, we’ll explain what it is, what it’ll take to fix, and what can safely wait.

And if your roof turns out to be fine, that’s well worth knowing too.

Do genuine roofers ever knock on doors? Reputable roofers do not cold call, according to Kent County Council Trading Standards. Members of the Confederation of Roofing Contractors are expected to avoid cold calling and doorstep pressure selling under its code of conduct. If a roofer knocks uninvited, treat it as a warning sign.

Can I cancel roofing work I agreed to at my door? Yes, in most cases. If you agreed to work worth more than £42 in your home, you usually have 14 days to cancel without giving a reason. If the trader did not give you written cancellation information, that period can be extended by up to 12 months.

Do I have to pay if a doorstep roofer has already started? Not always. A trader can only charge for work done in the 14-day cancellation period if you asked them in writing to start early. If they started on their own initiative, or never gave you cancellation information, you do not have to pay for that work if you cancel.

Who do I report a rogue roofer to? Call 999 if you feel threatened, or 101 for non-urgent police matters. Report the trader to the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 0808 223 1133, which passes reports to Trading Standards. If you have lost money, also report it to Report Fraud on 0300 123 2040.

How can I check a roofer is legitimate? Check trade body membership directly with the association, such as the CORC directory or 01206 306600. In Kent, you can also search Trading Standards Checked. Get three written quotes, confirm roofing insurance, and never pay in full up front or in cash.

A roofer said my tiles are loose. How do I know if it’s true? Ask a roofer you have contacted yourself for an independent inspection. A drone inspection shows your whole roof in photos and video without anyone climbing up, so you can see the condition for yourself rather than relying on a stranger’s word.