Getting your roof repaired or replaced is a significant investment. Unfortunately, the roofing industry attracts its fair share of rogue traders who prey on unsuspecting homeowners. In London and Surrey, where property values are high, dodgy roofers can cost you thousands in shoddy work and unnecessary repairs.
Knowing how to spot a dodgy roofer before they start work can save you money, stress, and potential damage to your property. This guide walks you through the key warning signs and provides practical steps to help you protect yourself and your home.
The Classic Door-to-Door Scam
One of the oldest tricks in the book is the unexpected knock on your door. A “roofer” claims they were working nearby and noticed loose tiles or damage to your roof. They offer to fix it immediately at a discount price using leftover materials.
This is almost always a scam. Legitimate roofing companies don’t operate this way. They have scheduled jobs and don’t randomly cruise neighbourhoods looking for work. These cowboys often create damage themselves or vastly exaggerate minor issues to justify expensive repairs.
Red flags with door-to-door roofers:
- Unsolicited visits claiming to have spotted damage from the street
- Pressure to make an immediate decision
- Claims about “leftover materials” from a nearby job
- Reluctance to provide business cards or written quotes
- Vague business names without proper branding
Cash-Only Payment Demands
Professional roofing contractors accept multiple payment methods and provide proper invoices. If a roofer insists on cash-only payments or asks you to pay into a personal bank account rather than a business account, walk away.
Cash payments leave no paper trail, making it nearly impossible to pursue legal action if the work is substandard. These roofers often disappear after receiving payment, leaving you with unfinished or botched repairs that cost even more to fix properly.
Missing Insurance and Credentials
Every legitimate roofer should carry public liability insurance and employer’s liability insurance if they have staff. This protects you if someone gets injured on your property or if their work causes damage.
Ask to see proof of insurance before any work begins. A professional roofer will provide this without hesitation. If they make excuses, claim their insurance is “in renewal,” or simply refuse, that’s your cue to find someone else.
Essential credentials to verify:
- Public liability insurance (minimum £2 million coverage)
- Employer’s liability insurance
- Trade association memberships (Competent Roofer, NFRC)
- Business registration with Companies House
- VAT registration number for larger companies
No Written Contract or Vague Quotes
A proper roofing quote should detail everything: materials to be used, specific work to be completed, project timeline, labour costs, and total price. Dodgy roofers provide verbal estimates or write basic figures on scraps of paper.
Without a written contract, you have no legal protection. The roofer can change prices midway, use cheaper materials than discussed, or claim they never agreed to certain aspects of the work. City Guttering London always provides detailed written quotes within 45 minutes, setting clear expectations from the start.
Suspiciously Low Quotes
If one quote comes in significantly lower than others, question why. Rogue traders often lowball estimates to win the job, then add “unexpected” costs once work begins. Others use substandard materials or cut corners to maintain profit margins.
Getting multiple quotes helps you understand the fair market rate. Reputable companies like City Guttering London can explain their pricing clearly, breaking down costs so you understand exactly what you’re paying for.
Poor Online Presence or Fake Reviews
Check the roofer’s online footprint before hiring. A legitimate business has a professional website, verifiable contact details, and genuine customer reviews across multiple platforms. Be wary of companies with only Facebook pages or those with reviews that all sound similar and were posted within a short timeframe.
How to verify legitimacy online:
- Search the company name on Google and check multiple review sites
- Look for detailed reviews mentioning specific services
- Verify the business address on Google Maps
- Check how long they’ve been trading via Companies House
- Look for consistent branding across platforms
The Connection to Your Guttering
Here’s something many homeowners don’t realize: roofing work directly impacts your guttering system. Dodgy roofers often damage gutters during repairs, install incorrect flashing that causes water to bypass gutters entirely, or fail to consider how roof work affects drainage.
After any roofing project, it’s worth having your gutters inspected. City Guttering London serves South London, South West London, Central London, Surrey, and Hampshire, offering expert gutter cleaning, repairs, and maintenance. We can identify damage caused by poor roofing work and fix issues before they lead to damp problems or structural damage.
Warning Signs During the Job
Even if you’ve done your research, watch for these red flags once work begins:
- Workers arrive without proper safety equipment
- No scaffolding or safety measures for working at height
- Debris and materials left scattered around your property
- Refusal to let you inspect work in progress
- Constant requests for additional payments
- Work taking far longer than estimated without explanation
Professional contractors maintain clean, safe work sites and keep you informed about progress. If something feels wrong, trust your instincts.
What to Do If You Suspect a Scam
If you’ve already hired a roofer and suspect they’re dodgy, act quickly. Stop any further payments immediately and document everything: take photos, save messages, and keep all paperwork.
Contact Citizens Advice or Trading Standards to report the trader. If work has been completed poorly, get quotes from legitimate companies to assess the damage. You may need to pursue legal action through small claims court to recover costs.
How to Spot a Dodgy Roofer: Protect Your Home
Regular roof and gutter maintenance prevents the emergency situations that dodgy roofers exploit. When you maintain your property proactively, you can choose contractors carefully rather than hiring in panic mode.
City Guttering London offers scheduled maintenance that keeps gutters clear and functioning properly, protecting your roof and property from water damage. With over 200 five-star reviews, we’ve built our reputation on reliable, transparent service. Contact us for a free quote and experience the difference professional gutter care makes.
Final Thoughts
Spotting a dodgy roofer comes down to common sense and due diligence. Take your time, verify credentials, get everything in writing, and never feel pressured into immediate decisions. Your roof is too important to trust to cowboys.
When roofing or gutter work is needed, choose established local businesses with proven track records. The extra time spent researching contractors is nothing compared to the cost and hassle of fixing botched work.
