Rogue Roofers

Freeze Out Rogue Roofers: Trading Standards Warning After £20 Job Escalates to £26,000

With storms and severe winter weather sweeping across the region, Trading Standards teams are urging residents to stay alert to rogue roofers who exploit bad weather to deceive and pressure householders into costly and unnecessary repairs.

Cold callers often present themselves as “helpful” tradespeople offering small, low-cost fixes – but many are organised fraudsters who deliberately target vulnerable or isolated residents. One recent case in the West Midlands shows how quickly a minor job can spiral into thousands of pounds.

A £20 quote that snowballed to become a £26,000 bill

A trader knocked on the door of a Walsall resident, claiming to have spotted a loose roof tile. He quoted £20 to replace it. The consumer agreed – but once the trader accessed the roof, the price suddenly rose to £260.

After completing the small job, the trader claimed to have found further issues: allegedly rotten roofing felt which had a hole, guttering problems that required urgent attention and even a supposed bird’s nest. He said the total cost to fix everything would be £3,950.

Feeling pressured – especially as the trader had already started additional work – the consumer agreed. Over the next four days, the trader continued to “discover” more issues, and the price escalated again and again.

What began as a £20 job eventually exceeded £26,000.

Trading Standards is now investigating this matter as a criminal offence. The victim has given permission for their experience to be shared to help prevent others from falling into the same trap.

Recognising the warning signs

Rogue roofers use similar methods nationwide, especially after storms, heavy rain or snow. Key red flags include:

· Cold calling or knocking doors offering “free inspections” or low-cost repairs.

· Claims they are “already working on a house down the road” to sound legitimate.

· Working without proper safety equipment – reputable roofers use scaffolding, not ladders balanced on gutters.

· Asking to “check your roof” and then showing staged or deliberately damaged tiles.

· Pressure to agree immediately because the damage is “dangerous” or “urgent”.

These tactics are designed to panic householders into agreeing to unnecessary and vastly inflated work.

Protect yourself and your home

Trading Standards advises residents to:

· Never use traders who cold call. Reputable traders do not knock doors offering roof work.

· If someone tells you there’s a problem with your roof or guttering, speak to trusted friends, family or neighbours for recommendations.

· Get at least three quotes before agreeing to any work.

· Take your time. Don’t be pressured – genuine traders will not push you to make quick decisions.

If you’re worried or think you’ve been targeted

Report concerns to Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 0808 223 1133, who will pass the details to Trading Standards.