How to Find a Reliable Roofer in the UK (And Avoid Cowboys)

The 9 Checks Before You Hire Anyone

Work through these before accepting any quote. Each one takes a few minutes online.

1. Companies House registration
Search the company name at companieshouse.gov.uk. A legitimate limited company will be registered there. Check how long it has been trading — companies less than two years old carry more risk — and look for repeated name changes, a common tactic for washing a bad reputation. Sole traders do not appear on Companies House but should have a verifiable trading name, address and tax reference.

2. Public liability insurance
Ask for the certificate, not a verbal confirmation. Check that the company name on the certificate matches the business you are hiring, that the cover is current (not expired), and that the limit is at least £2 million. If they hesitate to send it, walk away. This is a basic cost of operating legally — any legitimate contractor carries it.

3. NFRC membership
The National Federation of Roofing Contractors (nfrc.co.uk) is the main trade body for roofing in the UK. Membership requires passing technical audits, maintaining adequate insurance and operating under a formal complaints procedure. It is the strongest single credential you can verify for a roofing company. TrustMark registration is a secondary indicator — it shows the contractor has been assessed against government-endorsed standards.

4. Work at Height Regulations compliance
The Work at Height Regulations 2005 require employers to plan and supervise all work at height safely. Ask whether the roofer provides their own scaffolding or subcontracts it, and confirm that the scaffolding company is NASC-registered. An unregistered scaffold is both a legal risk and a safety risk.

5. Verifiable reviews
Checkatrade, TrustATrader and Google Business reviews are useful but easy to game. Look for reviews that mention specific details (job type, location, roofer by name) rather than generic praise. Check whether negative reviews received professional responses. A total absence of negative reviews over many years is itself a yellow flag.

6. Local address and physical presence
A local contractor with a physical trading address and phone number carries far less risk than a company with only a mobile number and a PO box. You are more likely to be able to reach them if problems arise, and they have more reputational skin in the game locally.

7. VAT registration
Ask for their VAT number and verify it at gov.uk/check-vat-number. Contractors with significant turnover are required to register. If a company is clearly substantial but not VAT registered, it may indicate undeclared income — a sign that inspections and warranties may be equally informal.

8. Subcontractor transparency
Ask directly: will you use subcontractors on my job? Many roofing companies quote and manage the work but use daily-rate subcontractors to carry it out. This is not inherently bad, but you should know so you understand who will actually be on your roof — and whether they carry their own insurance.

9. Written guarantee terms
Ask for the guarantee in writing before signing anything. How long does it last? What exactly does it cover? Is it a manufacturer guarantee on materials, a workmanship guarantee, or an insurance-backed guarantee? These are very different things (see section below).

How to Compare Roofing Quotes Properly

Get at least three written quotes. Not estimates — written quotes specifying materials, scope, timescales, payment terms and what happens if additional work is found.

When comparing, look at:

• Specification of materials — a quote that says "clay tiles" is less useful than one that says "Marley Clay Acme plain tile, machine made, colour Old English Dark Red." Named materials allow proper comparison and give you something to enforce.
• What is included — does the price include scaffolding? Waste removal? Pointing ridge tiles? Replacing rotten battens found during work? These add-ons can add 20 to 40 percent to an initial quote.
• Payment terms — a legitimate contractor will ask for 10 to 20 percent as a deposit. Anyone asking for 50 percent or more upfront is a risk. Never pay in full before work is complete and inspected.
• Start date and programme — vague answers on timing are a red flag. Busy contractors are booked out, but they should be able to give you a realistic start date rather than "whenever the weather clears."

The lowest quote is not automatically the best option. A quote that is more than 20 to 25 percent below the median of your three quotes usually means something is missing — cheaper materials, no scaffolding, or a contractor who will need to come back for additional payment once work starts.

Understanding Roofing Guarantees

The word "guarantee" covers three very different things in the roofing industry.

Manufacturer materials guarantee
Typically 10 to 30 years on tiles or membranes from the manufacturer. This covers defects in the material itself, not installation errors. Importantly, most manufacturer guarantees require the product to be installed by a registered installer using the manufacturer's own system — if it is not, the guarantee is void. Always check whether your contractor is a registered installer for the products they are specifying.

Workmanship guarantee
The contractor guarantees their own installation for a period — commonly five to ten years. This guarantee is only as valuable as the company standing behind it. If they go out of business in year three, the guarantee is worthless. This happens regularly in the roofing trade.

Insurance-backed guarantee (IBG)
An IBG is issued by a third-party insurance provider, not the contractor. If the contractor ceases trading during the guarantee period, the insurer covers remediation costs. IBGs typically cost an additional £150 to £400 on top of the job, but they provide genuine protection. For any significant roofing work — anything over £2,000 — an IBG is worth serious consideration. Providers include QANW, Checkmate and the NFRC's own Benchmark scheme.

Red Flags: When to Walk Away

These are the specific signals that should end a conversation with a roofing contractor immediately:

• Cold call after a storm — legitimate contractors do not knock on doors after bad weather. This is one of the most common rogue trader tactics in the roofing industry. Decline, close the door, and find a contractor yourself.
• Asking for cash payment — paying by bank transfer or card provides a traceable paper trail and consumer protection rights. Cash means neither.
• Pressure to decide immediately — "this deal is only available today" or "I've got materials left over from another job" are manipulation tactics. A professional contractor does not pressure you.
• Unable to provide a written quote — verbal quotes are worth nothing if disputes arise. Any professional can produce a written quote.
• Claiming your roof is dangerous or needs immediate work — without any prior inspection or evidence. Some roofs genuinely are in poor condition, but this claim from a door knocker or cold caller should be treated with significant scepticism.
• No fixed address or only a mobile number — makes post-job recourse virtually impossible.

If you are ever unsure about a contractor, the Citizens Advice consumer helpline (0808 223 1133) and your local Trading Standards office can advise.

VAT and Reduced Rate Eligibility

Roofing work is subject to standard 20% VAT in most cases. However, under HMRC VAT Notice 708, some roofing work on qualifying properties may be eligible for the reduced 5% rate. This applies primarily to:

• Supplies of services and building materials for the renovation or alteration of an empty dwelling that has been unoccupied for at least two years
• Certain works for qualifying disabled people under Part 2 of the notice

This is a complex area — eligibility depends on the specific nature of the work and the property's history. If you think your project might qualify, discuss it with your contractor and consider getting HMRC guidance before the work is invoiced. Charging the wrong VAT rate creates problems in both directions.

Any contractor quoting to charge you less VAT than is legally due (or no VAT at all when they are VAT-registered) is also a red flag — it suggests informal operating practices that will not serve you well if problems arise.