Suspected roofing scams account for 10% of fraud complaints, figures show

What the figures show

Citizens Advice reported that suspected roofing scams made up 10% of complaints about goods or services flagged as fraudulent to its consumer service over the year covered. The charity said one in four of the roofing complaints it received in that period were suspected scams.

Consumers reported traders disappearing with their money, charging for work that had not been done, inventing damage or urgent repairs, using aggressive sales tactics and demanding payment in ways that left customers feeling intimidated. Doorstep sales featured in 77% of suspected roofing scams.

The figures concern suspected scams reported to the charity’s consumer service. They do not establish that every complaint involved a proven offence, or that the same proportions apply to all roofing work.

A consumer account of an alleged scam

A 65-year-old woman in the North East told Citizens Advice she had sought help with a dripping sound from her gutters through an online platform. Two men contacted her and offered to inspect and repair the gutters for £250. She said they later claimed that urgent work was needed and offered to carry it out for £2,500.

The woman said the men then raised another alleged problem and demanded further payment. She said she felt intimidated and paid £3,500, but could find no sign of work having been done the following day and could not contact the traders.

Citizens Advice, Trading Standards and the Financial Ombudsman Service eventually helped her secure a refund from her bank. She also received £800 in compensation from the platform where she had posted her request for help.

Advice on checking roofing work

Citizens Advice chief executive Dame Clare Moriarty said homeowners should make thorough checks before agreeing to building work. She noted that roofs can be difficult for customers to inspect, which can make it harder to assess claims about hidden damage or urgent repairs.

National Trading Standards chairman Lord Bichard said the organisation was pursuing roofing fraud and pointed to sentences following an investigation. His statement distinguished deliberate fraud from poor-quality work.