Scammers pretending to be legitimate tradesmen are charging UK homeowners thousands of pounds for roofing work that is either not completed, poorly done or unnecessary, according to Citizens Advice. The consumer advice charity found that roofing scams were the most common type of fraud it recorded over the past year, accounting for one in 10 of all scams reported to it. In the year to August, Citizens Advice received 9,000 complaints about roofing work, with about one in four of these suspected scams, up from 2,098 the previous year.
Victims have reported losing substantial amounts of money. One 68-year-old homeowner from the Midlands paid £5,500 for roof work that was left incomplete, causing water damage when heavy rain fell weeks later. Another 65-year-old woman in north eastern England paid £3,500 after tradesmen she found online claimed additional work was needed, only to find no work had been done the following day. Three quarters of fraudsters used doorstep sales tactics, according to Citizens Advice.
Dame Clare Moriarty, chief executive of Citizens Advice, said scammers exploited the fact that roofs are difficult for homeowners to inspect themselves. Lord Bichard, chair of National Trading Standards, described roofing fraud as particularly cruel, noting that victims can lose life savings within hours and be left with damaged homes and lasting trauma.
Citizens Advice recommends asking for references and written agreements, being wary of unsolicited callers, and keeping photos and receipts. Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, consumers can request that faulty work be fixed or seek a refund if a job is not done with reasonable care and skill.