Spot a Rogue Roofer
The storm-chaser cold-caller pattern, specifically — the red flags to watch for and the questions to ask before you let anyone near your roof.
Red Flags
They knocked within hours or days of a storm, claiming to have "spotted" damage
This is the single most common storm-chaser opening line: "we were passing and noticed a few tiles loose on your roof." Genuine, specific roof damage is very rarely accurately identifiable from the street by a stranger — treat an unsolicited post-storm knock as a reason for more caution, not less.
They arrived in an unmarked van, or one with no verifiable company details
A legitimate local roofer is generally easy to look up — a company name, a registered address, a landline. A plain van with no signage, or signage you can't verify by searching separately, is a genuine warning sign, especially combined with an unsolicited approach.
They pressure you to decide there and then, often citing "other jobs booked in the area"
"We're already doing your neighbour's roof, so we can fit yours in cheap today" is a classic storm-chaser script. A genuine roofer should be entirely comfortable with you taking time to think it over, get a second opinion, or compare quotes — urgency is the tactic, not a real time-limited saving.
They ask for a cash deposit before any written agreement exists
Cash-only, paid upfront with nothing written down, is one of the clearest storm-chaser patterns. It makes it far harder to prove what was agreed or to get your money back if the "roofer" simply doesn't return. A genuine deposit request comes after a written, itemised scope — not before one.
They offer to go up and inspect "for free" and come back down with a list of urgent problems
This is a well-known variant of the scam — going onto the roof unsupervised, sometimes causing minor damage themselves, then descending with an alarming list of "issues" that conveniently need fixing today. Be wary of anyone climbing onto your roof before any agreement, written scope or identification has been established.
They won't give you a written, itemised scope of exactly what they'll do
A verbal description of "sorting out the storm damage" gives you nothing to hold them to. Insist on a written scope covering exactly which tiles, flashing or area will be worked on, before agreeing to anything — a genuine roofer has no reason to avoid this.
They claim to be working with your insurance company, or offer to "handle the claim" for you
Genuine roofers can certainly help document damage for an insurance claim, but be wary of anyone claiming an official relationship with your insurer, or pushing you to sign something that hands them control of the claim process itself — verify any such claim directly with your insurer before agreeing to anything.
The price seems to drop sharply if you push back or hesitate
A price that moves a great deal in a single conversation suggests it was never based on the actual job in the first place. A legitimate quote is based on materials and labour for the work needed, not on how much pressure gets a signature.
Questions to Ask
How did you identify this specific damage on my roof?
A specific, credible answer — "we saw a tile down from the ground" for something genuinely visible — is different from a vague claim about damage that couldn't realistically be seen from the street. If the answer is vague, that's worth noting.
Can I see your company name, registered address and a landline number?
A legitimate business should be able to give you this without hesitation, and it should be independently checkable — not just a mobile number and a van.
Can you give me a written, itemised quote before I agree to anything, and leave it with me to review?
A proper quote breaks down materials, labour and scope so you can compare it fairly and think it over — not something you're asked to sign on the doorstep before you've had a chance to read it properly.
Can I see your public liability insurance certificate?
A legitimate business should be able to show you proof of cover without hesitation. If they can't produce it, or get cagey when asked, that tells you something.
Are you a member of a recognised trade body — for example NFRC, CompetentRoofer, TrustMark or RoofCERT — and can I see proof?
These are real UK roofing accreditation and government-endorsed schemes. Ask any roofer to show current, verifiable proof of membership rather than taking their word for it — a logo on a van proves nothing on its own.
What deposit do you need, and what happens if I want to get a second opinion first?
A reasonable roofer should have no issue with you seeking a second opinion after a storm, especially for anything beyond a very minor job — resistance to this is itself a signal.
Can I have your details in writing so I can look you up before deciding?
Asking for time to independently verify a business is entirely reasonable. Anyone unwilling to give you something in writing to check is showing you exactly what you need to know.
TrustMark
TrustMark is the UK government-endorsed quality scheme for tradespeople. It publishes its own independent guidance on avoiding rogue traders and doorstep scams, including advice specific to the post-storm cold-calling pattern — worth reading alongside this checklist as a second, independent source before you agree to any storm-damage repair work.
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