Britain's Most Common Scam Lives on Your Roof, Where You Can't Check It

Fraudsters have worked out that the best place to invent a problem is somewhere the homeowner can’t easily look. According to Citizens Advice, suspected roofing scams were the most common scam its consumer service heard about in the past year.

In the 12 months to 31 August 2026, the charity’s consumer service received 22,112 goods or service complaints flagged as scams. Of those, 2,205, or 10%, were roofing-related. Roofing complaints overall rose to 8,985, up from 8,136 the year before, and one in four of them was a suspected scam. That works out, the charity says, to advice on a roofing problem roughly every 13 minutes it was open.

How the scam works

The pattern described by Citizens Advice, the BBC and the Guardian is depressingly consistent. A “trader” knocks on the door, says they’re working nearby and have noticed a loose tile or a gutter problem, and offers a quick fix at a fair price. Once up the ladder, they find another, more expensive problem. Then another. Payment is requested on the spot, often by bank transfer, and the work is either unnecessary, done badly or never done at all.

Doorstep tactics featured in 77% of suspected roofing scams, the charity found. The BBC and Guardian report the case of a 65-year-old woman living alone whose £250 gutter quote became £2,500 and then £3,500. The next day she could see no sign that any work had been done. Another homeowner told the BBC she paid £5,500 and was left with dislodged bricks, blocked gutters and water running down her walls.

“Scammers exploit the fact that roofs are out of sight and reach, knowing most people can’t easily inspect the work themselves,” said Dame Clare Moriarty, chief executive of Citizens Advice. Lord Bichard, chair of National Trading Standards, called roofing fraud “particularly cruel”.

Why it keeps working

Roofing scams combine three things fraudsters love: urgency (rain is coming), opacity (you can’t see the problem) and a plausible cover story (tradespeople really do knock on doors). The approach also targets people who are home during the day, which often means older residents. Construction News reports the National Federation of Roofing Contractors is renewing calls for the sector to be regulated, which would make cowboys easier to spot.

How to protect yourself

Citizens Advice’s advice is practical:

• Be wary of unsolicited doorstep callers and phone offers, however friendly.
• Ask for references and get every quote and job description in writing.
• If a trader causes problems, take photos and keep receipts and paperwork.
• Know your rights. Traders must tell you in writing about your right to cancel, and the Consumer Rights Act 2015 entitles you to a fix or refund if work isn’t done with reasonable care and skill.

A simple rule covers most of it: never agree to roof work on the day someone knocks. A genuine problem will still be there tomorrow, after you’ve had time to get a second quote from a trader you found yourself.

If you think you’ve been targeted, contact the Citizens Advice consumer service on 0808 223 1133 and report it to your bank straight away if you paid by transfer.

The Daily Snark’s commentary is based on public reporting linked above. This is general consumer information, not legal or financial advice.