Roofing is one of the UK's most complained-about trades. Here are the warning signs every Surrey homeowner should know before letting anyone onto their roof.
By Max, Surrey Roofing & Windows Ltd | April 2026
Roofing consistently appears in the UK's top five most complained-about trades. The combination of height, inaccessibility and specialist knowledge makes it easy for rogue traders to take advantage of homeowners who simply cannot see what is being done to their roof. At Surrey Roofing & Windows Ltd we pick up work every week that was badly done by someone else first — avoidable work that homeowners paid for twice.
Here are the warning signs we have seen repeatedly over 10 years in the trade.
Legitimate roofing companies do not cold-knock doors offering to fix your roof. If someone turns up uninvited claiming they have "noticed a few slipped tiles" or "were in the area," treat it as a red flag. This is a classic approach used by rogue traders — sometimes called "doorknockers" — who invent problems, show you a broken tile they brought with them, and pressure you into agreeing to work on the spot.
If someone genuinely spots a problem from the street, take their number and call a roofer you have found independently.
Any serious roofer will inspect your roof — from the loft space where accessible, and from the roof itself or with a drone — and then provide a detailed written quote. The quote should itemise materials, labour, scaffolding and VAT. If you get a verbal price scribbled on a piece of paper in your driveway, walk away.
A written quote protects you. It defines what is being done, what materials are being used, and what the final price will be. Without it, you have no recourse if the work is wrong or the price changes.
A deposit of 10–20% to cover materials is reasonable for larger jobs. Full payment — or a large proportion of it — before work starts is not. Once a cowboy has your money, your leverage disappears entirely. We take a small deposit on larger jobs and the remainder on completion once you are satisfied.
Any roofer working on your property must have public liability insurance. If they cause damage to your home or a neighbour's property — or if someone is injured — you need to know they are covered. Ask for proof before any work starts. A legitimate roofer will have this to hand and will provide it without hesitation. At Surrey Roofing & Windows Ltd we carry GBP 5 million public liability cover.
Before you agree to anything, search the company name and check:
If a company has no online presence at all, or only a handful of recent five-star reviews with no detail, be cautious. We have 121+ verified five-star reviews on Checkatrade and a 9.96/10 score built up over 10 years — that kind of track record takes time to build legitimately.
Ask specifically: what tiles are they using? What underlay? What type of lead for flashings? A knowledgeable roofer will answer these questions confidently and explain why they have chosen those materials for your specific roof. Vague answers like "standard tiles" or "proper materials" with no specifics should make you cautious.
Materials matter enormously. Using cheap non-breathable underlay, reclaimed tiles of unknown origin, or substandard lead can mean your roof fails within a few years.
Roofing has a cost floor. Scaffolding, materials, waste disposal, a skilled team and a proper guarantee all cost real money. If one quote is dramatically cheaper than the others you have received, the question is: what are they cutting? Common cuts include thinner underlay, reclaimed tiles, no scaffold (just ladders), no waste disposal (leaving old materials in your garden) and no guarantee.
We are not the cheapest roofer in Surrey and we do not try to be. We are the roofer you call when you want it done once, properly, with a written guarantee behind it.
If you believe you have had substandard roofing work done, the first step is to document everything — photographs, receipts, any written communication. Report the trader to Trading Standards via the Citizens Advice consumer helpline (0808 223 1133). If they were found via a platform like Checkatrade or MyBuilder, report them there too.
If you need a second opinion on work that does not look right, or you are dealing with a leak or failure from recent work, call us. We carry out independent roof surveys and can give you a clear written assessment of the condition of your roof.
See also: 7 Signs Your Roof Needs Replacing | How Much Does a New Roof Cost in Surrey? | Roof Survey Service