Rogue roofers are conning homeowners out of thousands in doorstep scams, Citizens Advice warns

From the Newshound archive · first published 12 October 2026 · last updated 13 October 2026.

Citizens Advice has revealed that roofing scams now account for one in ten of all fraudulent goods and services complaints it handles, with a striking one in four roofing complaints suspected to involve fraud. Charlotte, 65, living alone in north-east England, lost £3,500 after placing an online advert looking for help with a dripping gutter. Crystal, 68, from the Midlands, paid £5,500 for work so shoddy that rainwater ran down her walls and bricks tumbled into her neighbour's attic.

Doorstep tactics feature in three quarters of suspected roofing scams, with fraudsters fabricating faults that homeowners have no easy way to see or confirm.

Charlotte said two men turned up in the dark and refused to leave until she paid: 'I was afraid — they knew I was alone.'

Dame Clare Moriarty of Citizens Advice urged homeowners to carry out thorough checks before agreeing to any building work.