Roofing Fraud Gang Jailed: £1m Taken From 43 Homeowners

Three things from the last fortnight worth knowing before you agree to any roof work. The biggest roofing fraud case to reach court this year has ended with 13 people jailed, the roofing trade body has published guidance on what happens if bats are living in your roof, and owners of one popular home battery, often fitted alongside roof solar, are being told to keep it online for a free replacement.

A £1m roofing fraud gang is sentenced at Teesside Crown Court

All 23 members of a criminal network that pressured homeowners into paying for unnecessary and poor-quality roofing and building work have now been sentenced at Teesside Crown Court, with 13 jailed for a combined 64 years and 11 months. The sentencing ran from 15 to 17 September, with one further defendant sentenced at Sheffield Crown Court on 23 September. The gang took more than £1 million from 43 proven victims across Northumberland, County Durham, Teesside, Yorkshire and Lincolnshire between May 2021 and August 2024. The case was brought by the National Trading Standards Yorkshire and Humber Regional Investigation Team.

The pattern is the one to learn. It started with a cold call about a small job, clearing gutters or replacing a tile, and once work began the victim was told much bigger repairs were urgent. One woman in her late 70s in New Marske agreed to a garage roof repair and ended up paying £94,700 over a year for work a chartered building surveyor later valued at £3,107. A widow in Sheffield paid £133,400 for work valued at £3,350. Ringleader Frederick Finney got 6 years and 9 months; Walter Farrow, described as another driving force, got 7 years and 2 months.

If someone knocks to say your roof needs work, say no at the door, then get your own roofer up there and at least two more quotes from firms you found yourself. A genuine roofer will put a price in writing and give you time to check it. Our guides to roofing scams and rogue roofers and how to find a good roofer cover the checks. The full list of sentences is at Roofing Today.

Bats in your roof: the NFRC publishes guidance for roofers

On 1 October the National Federation of Roofing Contractors and the Bat Conservation Trust announced a partnership to train roofers on protecting bats and their roosts during roof work. They have produced a short e-learning module and a guidance note, GN77 Bat considerations during Roofing Work, which covers the UK’s bat species, the legal protections, how to plan roof work and the precautions needed, and which roofing membranes to use where bats are present or suspected.

This matters to homeowners because bats and their roosts are protected by law, and roof voids and the gaps under tiles and soffits are where they live. If bats are found once a re-roof has started, the job can stop while advice is sought, which costs you time and possibly scaffold hire. If you have seen bats around your eaves at dusk, tell your roofer before the quote, and ask whether they have done the training. It also has a bearing on the underlay: some breathable membranes are a hazard to bats, which is one more reason to ask what is going on your roof. Our roofing underlay and membrane guide explains the types. The guidance note is on the NFRC site, and the announcement is at Roofing Today.

Tesla Powerwall 2 owners: keep it online for a free replacement

On 28 September the Office for Product Safety and Standards published a safety report on the Tesla Powerwall 2 home battery. Some units contain third-party battery cells that may have excessive lithium plating, which can crack the cell casing and cause a short circuit, overheating and fire. Tesla has remotely discharged most affected units and is sending technicians to discharge the rest. Affected batteries will be replaced free of charge.

Plenty of Powerwalls were fitted as part of a roof solar installation. If you have one, keep it connected to the internet and check the Tesla app, which will tell you whether your unit is affected. Replacements go through your original Tesla Certified Installer; if that firm has gone, Tesla Support is on 01628 450630. Our solar panels and your roof guide covers what to check before panels go on. The notice is on GOV.UK.