1. Can I See Your Public Liability Insurance Certificate?
This is not a rude question — it's a reasonable one that any legitimate contractor will answer without difficulty. Any roofer working on your property should carry a minimum of £1 million public liability insurance; £2–5 million is standard. The certificate should be current (check the expiry date) and cover the type of work being carried out.
If a contractor hesitates, becomes defensive, or says they'll send it later — treat this as a serious warning sign. Walk away rather than risk an uninsured contractor on your property.
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, services must be carried out with reasonable care and skill, giving homeowners statutory recourse where roofing work proves defective.
Source: Consumer Rights Act 2015
2. Are You NFRC Registered?
The National Federation of Roofing Contractors is the main industry trade body. Members are vetted and commit to a code of practice. NFRC membership is voluntary but meaningful — it provides a complaints process and an independent standard. Ask the contractor for their membership number and verify it at nfrc.co.uk.
NFRC registration is not the only mark of a good roofer, but its absence removes one layer of accountability.
3. Can You Give Me a Written, Itemised Quote?
A written quote should specify: the exact work to be done, the materials to be used (type, manufacturer, grade where relevant), whether scaffolding is included, the expected programme, the guarantee offered, and whether VAT is included or excluded. If a contractor provides only a verbal estimate or a single-line total on a piece of paper, ask for more detail before agreeing to anything.
For comparison purposes: if you're getting three quotes, make sure all three quote on exactly the same specification. A cheaper quote that assumes different materials is not a fairer price — it's a different job.
Want an honest, itemised written quote for roofing work in Harrogate? We provide free surveys and full written quotes. Call us.
📞 Call Now: 01423 2037444. What Materials Will You Use?
This matters more than most homeowners realise. On a Victorian or Edwardian property in Harrogate, "replace the slates" could mean reclaimed Welsh blue-grey slate — the correct material, matching what's there — or it could mean fibre cement slate, which is cheaper, lighter, and looks noticeably different. Ask specifically: what type, what grade, from what manufacturer, and — for conservation areas — is this material acceptable to North Yorkshire Council?
5. Is Scaffolding Included?
Always confirm this explicitly. Scaffolding costs £500–£1,500 for a standard domestic job and is a significant portion of the total price. Some contractors quote the roofing work net of scaffolding to appear cheaper. A written quote should state clearly whether scaffold erection and clearance is included in the price.
6. What Guarantee Do You Offer?
A written workmanship guarantee is standard for any reputable roofer. Ask how long, what it covers (defects in the work itself, not subsequent storm damage), and who is responsible for honouring it — if the contractor ceases trading, is the guarantee backed by an insurance policy?
Industry standard for a full re-roof is a 10-year workmanship guarantee. For individual repairs, 1–5 years is typical. Be sceptical of guarantees that are unusually long (25 years) without an insurance-backed scheme to support them.
7. How Long Will the Job Take?
Get a realistic programme in writing. A typical 3-bed semi re-roof in Harrogate takes 3–5 days for the covering work itself, with scaffold erection the day before and clearance a day or two after completion. Unexpected delays for weather are normal; unexpected delays for workforce or material issues are less acceptable. Ask what happens if the job runs over and whether this affects the price.
8. Who Will Actually Be On My Roof?
Some contractors quote jobs personally and then subcontract the work to a different crew. Ask directly: is this your own directly employed team, or do you use subcontractors? There is nothing inherently wrong with subcontracting, but you should know who is on your property. The person who surveys and quotes should be connected to the people carrying out the work.
9. What Are Your Payment Terms?
Standard terms: a deposit of up to 20% is reasonable for larger jobs to cover upfront materials. Interim payments on a phased job (e.g. after scaffold goes up, after materials are delivered, on completion) are normal. Requests for more than 50% upfront are a warning sign. Never pay the final balance until you are satisfied the work is complete and the site is clean.
10. Can You Provide Local References?
Not a Google review — an actual reference from a customer with a similar property in Harrogate who had similar work done in the last 12–24 months. A contractor with a genuine track record in the area will be able to provide this. One who can't, or who deflects to a generic review page, may not have done as much local work as they suggest.
Frequently Asked Questions
The single most important question is: can I see your public liability insurance certificate? A contractor who won't provide this should not be hired. Everything else can be checked once this is confirmed.
A small deposit — up to 20% on larger jobs — is normal and reasonable. It covers the contractor's upfront material costs. Requests for 50% or more upfront, or for the full amount before work starts, are warning signs. Never pay the balance until you are satisfied the work is complete.
A written quote accepted by the homeowner forms a contract. If the contractor attempts to charge more than the quoted amount without your prior agreement, you are entitled to dispute this. Always confirm any changes to scope in writing before they proceed.
You can check VAT registration at tax.service.gov.uk/check-vat-number. If a contractor charges VAT, they must be registered. Charging VAT without registration is illegal. Contractors with turnover below the VAT threshold (currently £90,000) are not required to register.
Exact scope of work, materials to be used, whether scaffolding is included, the programme, the guarantee, the payment schedule, and whether VAT is included or excluded. Any changes agreed in writing before proceeding.
Cash is not inherently a red flag — but insistence on cash only with no written invoice is. Always get a written invoice regardless of payment method. Pay by bank transfer for any amount over £200 to maintain a verifiable record.