Getting quotes for a new roof or a repair is stressful enough without wondering whether the person on the ladder is actually qualified to be there. For homeowners across Ilford, Romford, Dagenham and the wider Essex border, that worry turns out to be well founded, according to new research just published by the Federation of Master Builders.
The FMB’s constituency-level figures show Essex homeowners have lost an estimated £448 million over the past five years to unqualified or unlicensed builders, with Colchester, Thurrock, Harlow, Chelmsford and Braintree the worst affected areas. More than a fifth of Essex homeowners have lost money to a builder later found to be unqualified, and across the wider East of England region the average loss per affected household runs to £2,612.
The FMB is using the figures to renew its call for a mandatory ‘Licence to Build’ scheme, arguing that voluntary accreditation alone isn’t giving homeowners the protection they need. Until any such scheme exists, the advice from the trade body is straightforward: check who you’re inviting into your home before work starts, not after something’s gone wrong.
For roofing specifically, that means asking a few simple questions. Is the roofer trade-registered, insured, and able to show you where their materials come from? A reputable local roofer will usually be well known to a proper trade merchant, buying quality materials rather than cutting corners on underlay, flashing or fixings that homeowners never see once the job’s finished.
RTB Roofing Supplies has been serving trade roofers and the general public from its Rainham base for years, covering Romford, Dagenham, Barking, Hornchurch, Elmstead and Upminster with the widest stock of roofing materials, timber and building supplies in the area. If you’re planning roofing work, visit rtbrs.co.uk/ or drop into the trade counter — the team can point you towards roofers they know and trust.