A full-time carer who thought she was hiring reputable tradesmen has been left £13,000 out of pocket and with a damaged roof — after falling victim to two separate rogue builders.
Andrea Giles* says she “fell for the patter” of smooth-talking roofers who promised quick repairs but left her with a wrecked property and no way to recover her losses.
Her story exposes the huge gap in UK building regulation, which allows almost anyone to trade as a builder without qualifications, oversight, or accountability.
🏚️ From a Leaking Roof to a Financial Nightmare
It started with what seemed a small job — a leaking roof. Giles, who cares full time for her disabled husband and two children with special needs, searched online for a specialist to fix it.
She received three quotes and chose the one that looked “most thorough”. But within days, the builders had erected a shaky scaffolding tower and ripped holes in her roof.
“They told me the roof was rotten and offered to replace it for £10,000 — but only if I transferred £5,000 straight away,” she recalled.
“When I refused, they packed up and left, leaving a huge hole in my roof.”
🔍 Second Attempt, Second Scam
Desperate to fix the damage, Giles turned to Checkatrade, believing the platform’s “rigorous checks” would guarantee a legitimate tradesperson.
She found a sole trader with glowing reviews who expressed sympathy for her situation.
“He said he felt sorry for me having been scammed,” she said.
“He promised a fair price and even a 15-year guarantee. I completely fell for his patter.”
She paid £12,900 when the job was “completed” — but the roof continued to leak. The trader returned several times for ineffectual repairs, then disappeared.
When she tried to file a complaint, her letter was returned — the builder had given an incomplete address. Without a valid address, Giles couldn’t start legal proceedings.
“Thirty minutes of Googling showed other roofing companies registered at the same address — all with directors sharing his surname,” she said.
đź’» Platform Promises and Accountability Gaps
Giles contacted Checkatrade, which advertises “guaranteed” traders and “recommendations you can rely on.”
Its 12-month guarantee offers up to ÂŁ1,000 compensation for substandard work, but not when a trader vanishes or goes bust.
Initially, Checkatrade told her it could not investigate as the trader was no longer a member. It later admitted he was still registered and began an investigation.
After Guardian Money intervened, Checkatrade persuaded the roofer to refund ÂŁ6,000 of the ÂŁ12,900, and said it would support her in pursuing the rest.
A spokesperson told us:
“Her experience does not reflect the high standards we expect of members.
When issues arise, our dispute specialists support homeowners and often help secure better outcomes.”
⚠️ An Unregulated Industry
Unlike gas or electrical engineers, builders in the UK are not legally required to hold qualifications or licences.
According to Trading Standards, rogue builders cost homeowners around ÂŁ3.5 billion a year in poor workmanship, unfinished jobs, and outright fraud.
More than 200 complaints were logged in Giles’s home city alone last year — some involving losses over £250,000.
Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the Federation of Master Builders, said the situation “shames the industry.”
“At the core of the problem is a lack of national standards,” Berry said.
“This leaves consumers without clear routes to challenge cowboy builders and allows unqualified traders to damage public trust.”
💬 “We Live on Disability Benefits — We Can’t Afford a Third Builder”
For Giles, the emotional and financial toll has been immense.
“We live on my husband’s disability benefits and my part-time wages,” she said.
“We can’t afford to pay a third builder. I feel so foolish — I just wanted a safe home for my family.”
*Names have been changed.
Subscribe to Our Newsletter
Keep in touch with our news & offers
