What NFRC and CompetentRoofer Membership Mean When Hiring

Seeing a trade badge on a roofer's van or website is a good sign and worth checking, but it proves nothing until you have checked the official register. Logos from schemes like NFRC, CompetentRoofer and TrustMark are a good sign, but membership is not a guarantee of good work, and you still need a detailed written quote before you agree to any work.

Why badges help but do not guarantee good work

Most homeowners have never hired a roofer before and cannot see their own roof properly. You have to take a stranger's word for what is wrong with your ridge tiles, lead flashing or flat roof timber deck, and you have to trust their word on what the repair should cost. This makes homeowners worried about being overcharged, being talked into a full re-roof when a repair would do, or a leak getting worse while they wait for help.

Trade badges exist to help bridge this trust gap. When a firm displays a recognised logo, it is worth checking. However, anyone can copy and paste an image onto a flyer or a van. A logo alone does not guarantee that the firm is currently registered, nor does it guarantee that your specific job will be completed without a hitch.

NFRC membership involves an inspection before joining and every three years after, and the NFRC complaints procedure gives you a route to complain if things go wrong. It does not replace the need for you to do your own checks, ask the right questions, and get everything agreed in writing before the scaffolding goes up.

What NFRC membership actually involves

NFRC stands for the National Federation of Roofing Contractors. NFRC Roofing Contractor members must pass a rigorous inspection before joining, and they have inspections every three years after that.

These assessments cover both technical competence and commercial capability. The NFRC says members must also meet the following requirements.

• Following Building Regulations, British Standards and NFRC technical guidance.
• Meeting NFRC health and safety requirements.
• Undergoing an independent review of financial standing to prove they are a stable business.
• Showing adequate annual cover for employers' and public liability insurance.
• Complying with the Members Code of Practice.

These checks are one reason a badge is a good sign. Members must show adequate annual cover for employers' and public liability insurance, but you should still ask to see the policies.

What CompetentRoofer registration adds

CompetentRoofer is the short name for the competent person scheme run by the National Federation of Roofing Contractors Limited. GOV.UK lists it as an authorised competent person scheme for the replacement of roof coverings on pitched and flat roofs. The GOV.UK listing includes any necessary connected work but not solar panel installation.

In England, repairing or re-covering a roof does not normally need a building control application if less than 25 per cent of the building envelope and less than 50 per cent of the roof is affected. Above that threshold, approval is needed. Replacing 50 per cent or more of a roof means the insulation must be upgraded to modern standards. For a flat roof, this might mean installing a warm roof, where insulation sits above the deck, rather than a cold roof, where it sits between the joists.

A registered CompetentRoofer can self-certify this roof refurbishment in England and Wales. This means building control is automatically notified for you. Be aware that GOV.UK also lists a second authorised scheme, NAPIT, for replacing roof coverings. CompetentRoofer is just one route to self-certification, not the only one.

Building regulations rules to watch out for

Building regulations can apply to roof work even when nobody mentions them. Approval is also needed for structural alterations, where a new covering performs significantly differently in fire, or where it adds 15 per cent or more to the weight of the roof. Replacing a glazed or polycarbonate conservatory roof with a solid one takes the conservatory out of its exemption, so building regulations apply to the new roof.

The table below shows the building regulations thresholds for roof work.

These rules are for England. Rules differ in Scotland and Northern Ireland, so check with your local council rather than guessing.

What you should receive when the work is done

When a major roof replacement is finished by a scheme member, you must secure the right paperwork. Once the work is signed off, you receive a Building Regulations Compliance Certificate plus an Insurance-Backed Guarantee, often referred to as an IBG.

The Building Regulations Compliance Certificate records that the work was signed off under the scheme. Without a valid certificate, Building Control can issue an enforcement notice. This requires the roof to be altered or removed at the owner's cost, and selling the property may become difficult.

The NFRC scheme page says the IBG covers ten years and reinforces the contractor's workmanship guarantee, and that your sales contract should confirm this guarantee and a 14-day cooling-off period. Read the contract carefully to see exactly what applies to your job. A guarantee that is not insurance-backed is worthless if the firm folds.

What TrustMark is and how it differs

You will often see the TrustMark badge alongside NFRC logos. TrustMark is a not-for-profit started in 2005 and describes itself as the only UK Government-Endorsed Quality Scheme for work carried out in and around the home.

TrustMark's scheme providers license and audit members for technical competence, trading practices and customer service. These scheme providers handle disputes and must do their best to help resolve issues between you and the roofer.

For complex cases, the scheme providers may suggest an independent Alternative Dispute Resolution provider. It is important to know that TrustMark itself does not investigate individual complaints, so you must always direct any concerns to the specific scheme provider that licensed the firm.

How to check a claim on the official register

Cold callers who have spotted a loose tile or moss from the street will often knock on doors and point to impressive badges on their flyers to win your trust. They might pressure you to decide today, demand cash only, ask for big deposits, and provide no physical address. Never take a logo at face value.

Citizens Advice states that you should check if the trader is a member of the approved trader scheme, competent person scheme or trade association they claim to belong to. You can check membership lists easily on the relevant scheme's own website. For NFRC members, you should check the NFRC roofing contractor search, which is searchable by postcode.

If a contractor uses the NFRC logo but is not listed on the official register, you should email the NFRC Helpdesk. They actively investigate logo misuse. For building regulations purposes, Citizens Advice advises that you use only a trader registered with a scheme that covers the specific work you need doing.

What trade membership does not cover

Trade membership is a good sign, but it does not set your price or choose your materials. A vetted firm will still quote based on their own pricing structures. Small repairs are usually a fixed price or a day rate. Larger work, such as installing a built-up felt flat roof using torch-on methods, or fitting EPDM rubber, GRP fibreglass or single-ply systems, is priced per square metre plus access.

Scaffolding is often a separate and significant line on your quote. Waste removal and VAT may or may not be included, so you must ask the roofer to clarify. Prices are generally higher in London and the South East. Furthermore, nobody can see rotten timber until the old covering is off, so a good quote will clearly state how extras will be priced if hidden damage is found.

Membership also does not protect you from vague one-line quotes or being sold a whole new roof for a local fault. You must still be vigilant. Be wary of roof coating and painting claims, and treat pressure washing sold as maintenance with caution. Contracts agreed at home, by phone or online normally carry a 14-day cooling-off period, but if you ask for work to start inside that period you must pay for what has been done.

What to do if a member's work goes wrong

Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, all work must be done with reasonable care and skill. If it is not, the customer can ask for it to be put right or for money back. Even with vetted firms, disputes can arise over a leaking roof valley, loose verge tiles, or poorly fitted eaves.

If you are unhappy with a roofer's work, you must start with the firm itself. In the first instance, you will need to contact your NFRC Roofing Contractor member and follow their own complaints procedure. You must give them the opportunity to inspect the problem and put it right.

If that fails, the NFRC complaints procedure applies. NFRC Regional Managers offer conciliation, where they endeavour to reconcile a dissatisfied consumer with their member. If you paid for the work by credit card, you also have Section 75 protection on purchases over £100 and up to £30,000. If a dispute remains completely unresolved, Citizens Advice is the best place to go for further guidance.

Questions to ask before you sign

Before you agree to any roofing work, ask the tradesperson these specific questions to ensure you are protected.

• Are you currently listed on the NFRC or CompetentRoofer search by postcode?
• Can I see your employers' and public liability insurance policies to check they will not expire before the work finishes?
• Will you self-certify the building regulations and provide a compliance certificate when the job is done?
• Is this a fixed quote or just an estimate, and does it include scaffolding, waste removal and VAT?
• How will you price any rotten timber you find once the old roof covering is off?
• Is the ten-year insurance-backed guarantee included in this written contract?

Common questions

Do I need a registered roofer for a small repair?

In England, repairs or re-covering do not normally need a building control application, so a small repair does not normally need a registered competent person, as long as it affects less than 25 per cent of the building envelope and less than 50 per cent of the roof. However, hiring a vetted member still gives you peace of mind that their technical skills have been checked.

What is the difference between a quote and an estimate?

A quote is a fixed price for the job described. An estimate is not fixed and can change once the work begins. You should always insist on a detailed written quote that itemises labour, materials, scaffolding and waste removal, so you know exactly what you are expected to pay.

Can I safely inspect my own roof?

You should never climb on a roof or use ladders at height to carry out inspections yourself. You should also never attempt structural work, electrical work, leadwork or torch-on felting. Checks from the ground using binoculars, or looking for damp patches and daylight from inside the loft, are perfectly fine and will give a roofer a good idea of the problem.

What happens if I sell my house without a building regulations certificate?

If you have had 50 per cent or more of your roof replaced and you do not have a valid Building Regulations Compliance Certificate, selling the property may become difficult. Building control can also issue an enforcement notice requiring the roof to be altered or removed at your own cost.

Next steps for hiring a roofer

Finding a reliable roofer is much easier when you know how the trade works and what paperwork to demand. Follow these steps to protect your home and your money.

• Take photos of the defect from the ground or from inside the loft to show the roofers what is wrong.
• Get three written quotes that break down the costs for materials, access and labour.
• Check the firm's membership claim on the scheme's own search by postcode before you agree to anything.
• Ask to see the firm's insurance policies and check they will not expire while the work is happening.
• Agree a staged payment plan in writing, and only make the final payment when the job is completely finished and all rubbish is cleared.

Taking the time to verify trade badges will help you avoid rogue traders and ensure your roof is repaired safely and legally. When you are ready to get quotes, you can find a roofer near you who is willing to put their prices and promises in writing.