The short answer
There is no set legal amount, but a deposit should be small and linked to a real up-front cost, usually special-order materials. Asking for the full price before starting is a warning sign. For many jobs, no deposit is needed at all, and payment is made on completion. Agree the sum and the stages in writing, pay by a traceable method and keep every receipt. If the figure feels high, ask what it is for.
Why roofers ask for deposits at all
A roofer who has to order materials for your roof is spending money before they earn any. Special tiles, slates, a made-to-measure roof window, a particular lead code or a bespoke rubber membrane may be ordered for your job and cannot easily be returned. A small deposit that covers those materials is reasonable, and it protects the roofer from a customer who changes their mind. Many routine repairs need nothing ordered, and then there is little reason to ask for money in advance.
Where a deposit is asked for, you are entitled to know what it covers. Ask whether it is for materials, for scaffold hire, or simply to secure a start date. A trader who says it is "to book you in" and cannot explain further is asking you to take a bigger risk than you need to.
What is a sensible amount?
There is no official percentage, and we will not invent one. A fair deposit is tied to the cost of items that really have to be bought in advance. For a repair, it may be nothing. For a full re-roof or a made-to-order item, it might cover the materials, with the balance paid when the work is finished. If the deposit covers more than the materials, ask why. Large up-front payments leave you with the least protection at the point where the roofer has the most to gain.
Stage payments can work on a long job, such as a re-roof with several phases. They should be written down, linked to clear milestones such as materials delivered, roof stripped and re-covered, and final inspection, and the final payment should be held until you are satisfied. Do not pay for work that has not happened. Our page on whether roofers charge VAT covers the point that a deposit may attract VAT on a registered roofer's receipt.
How to protect yourself
Put the agreement on paper. The quote or contract should state the total price, the deposit, what it is for, the payment stages and the balance due on completion. Pay by a traceable method, such as bank transfer or card, and avoid large sums in cash with no receipt. Consumer protections for card payments can apply in some circumstances, and your card issuer can explain them. Keep the quote, receipt, messages and any photographs together.
Check who you are paying. The name on the quote should match the name on the account or the receipt, and you should have a phone number and an address for the business. If something seems off, pause. Our guide on how to tell if a roofer is good lists the signs, and how many quotes for roof work helps you compare terms between roofers.
It also helps to know what happens to your money in practice. A sole trader's deposit goes into their own account, and if the business fails before your work starts, you become one of its creditors with little chance of recovery. That is the reason to keep the sum small, to ask for delivery notes once materials arrive, and to be present or represented when they are unloaded. If the roofer says materials have been ordered, a merchant's order confirmation in your name or the roofer's is simple evidence.
Red flags
Be cautious if a roofer asks for the whole sum before starting, insists on cash, offers a discount only if you pay today, or turns up unannounced saying they have materials left over from another job. These are the habits of rogue traders, and the Citizens Advice website has guidance on consumer rights if you have been caught out; see Citizens Advice. Be cautious too if they ask you to take cash out of the bank in person, or to pay into a personal account unrelated to the business.
If things go wrong
If the roofer takes a deposit and does not turn up, start by writing to them, setting out what was agreed and a deadline. Keep a copy. If that gets no response, you can contact your bank about the payment, Citizens Advice for guidance, and Trading Standards for advice. Our page on what to do if you are unhappy with a roofer's work covers the next steps.
At Beacon we visit, survey and photograph your roof, then set out the price and the payment terms in writing before anything is ordered. You can read about our work on the homepage, or ring 01256 213956 with any question about payment.
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