Terms and conditions for a roofing business

In roofing, the customer usually cannot inspect the work, the weather determines the programme, and guarantees are offered widely and defined loosely. Terms that state what you will do when you find defective timbers, who provides the scaffold, what your guarantee covers and how long it lasts are what protect a roofing business. I draft those terms for a fixed fee of £995, delivered in five working days.

Who this is for

Roofing contractors in England and Wales doing repairs, re-roofs, flat roofs, leadwork and guttering for homeowners, landlords, managing agents and businesses. The terms are written for consumers and business customers together, with the sections that only apply to consumers clearly marked.

What matters in roofing terms

Access, scaffolding and the neighbours

The terms should say whether scaffolding is included in your price or hired separately, who is responsible for the scaffold and for how long, and that access over a neighbour's land, a shared drive or a flat roof belonging to someone else is for the customer to arrange. A scaffold that has to come down and go back up because a neighbour objected is a cost somebody has to bear, and the terms should say who. Roof work is subject to the Work at Height Regulations 2005, and on a domestic project the client's duties under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 fall on the contractor, so the terms should record who holds those responsibilities.

Weather and the exposed roof

The weather is outside your control, and an exposed roof is a risk to the building. The terms should make completion dates estimates, allow the programme to move for weather without breach, describe the temporary protection you will provide, and say that water ingress during works caused by weather rather than by a failure to take reasonable care is not your liability.

Hidden defects and variations

You cannot see rotten rafters, failed felt or a chimney that needs rebuilding until the covering is off. The terms should treat those as extras, to be reported, priced and agreed in writing before you continue, and should give you the right to make the roof safe and charge for it if the customer will not decide. Matching existing tiles or slates is never exact, and the terms should say that reclaimed or nearest-match materials are acceptable.

Guarantees, insurance and insurance-funded work

Your workmanship guarantee should be defined in scope and length, and separated from any manufacturer's guarantee on materials, which is theirs and depends on their conditions. Where the customer is funding the job through an insurance claim, the terms should say that the customer remains your customer and is liable for the price whether or not the insurer pays, and that you are not party to the claim. Your public liability cover should be stated.

Waste, payment and the right to cancel

Old tiles, felt and timber are waste, and if you take them away you must be registered as a waste carrier with the Environment Agency under the Control of Pollution (Amendment) Act 1989. Payment should be by deposit, stages on longer jobs and the balance on completion; business customers can be charged interest and compensation on late payment under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998. A job agreed at the customer's home or by phone gives a consumer 14 days to cancel under the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013, subject to the exception for urgent repairs the customer asked for, which covers only the urgent work.

What it costs

Customer or supplier terms and conditions, £995. One set of terms, customer-facing or supplier-facing, drafted for your business. Five working days.

Review of your existing terms, £495. You already have terms and want them checked and brought up to date. Returned marked up with my amendments and an explanation of the changes. Three working days.

Email me at geoffrey@caesar.co.uk with what you need and any documents, and I will confirm the scope and the fee in writing, usually the same working day. If you would rather pay straight away, buying online forms the engagement on payment: the scope is what the terms and conditions drafting page describes, you accept the Terms of Service at checkout, and I will be in touch promptly to get started.

What you get

• A full set of bespoke terms drafted for your business, reflecting the legal requirements that apply to your business and sector
• A note in plain English explaining the terms I have drafted for you
• Liability, payment, termination and IP provisions that protect your position and are drafted to withstand scrutiny from the other side
• Guidance on how to incorporate the terms properly
• Your questions and comments answered by email or phone
• One round of amendments to finalise the terms ready for use

What is not included

• Negotiating your terms with individual customers (I am happy to quote for this as an additional service if required)
• Sector-specific regulatory compliance beyond the contract terms themselves
• Website privacy notice and cookie compliance, which I quote separately
• Terms governed by the law of another country
• Tax advice

Questions I am often asked

Can I offer a twenty-year guarantee?

You can offer whatever guarantee you choose, but the terms should say exactly what it covers, what it excludes, such as storm damage and work by others, and whether it transfers to a new owner. An undefined guarantee is an open-ended liability.

What if the customer refuses to pay because they cannot see the work?

The terms should provide for photographs of the completed work and any hidden repairs to be supplied with the invoice, and should make payment due on completion rather than on the customer's inspection.

Do I need the customer's permission to leave a scaffold up?

The scaffold is on their land and the terms should say how long it may stay, that it is not to be used by the customer or anyone else, and who is responsible for it while it is there.

Related guidance and services

• Terms and conditions drafting, £995, the service this page describes
• Contract review, £495, if a main contractor or business customer has sent you their terms to sign
• Terms and conditions for a builder doing domestic work, which deals with the same variation and stage-payment issues

This page is general guidance for businesses in England and Wales, not advice on your own circumstances. Last reviewed: September 2026. Email geoffrey@caesar.co.uk.