An insurance backed guarantee (IBG) is a policy that keeps your roofer's workmanship guarantee alive if the company stops trading. It is paid for up front, usually runs for 10 years, and only pays out if the contractor has gone insolvent. It is not the same as a roofer being "insured", and no law makes a roofer provide one. If you are spending serious money on a re-roof in Kent, it is worth knowing what you are asking for before you sign.
This guide explains what an IBG does and does not do, what it costs, how it differs from public liability cover, and which questions to put to any roofer in writing.
TL;DR
- An IBG is a cease-to-trade policy: it honours the contractor's guarantee only if the company goes into liquidation, administration, receivership or bankruptcy.
- It is optional and chargeable. Roofers do not have to offer one, so you need to ask before you agree the contract.
- "Fully insured" usually means public liability and employers' liability cover. That protects against accidents during the job, not against a guarantee failing years later.
- If a roofer is still trading but will not put a fault right, an IBG will not help. Your rights under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 and the complaints route apply instead.
- Ask for the insurer's own certificate and the written guarantee together, not a contractor-printed certificate alone.
Table of Contents
- What an insurance backed guarantee actually is
- "Insured" and "insurance backed" are different things
- Is a roofer legally required to give you one?
- What does an insurance backed guarantee cost?
- When an IBG is worth having
- How to ask for one, step by step
- Warning signs of a guarantee that will not hold up
- What an IBG will not do
- Our view on guarantees
- If you need a roofer in Kent
- FAQ
- Sources
What an insurance backed guarantee actually is
Most reputable roofers give a written workmanship guarantee on a new roof or major repair. The weakness is obvious: a guarantee is only as good as the company standing behind it. If that company closes in year four and your ridge starts leaking in year five, the paper guarantee has nobody to honour it.
An IBG fills that gap. According to the Confederation of Roofing Contractors, it is an insurance policy that honours the terms of the contractor's original guarantee if the firm stops trading through insolvency, bankruptcy or the death of its principals. Cover typically runs for 10 years, though terms vary by provider.
Two points catch people out:
- It sits behind the contractor's guarantee, not instead of it. The roofer's own written guarantee defines what is covered. The IBG makes sure that promise survives the company.
- It only activates when the contractor has ceased trading. The same trade body states it applies if the contractor enters liquidation, receivership, administration or bankruptcy. A roofer who is still in business and simply refusing to return is a different problem.
"Insured" and "insurance backed" are different things
The keyword people type most often alongside this topic is some version of "what does insured roofer mean". It is a fair question, because the two phrases sound alike and protect you against very different risks.
When a roofer says they are insured, they normally mean they hold:
- Public liability insurance, which covers accidental damage to your property or injury to third parties while the work is going on. A dropped tile through a conservatory roof is the classic example.
- Employers' liability insurance, which is a legal requirement for most businesses with employees in the UK, as explained here. (That page is written with a US audience in mind, so treat its licensing points as not applying to Britain.)
Neither policy covers the guarantee failing after the job is finished. That is the job of an IBG.
| Public / employers' liability | Insurance backed guarantee | |
|---|---|---|
| Protects against | Accidents and damage during the work | The contractor's guarantee failing after they cease trading |
| When it matters | While the roofers are on site | Years after completion |
| Who holds it | The roofing company, for its own trading | Issued per job or under a scheme, for you as the customer |
| Evidence to ask for | Current certificate of insurance | Insurer's certificate plus the written guarantee |
A roofer can be properly insured and still not offer an IBG. Neither is a mark against them. They answer different questions, and you should ask about both.
Is a roofer legally required to give you one?
No. The Confederation of Roofing Contractors is clear that IBGs are a chargeable service, not mandatory by law, and the installer does not have to offer one. The practical consequence is that if you want one, you have to raise it before the contract is agreed. The same page notes that some policies cannot be issued once the project is finished or full payment has been made.
There is one route where a 10-year IBG comes built in. Roofers registered with the NFRC Competent Person Scheme are tied to an IBG on qualifying roof refurbishment work for domestic clients. The scheme allows registered contractors to self-certify that work complies with building regulations in England and Wales. If your contractor is registered, ask whether your particular job qualifies, because that can save you sourcing and paying for separate cover.
If your contractor is not on that scheme, an IBG can still be arranged for individual projects through other providers, subject to the policy terms.
What does an insurance backed guarantee cost?
The cost is normally passed on to you, and it is small next to the value of a roof. The Confederation of Roofing Contractors says policies can start from as little as £45, depending on the provider and the complexity of the contract. Some providers cover contract values up to £250,000, while others set different limits.
The price rises with the contract value, so a full re-roof costs more to cover than a small repair. Always ask for the figure as a separate line on the quote, so you can see exactly what you are paying for and compare it fairly between roofers.
For context on repair budgets, our own published starting point for a single tile repair is from £150 as a one-off. Whether a guarantee of any kind is worth adding depends on the size of the job, which we cover below.
When an IBG is worth having
Not every job needs one. A sensible way to judge it:
- Worth asking for: full roof replacements, new roof installations, large flat roof renewals, loft conversions with new roof structures, and any job where a failure in year six or seven would cost you thousands.
- Less relevant: a one-off tile replacement, a short run of repointing, or clearing a gutter. The risk of a long-term failure is low and the written receipt is usually enough.
- Especially relevant for landlords and property managers: if you manage several properties or work through a managing agent, a guarantee that survives the contractor makes your records cleaner and helps when you sell. If you manage a block, our guide to landlord roof duties and Section 20 notices covers the process around major works.
Guidance from local authority trading standards describes the main value of an IBG as peace of mind on big, expensive projects, while stressing it does not replace due diligence. That is the right way to think about it: a safety net, not a reason to skip the checks below.
How to ask for one, step by step
- Raise it at the quote stage. Say you want a written guarantee and ask whether an insurance backed guarantee is available for the job.
- Ask who the insurer is. The cover should come from a genuine insurance provider, not an internal "guarantee certificate" that has no underwriting behind it. Consumer advice from the Better Business Bureau in the US makes the same point: ask to see the certificate from the insurer, not just the contractor. It is American guidance, but the principle holds anywhere.
- Get the cost as a separate line. If it is chargeable, it should be visible and agreed before you sign.
- Read the scope. The written guarantee should say what is covered (workmanship, materials, leaks at flashings or valleys) and what is a manufacturer's warranty instead. Our guide to the three roof warranty covers to get in writing goes through the difference.
- Check the start and end dates and any conditions. Some policies require payment in full, or maintenance, to stay valid.
- Keep everything together. Contract, invoice, guarantee, insurer's certificate and photos of the finished roof should live in one folder, paper or digital. If you ever need to claim, or sell the house, you will want it.
Before any of this, do the basics on the contractor themselves. Our four checks Kent homeowners should do before hiring a roofer covers insurance certificates, references and written quotes.
Warning signs of a guarantee that will not hold up
A guarantee is only useful if it is real. Be cautious when:
- A roofer turns up unprompted after a storm with "spare materials" and an unusually good price. Industry advice is that these operators are highly unlikely to offer credible insurance-backed protection.
- The guarantee is a single page printed by the contractor with no named insurer.
- The roofer says a lifetime guarantee is included but cannot say who underwrites it.
- You are pushed to pay the full amount in cash before the guarantee paperwork exists.
- There is no company address, no written quote and no insurance certificate on request.
If you or an older relative has been approached in this way, our seven-step plan against UK roofing scams is worth a read.
What an IBG will not do
This is where expectations go wrong. An IBG does not:
- Fix a fault when the roofer is still trading. If the company exists but disputes the problem or ignores you, the IBG is not the route. Citizens Advice points people to the firm's complaints procedure first, then an independent dispute resolution scheme if the contractor belongs to a trade body, then the courts. The small claims track handles claims up to £5,000 in England and Wales.
- Replace your statutory rights. Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 you can still claim against a trader for unsatisfactory work. The same Citizens Advice guidance says you can pursue remedies for up to six years in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (five in Scotland), whether or not you hold an IBG. A guarantee is an addition to those rights, as the Citizens Advice guide on home improvements also notes.
- Cover everything. Damage from storms, lack of maintenance, or later work by someone else is typically outside a workmanship guarantee. Read the exclusions.
If you do have a dispute with a trader who is still trading, a plain-English checklist of questions about warranties, such as this fitter's guide to warranty questions, shows the kind of written detail worth pinning down for any home improvement. And for the consumer-side view of what a warranty is and is not, this explainer on home warranties is a useful read. Both are written about plumbing, but the principles about written terms and exclusions carry over to roofing.
Our view on guarantees
We are a family-owned roofing company working across Kent, and we have been at it for over 10 years. Our view is simple: a guarantee is a promise, and a promise is only as strong as the paperwork behind it.
When customers ask us about guarantees, we encourage them to ask three things of any roofer, us included. What exactly is covered? For how long? And what happens if the company is no longer around? Those questions are fair, and a roofer who bristles at them is telling you something.
We are insured, and we would rather you see the certificate than take our word for it. We also believe in honest pricing and free, no-obligation quotes, so you can sit down with the paperwork before you commit and compare it with anyone else's. For a bigger job such as a replacement, ask us at the quote stage how the guarantee will be set out in writing, and we will go through it with you.
What we would not want anyone to do is rely on a word like "insured" and assume the job is protected for a decade. Read the document.
— Gabbi
If you need a roofer in Kent
If you are planning a re-roof, a flat roof renewal or a repair anywhere in Kent, we offer free, no-obligation quotes and a 24-hour emergency response. Our roof replacement service covers full replacements for homes and commercial properties, and you can see everything we do on our services page. Tell us at the start that you want your guarantee terms in writing, and we will cover it in the quote. Have a leak right now? Our page on fast roof repairs in Kent is the quickest way in, or start from jhroof.co.uk.
FAQ
What is an insurance backed guarantee for roofing?
It is an insurance policy that makes sure a roofer's workmanship guarantee is honoured if the company ceases trading. It typically lasts 10 years. It does not replace the contractor's own guarantee; it sits behind it.
Do roofers have to give a guarantee?
No law says a roofer must provide an insurance backed guarantee, and the Confederation of Roofing Contractors confirms it is a chargeable service that installers can choose not to offer. Your legal rights under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 apply regardless. Ask for any guarantee in writing before the work starts.
Are insurance backed guarantees any good?
They are good at the one thing they are designed for: protecting you if the contractor disappears. They are not designed for disputes with a roofer who is still trading, and they do not remove the need to check the contractor first. For a major project, most people find the cost small against the risk.
What does "insured roofer" mean?
Usually that the roofer holds public liability insurance and, if they employ staff, employers' liability insurance. That covers accidents during the job. It does not guarantee the quality of the work years later, so ask separately about guarantees and request a copy of the certificate.
How much does an insurance backed guarantee cost?
The Confederation of Roofing Contractors says costs can be as low as £45 depending on the provider and the complexity of the contract. The price increases with contract value. Ask for it as a separate line on your quote.
Sources
- Insurance Backed Guarantees for roofers, Confederation of Roofing Contractors
- Insurance Backed Guarantees for customers, Confederation of Roofing Contractors
- NFRC Competent Person Scheme: insurance backed guarantees
- NFRC, Competent Person Scheme listing
- Citizens Advice: claim using a warranty or guarantee
- Citizens Advice: before you get building work done
- Trading Standards consumer support pack, Flintshire County Council
- Licensed and insured roofer: what it means, Roof Explained
- BBB tip: roofing contractors