Isle of Man residents warned over 'rogue traders'
The Isle of Man Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has warned residents to beware of employing "rogue traders" to carry out building repairs during the winter.
The regulator said homeowners should be careful about employing builders who randomly knock at the door.
The warning is timed to coincide with one of the busiest periods in the year for the island's building industry.
An OFT spokesman said: "With the heavy downpours and high winds householders may be concerned about roof damage."
He added: "Good building firms and specialist roofers are probably very busy and may not be able to respond right away.
"Waiting for them may be a better option however than using cold callers who can leave your roof in a worse state than when they found it, if indeed there was any damage in the first place."