Trading standards officials are warning Hertfordshire residents to beware of rogue traders, who may try to take advantage of the recent poor weather.

Spells of wet weather can highlight leaking gutters, problems with roofing or other parts of homes that can require attention.

And that can lead to residents scratching their heads, trying to find the right traders to sort out their problems – while continuing to juggle the demands of everyday life.

A timely leaflet through the door or a knock on the door from someone who is "working in the area" may seem like a gift.

But the county council's trading standards officers are warning residents that rogue traders can use the weather as an "opportunity to take advantage of unsuspecting residents".

They are urging residents to take their time when arranging repairs, to seek trusted advice and to report anything that doesn't feel right to the Citizens Advice Consumer Service or to the police.

"We want residents to feel confident when arranging repairs to their homes, especially after periods of bad weather," said the county council's executive member for public health and community safety, Cllr Ajanta Hilton.

"Rogue traders often take advantage of people at stressful moments, when quick decisions can feel necessary.

"I urge everyone to take their time, seek trusted advice, and report anything that doesn't feel right."

According to the county's trading standards officials, alarm bells should ring if a small job turns into a bigger one – or if residents find they are faced with unexpected price increases.

By way of example, they point to simple jobs such as clearing gutters that go on to reveal problems such as loose roof tiles, compromised felt or rotten timbers – or to circumstances where a price is agreed, but then a trader says it did not include materials or VAT.

They also warn that residents should be suspicious if an expensive quote is quickly reduced, on condition that it is carried out straight away.

And they urge caution if residents are asked for a large deposit to cover costs such as materials, scaffolding or similar items.

They also warn that residents should be wary if a trader claims a job is urgent, or if they feel pressured to agree to it or if there is a lack of any paperwork in advance of work starting.

They stress that, in law, residents have a 14-day cancellation period for work agreed at their home.

And they advise residents to make use of this cancellation period to reflect, to speak to someone they trust about what has happened, to seek a second opinion from a trustworthy local trader and maybe to seek advice from the Citizens Advice Consumer Service.

Any concerns, they say, can be reported to the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 0808 223 1133 – while any concerns about fraud can be reported to the police by contacting Report Fraud on 0300 123 2040.

However, if a trader is aggressive or starts work without a resident's agreement, they advise calling 999.

In addition, they are urging all Hertfordshire residents to look out for vulnerable neighbours and to report any concerns.