Thatched Home Insurance

When a building and contents policy refers to “sudden and unforeseen damage” it means the policy can cover repairs or replacement caused by accidental damage, explosions, and/or collapse.
Examples of “sudden and unforeseen damage” can include:

• Broken glass in windows, doors, conservatories, and greenhouses.
• Broken locks and/or keys.
• Accidental damage to pipes, cables and drains that connect to your house.
• Holes or cracks accidentally and unintentionally made to ceilings, floorboards, or tiles.

Insuring a thatched property can often be more expensive than a standard home for two main reasons. First, thatch presents a higher fire risk, it burns faster than slate or tile, and because thatch is designed to repel water, it can be harder for fire services to extinguish. Second, the rebuild value is typically higher as specialist materials and skilled tradespeople are required to repair or rebuild the property to the correct standard.

Your premium will also depend on the age and location of your property, whether it is listed, and the level of cover you require.

If your thatched home is listed, you may have to consider special rules and regulations. If a previous owner altered your property without the consent or knowledge of the Local Planning Authority (LPA) for Grade II listed property, or Historic England for Grade I and Grade II* listed buildings, you may have to return your property to its original state. This is providing that you have made reasonable enquiries about any previous alterations. Some policies will reimburse you for the cost of restoring your property to its pre-altered state.

The lifespan of a thatched roof depends on the type of thatch used but in general water reed thatch usually lasts from 25 to over 40 years; long straw thatch between 15 and 25 years; and combed wheat reed from 25 to 35 years. Ridges on the top of the roof usually need to be replaced every 10 to 15 years. (Source: Thatch Advice Centre)