Dream Home or Money Pit? Discover our essential checklist for buying a thatched property.

When you are buying a thatched home, whether it’s a thatch cottage or farmhouse, there are certain considerations to bear in mind. To help you in your quest to find the ideal thatch house, we have compiled seven suggestions on what to look out for when buying a thatched property.

1. Thatch: the facts

Get the thatched roof checked by a professional thatcher. They should be able to give you an approximate breakdown of any repairs needed now or in the next few years. You could get recommendations from neighbours or visit Thatch Advice Centre to find a professional thatcher. Maintaining your thatched roof and chimneys alongside following your thatch house insurance company’s guidelines as to how to enjoy a wood burner or open fire, can help reduce the risk of fire.

2. Stay switched on

Arrange to have a full electrical inspection made alongside your property survey for the mortgage valuation. Older properties can often feature out-of-date wiring and circuit boards. Establishing whether you will need to replace the electrics in the property you are thinking of buying is vital in factoring in costs of Electrical circuits will need to be checked at least once every ten years by a qualified electrician.1 Keeping your electrics in good working order can help reduce fire risks

3. Check the chimney

The chimney and flue must have the correct liner, insulation and brickwork; a registered chimney engineer will be able to advise on this. In addition, the thatch house insurance provider will have a set of criteria around how often the chimney needs to be swept. Usually this is twice a year or more if the wood burner or open fire is used regularly.

4. Is your property listed?

According to Historic England, there may be around 500,000 properties on the National Heritage List for England (NHLE) – the listed property register for all listed buildings in Britain.2 If you’re not sure whether the property you’re interested in buying is listed, you can check on the Historic England listed property register. If your property is listed, you will need to undertake any repairs or renovations sympathetically. Specialist materials and craftspeople will need to be enlisted to work on your property. You will also need to consult your Local Planning Authority (LPA) if you are planning on carrying out any type of update or change to your listed property.

5. Tracing repairs and renovations

Sometimes a listed thatched property has been renovated or updated by the former owners. If the appropriate building consent hasn’t been given you could be liable for reversing unauthorised changes previously made. Some thatch house insurance policies can cover you for changes that may need to be rectified, so it’s worth considering whether you could benefit from this type of cover. If you are interested in finding out more about this aspect of a policy, contact our team of specialist insurance experts today.

6. Get professional help

Get the help of a qualified surveyor – ideally a member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) who specialises in building surveys for period buildings. They can advise on the condition and construction of the property, whilst taking into consideration the fact that older buildings differ from newer properties.

To help avoid under insurance, it is also important to ask your surveyor for an accurate rebuild cost of the property including all outbuildings as most thatch insurers will need this figure from you.

7. Look out for potential damp issues

Look out for any damp patches on the walls or a musty atmosphere in the house. A good surveyor will be able to advise on whether the house has a damp problem, what the underlying cause is, and how it could be improved on or eliminated. If there is extensive damp throughout the property, this will need to be treated as excessive moisture can cause severe property damage in the short and long term

Insuring your property can be crucial for protection against the unexpected. Thatched property insurance can be a complex process, so it’s worth talking to an expert who can help you obtain appropriate cover.

If you’d like a quote for a new policy, or assistance with your existing policy, please don’t hesitate to contact our friendly team of experts. With years of experience in providing accurate and effective cover for thatched and listed properties, you can rest assured you’re in good hands.

If you need help with a claim, please get in touch with our helpful claims team today

Alternatively, email us at:

heritageclientsupport@lloydwhyte.com

What matters to you, matters to us

1. https://www.wwf.org.uk/learn/fascinating-facts/bees#:~:text=Busy%20pollinating%20bees,than%20those%20that%20do%20not.
2. https://reviveabee.com/how-to-revive-a-bee/

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