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By providing practical advice and support, we help thatch homeowners make informed decisions and protect their properties effectively.
From risk management advice to support when making a claim, our thatch insurance experts help you through the whole process so you can spend more time doing what matters to you.
High quality thatched home insurance
As one of the UK’s leading thatched home insurance brokers, we provide high-quality thatch cover tailored to your requirements. Over the years, we have built strong relationships with insurers offering reliable and comprehensive thatch cover for thatch owners.
Our team of insurance advisers are specialists in thatched home cover. They can help and assist you in getting comprehensive and effective thatched home insurance for your property so that you can enjoy owning a fully protected thatched home. By providing practical advice and support, we help thatch owners find appropriate and highly effective thatched home insurance and make informed decisions around protecting your property.
Key thatch cover benefits
- Accidental damage for buildings and contents
- Worldwide contents cover
- Home emergency and legal cover as standard
- Cover for wood burners (depending on the policy)
Our thatched home insurance can also cover:
- Unforeseen damage
- Pre-existing alterations
- Extended alternative accommodation as reasonable and necessary for up to 24 months
What do insurers mean by “unforeseen damage”?
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.
What are pre-existing alterations?
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.
Extended alternative accommodation
The planning and rebuilding of a thatched property is more complicated and lengthier than the rebuild of a standard house. Our thatched home insurance can provide alternative accommodation for an extended time, which can remove the stress from finding accommodation during the rebuild of your home.
Talk to us about the level of cover and type of accommodation you may need when you take out or renew a buildings and contents policy with us.
Underwriting knowledge and expertise
Many thatched properties are a non-standard construction, and insuring these properties requires a specialist understanding and knowledge of historic building practices. Our team of thatched home insurance experts can provide you with helpful information and insight into how to insure and maintain your thatched property to a high standard.
Thatched roof maintenance
There can be more to owning a thatched property than a standard-construction building. However, with regular maintenance and the help of a professional roof thatcher, keeping your roof and building in good condition can be easier than you think.
- If you don’t want to climb on the roof yourself, we advise you get the help of a roof thatcher to check the roof, including the ridge, especially before and after winter. Look out for any lines and dips in the thatch as these are signs of wear.
- Check the wire mesh netting often used to protect the ridge from birds and other animals. If some of the thatch has been lost, the wire mesh will be raised or point upwards.
- Make sure the thatch can dry out from rain by pruning or removing trees and plants that block the sunlight getting to your roof. A dry thatched roof will prevent moss and lichen growing which could rot the thatch.
What do you need to consider?
There are over 60,000 thatched homes, but only approximately 800 Master thatchers in the UK1. Compare the number of specialist roof thatchers with the number of thatched properties and you understand that specialist thatched home tradespeople are in high demand. Repairing a thatched property can take longer than a standard-construction property so getting the right cover for your thatched home insurance is vital.
We provide comprehensive insurance tailored to your needs and property type, including protection for:
- Various types of thatched roof, including long straw, Devon reed, Norfolk reed, water reed, and combed wheat.
- Repairs and replacement of non-standard materials and works carried out.
- Wood burners, open fires, and solid fuel stoves.
- Various heating systems including oil, electrical and gas.
- Various types of residential status, from owner occupied, holiday home, Airbnb, or rental.
- Listed Grade I, Grade II* and Grade II buildings.
- Contents including jewellery and artwork can be added to the policy.
Our helpful guides to owning a thatched property
We have a range of helpful, informative COMPLIMENTARY guides that are easy to download and offer great insight into the ins and outs of:
- Buying your first thatched home
- Insuring your thatched home
- Safe electrics and regulated electrical reports
- Wood burners, chimneys, and flues
Insuring a property with a thatched roof can often be more expensive because of the fire risks around thatched roofs. The thatch can burn faster than a house with a slate or tile roof. The rebuild value of a thatched property will often be more expensive than a standard construction because specialist materials and tradespeople may need to be employed to repair or rebuild the property.
Thatched houses can cost more to insure because of the fire risks, and thatch used on thatched roofs is designed to repel water which makes it more difficult for the fire services to extinguish a fire.
Your insurance premium will depend upon the age and location of your property, the materials it is built from, whether it is listed, and the level and type of insurance you require.
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 years2.
Join 1,000s of thatch home owners.
Key thatch insurance policy benefits
✓ Accidental damage for buildings and contents
✓ Worldwide contents cover
✓ Alternative accommodation as reasonable & necessary for up to 24 months
✓ Home emergency and legal cover as standard
✓ Cover for wood burners in thatch properties
For more information about what’s covered and excluded read the policy documents here.
Download Your FREE Thatch Home Insurance Guide
Have you ever wondered why thatched home insurance is so complicated? Why do insurers ask so many wierd and wonderful questions? Our FREE guide answers all of these questions and more making it easier and quicker to get a quote.
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