So you’re thinking of buying a thatched house? Congratulations! Thatched properties are some of the most characterful and charming places to live today. However, owning a thatched house comes with a number of responsibilities that may seem daunting at first, so we’ve put together a list of 5 things for you to check before you decide to take the plunge.
Contents
- Check the Condition of the Existing Thatch
- Investigate House Insurance Prices
- Check Whether the Property is Listed
- Get an Electrical Installation Condition Report
- Have the Fire and the Chimney Inspected
1. Check the Condition of the Existing Thatch
It’s important to understand the condition of the existing thatch; you can do this yourself by simply looking at the roof, does the thatch look damaged, dirty or just generally scruffy? If so, don’t worry too much, it could just be that the roof needs a clean and a general tidy up. Get in touch with a professional Master Thatcher to see what they think — or commission a thatching survey for a full written assessment. We’ve also put together a guide that will help you to get an idea of How Long a Thatched Roof Will Last, which will give you a rough idea of how much life is left in the roof.
2. Investigate House Insurance Prices
Thatched houses often require specialist house insurance policies — see our guide to thatched roof insurance for a full breakdown and it’s of paramount importance that your policy accurately reflects the rebuild cost on your home. It’s often believed that insurance on thatched properties is higher than on traditional homes, but this isn’t always the case. Be sure to shop around and read the fine print when comparing providers and bear in mind that some may be cheaper for a reason. Many specialist insurers will request details around the materials used in the thatch, maintenance records, past issues with the roof and details around open fires and flues, so make sure you have this information to hand.
3. Check Whether the Property is Listed
Roughly 75% of thatched properties in the UK are listed. If a property is listed, it doesn’t mean that the building cannot be changed, it simply means that a building has been marked for its exceptional architectural or historical significance. If you decide to modify a listed building, for example adding an extension, changing the windows etc., the local authority will use the listed building consent to make decisions which will balance the site’s historic significance against other issues such as its function, condition or viability. If you’re unsure whether a building is listed, you can do a search on the Historic England website.
4. Get an Electrical Installation Condition Report
We’d recommend getting an Electrical Installation Condition Report for any new property purchase, but especially if you’re considering buying a thatched house. Due to the age of thatched homes and the building materials that they consist of, many insurance companies will require that you have this report before they consider writing up a policy. It’ll also give you peace of mind to know what condition your electrics are in, separate from any insurance requirements.
5. Have the Fire and the Chimney Inspected
Many people worry about the fire safety of thatched houses, but the truth is that if you pay adequate care and attention to the electrics, fires and chimneys, you shouldn’t have much to worry about. With that in mind, when buying a thatched house you’ll want to get an idea of the current condition of the chimneys; ask the sellers how often the chimney is swept (it should be done roughly once per year) and consult a professional builder or chimney engineer to check the brickwork and rendering. Once you move in, make sure you’ve got smoke alarms in place and that open fires are never left unattended.