Thatched Home Insurance
Thatched Property Insurance
Compare thatched roof property quotes with some of the leading UK specialist thatch insurance brokers. Tailor the cover to suit your needs from buildings only policy to a combined buildings and contents policy.
Thatched home insurance is available for;
- Owner occupiers
- Landlords
- Second home and or holiday let
- Unoccupied
- Grade 1 or 2 listed buildings
- Cover for properties using open fires and wood burning stoves
Insurance for thatched homes
A thatched house insurance policy is surprisingly good value in term of the risks posed to the insurer. The biggest factor is that if property catches fire (not that easily with modern thatched roofs), it is extremely difficult to put out. The main damage is then caused by the water used to tackle the fire. The main reason why not many standard home insurers provide this type of policy is the fact that there is insufficient volumes. It is estimated that there are approximately 50,000 thatched roof properties within the UK.
Brokers that specialise in insurance policies for thatched properties will look at each risk on an individual basis. Most of these underwriters have many years of experience in insuring these period homes and will provide a quotation based on the risk details.
Traditionally there were a myriad of materials used for the construction of roofs. A lot depended on where the property was located and also on the availability of materials. For thatched homes, the choice of roof materials has considerably reduced in the UK with the most common materials currently used include long straw, water reed and combed water reed.
A prudent home owner will ensure that they have good risk protocols in place such as;
- Having adequate fire extinguishers
- Smoke detectors
- Fire blankets
- Knowledge of local fire brigade details
- Period inspection of plumbing, electrics and condition of thatch
- Chimney swept periodically
- Chimney flue is lined
- Consider fitting an outside tap if not already installed to tackle any small fires
- Keep handy the claims number of the thatched house insurance provider.
Thatch Insurance
Many thatched properties are over 200 years old and also a large propoertion of these thatched roof homes being listed. The chimneys within these old buildings were usually only built with using single brick construction. Owners with solid fuel stoves are at risk of fire if the chimney is not properly lined.
If your property is fitted with spark arrestors ensure that these are cleaned on annual basis as these can easily become clogged which in turn can be a serious fire hazard. Fitting heat sensors into the thatch and around chimneys are effective early warning systems of overheating.
Thatched house insurance does not need to be expensive if the the property is properly maintained. If you can proof to the insurer that you take fire risks seriously and have implemented risk control measures then the underwriters will take this into account when assessing your proposal.
If you are having any work undertaken ensure that you specialist contractors such as thatchers, chimney sweeps, electricians, plumbers and builders.
To compare thatched home insurance quotes simply complete the details on our online quote system. Up to three specialist thatched property insurance brokers will call you directly to discuss your requirements. Saving you time and money.
