To my mind, there’s nothing more quintessentially English than a thatched cottage. If you asked 100 people to conjure up their image of a typical village in the UK’s countryside, I bet well over half would feature a thatched cottage in there somewhere!
While thatched homes look great and have a certain charm about them, there are things you need to consider before buying this type of property, as it will require different maintenance and insurance to other houses.
That doesn’t mean they are necessarily more hassle than other types of dwelling though, or that they have to cost more, so don’t let those common misconceptions put you off investing in a cottage with a thatched roof.
Here are a few things to bear in mind when looking at this type of home:
What type of thatch is it?
You might think that one thatched roof is very much like any other, but that is, in fact, not the case. There are three different types of thatch used widely in the UK, as well as varying regional styles in terms of how they are laid.
Water reed – also known as Norfolk reed – combed wheat and long straw are the three main materials used to create this type of roof. Which one is on your home will largely depend on whereabouts in the country it is.
As a general rule, water reed lasts the longest, with a covering of this type able to protect a home for between 50 and 60 years. Combed wheat will usually last for 25 to 40 years, while long straw typically needs replacing every 15 to 25 years. Before you decide to replace your roof with water reed, though, check the planning regulations in your area. If this sort of thatch isn’t normally used in your region, chances are you won’t be permitted to re-thatch your roof with it.
Is it a listed building?
While not all thatched homes in the UK are listed, around 75 per cent have this status, so it is essential you check whether your property is one of them. Owning a listed building generally won’t cause you any problems, although you’ll need to get planning permission from your local authority if you want to make any alterations to your house.
If you’re not sure whether the work you are intending to do is allowed due to your home’s listed status, contact your planning office and find out! It’s much safer than ploughing ahead with works only to find you have to meet the cost of returning the property to its original state a few weeks or months later.
Insurance
One of the things that often puts buyers off thatched cottages is that they assume, incorrectly, that insuring the building will be more expensive than other types of home. The key to finding affordable thatched house insurance is to use a specialist provider, as they will be in a much better position to assess the risks associated with this type of property than a company that offers policies for standard homes.
As you would expect, there is a greater risk of fire in a thatched property than a home with a tiled roof, but if you take the proper precautions, you are unlikely to have any problems. Making sure your chimney is cleaned ahead of each winter, ensuring your electrical wiring is properly maintained and installing fire prevention products in your property can all help reduce the risk of a fire in your house.
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