Specialist thatch property cover protects you against all the usual risks covered under home and contents insurance, with a focus on the slightly different risks the roofing material presents. The cover isn’t different per se, but the underwriting that sits behind it is specially tailored to reflect the risk presented by thatch properties.

Yes – there’s no getting away from it, insuring your thatched property may cost around a third more than a modern tiled house. The premium is affected chiefly by how you heat the house – woodburners and multifuel stoves can add to the cost simply because they involve flames, where radiators and other standard types of central heating don’t.

Fire is not a regular occurrence in thatched properties. But it’s a risk you ignore at your peril, and ordinary home insurance doesn’t cover it. Of the estimated 50,000 thatched buildings in Britain, Fire Service statistics reveal 60-70 per year will suffer some form of fire damage through burning wood or fossil fuels. You need to bear in mind you have a combustible roof and take advice from the experts – like us!

A combination of good housekeeping, regular maintenance and constant vigilance are your best weapons to cut the risk of a thatch fire. As a rule modern electricity, gas and sustainable heating systems present less fire risk than an open hearth or wood burning/multifuel stove.

Next to burning solid fuel, electrical problems are the biggest cause of fire in thatch. A Periodic Inspection Report carried out by a qualified (NICEIC) electrician should identify problems with wiring or installations that could cause damage or injury. Certificates will be either “satisfactory” (problems – if any – of a minor nature) or “unsatisfactory” meaning that problems will have to be addressed. Those found will be coded C1 (potentially dangerous) through to C3 (needs improvement to comply). The gap between re-inspection is usually 5-10 years depending on the electrician’s findings.

Yes, if you are starting from scratch compared to tiling in, say, concrete tiles, but not outrageously so. Thatch will need more regular maintenance than a conventional roof and will not, of course, last as long. A well thatched water reed roof will last the longest, followed by combed wheat (aka Devon wheat reed) and, lastly, longstraw. Good, well thatched Longstraw should last 20 years. The ridges on all types of thatch will need replacing every 5 years or so.