If you’re thinking of buying a thatched roof home then there are certainly many things to consider.
While owning such a property certainly comes with many advantages, there are practical considerations you should take into account before making the plunge.
Below are some of the most important things to know.
Insurance can be very costly
Getting insurance for a thatched roof property can be quite expensive. One of the main reasons for this is that if the property were to catch fire and be completely destroyed then the expertise required to rebuild it, particularly the roof, are very costly.
Sites such as Thatchedinsure thatched home insurance do make it easy to get quotes however so finding a policy at the best price shouldn’t prove too much of a challenge.
You’ll need to schedule regular chimney cleaning
One of the most important type of maintenance you’ll need to have carried out when you own a thatched roof home is regular chimney inspections and cleaning. Fire safety is a big concern for thatched roof property owners and chimneys that are not property maintained are one of the biggest culprits. Even if you don’t intend to use the fireplace in the property then it’s still necessary to find out when the chimney was last cleaned when you first move in.
You may have to get the thatch cleaned or repaired
When you first purchase a thatched roof property then there’s a chance you might have to have the thatched cleaned or repaired. If you’re lucky then it’ll only require a cleaning, which is much cheaper than having it repaired. If there are extensive repairs required then you might not consider the property worth the investment, particularly if you have other options available.
You might not be able to make dramatic changes to the property
One of the most important questions to ask when you’re looking to purchase a thatched roof property is whether or not it’s a listed building. A listed building in the UK is considered to be of significant cultural or historical value. What this means is that owners of listed properties have an obligation to keep the property in good condition.
Not only this but if you wanted to have any significant structural changes carried out to the property, such as an extension, then you’d need to seek approval from the local council. This might not always be granted so it’s worth bearing this in mind.
