# Thatch condition reports for buyers, sellers and insurers

> Are you buying or selling a thatched house, or does your insurer want a report on the roof? A master thatcher inspects the roof and gives you one written report that does all three jobs, for one fixed price.

- **Price:** £450 + VAT
- Written by a master thatcher, not a general surveyor
- Material, age, remaining life and fire safety
- A budget for any work the roof needs
- A PDF report with photos

## For buyers and sellers

A general surveyor often says only that the thatch "needs specialist advice". Our report gives you that advice. We tell you the material, its approximate age and how many years of life it has left.

We describe the condition of the ridge, the chimneys, the netting and the fire safety features. We list the work the roof needs, with a budget for each item. A buyer can use the report in price talks. A seller can answer the questions of a buyer before they ask.

## Reports for insurers

Many thatch insurers now ask for a report on the roof every 5 years, and when you change insurer. Our report gives them the facts they need: the material, the condition, the remaining life and the fire safety features.

The report costs £450 + VAT. If you are on our Thatch Care Plan, at £995 + VAT a year, you get it at no extra cost.

## What you get

You get a written report with photos, in a PDF that you can send to your solicitor, lender or insurer. We arrange the visit at a time that suits you or the estate agent.

## Questions

### What should I check before I buy a thatched house?

Find out when the roof was last thatched and re-ridged, what material it is, and whether the house is listed. Ask about fire barriers, chimneys and insurance. Then get a report from a master thatcher, not only a general surveyor. Our fixed-price thatch condition report tells you how many years the roof has left and what work it needs.

### Is a thatched house hard to insure?

No, but use a specialist thatch insurer. They usually ask about the condition of the thatch, the chimneys, the flue liners and the electrics. Many insurers now ask for a thatch report every 5 years, and when you change insurer. Our condition report does this for a fixed fee, and it is included in our Thatch Care Plan. Insurers and fire safety guides also advise against wood burners and multi-fuel stoves in thatched houses.

### How long does a thatched roof last?

A Norfolk water reed coat lasts 50 years or more, so it is the hardest-wearing material. A combed wheat reed coat usually lasts 25 to 35 years, and a long straw coat 15 to 30 years. The ridge wears faster, so it needs replacing every 10 to 15 years. Roof pitch, shade from trees and the quality of the work all change these figures.

Contact C&C Master Thatchers: 07860 292801, info@masterthatchers.biz.

Source: https://ccmasterthatchers.co.uk/services/thatch-condition-reports/