Thatch Cover

If you have a working fireplace or stove in a thatched home, chimney maintenance isn’t just good practice — it’s essential for safety and insurance compliance.

Most thatch insurers require chimneys to be swept twice per year, and the midpoint of the burning season is widely considered the best time for one of those sweeps.

Why halfway through the burning season?

✅ Creosote builds up fastest during regular winter use — removing it midway reduces chimney fire risk.
✅ Keeps airflow efficient, helping fires burn cleaner and safer.
✅ Aligns with insurer requirements — many policies specifically require twice-yearly sweeping with records retained.
✅ Peace of mind when your fire is in frequent use.

Check your policy wording

Always review your policy endorsements carefully — chimney sweeping conditions are often written as strict requirements. Not complying with the exact wording (frequency, certification, type of appliance covered, etc.) could affect claims.

Backed by industry guidance

This approach is consistent with advice from the Fire Service, HETAS, and findings from recent forensic fire investigations — all of which highlight that soot and tar build-up during peak usage periods significantly increases fire risk in thatched properties.

👉 Tip: Use a qualified chimney sweep and keep certificates safely — insurers may request them if a claim arises.

A simple job, done at the right time and in line with your policy wording, can make a huge difference to safety, compliance, and protecting your home.

Myth-Busting Common Misconceptions: - Buildings Insured Values

"My building's level of cover is too high because it’s more than the market value of the property."

It’s understandable why some people reason this way. There are also similar misconceptions, such as: “The land is worth ‘£X’ as a building plot, so I can just deduct that from the market value to establish the correct figure to cover the building for,” or “the cost to rebuild a property is a percentage of the market value.”

However, the truth is that market value has no correlation whatsoever to reinstatement value. To demonstrate this, although we occasionally see reinstatement valuations from RICS surveyors below the market value, it’s much more common for the figure to be higher—often substantially so.

It’s important to emphasise that, as brokers, we cannot advise on the correct sum insured. Not only are we not qualified to do so, but we would also become liable if that value turned out to be incorrect. However, we do always give “best advice”: namely, that it’s essential to obtain an accurate reinstatement valuation from a chartered surveyor, in writing, every 3 to 5 years.

This is one of the most important and challenging aspects of arranging insurance for properties of non-standard construction, especially when they are listed. Additional costs are often incurred to meet regulatory compliance set by local authorities and Historic England.

We will soon be publishing a comprehensive guide on the importance of having an accurate reinstatement value and how to obtain one at a low cost. Follow our page to get your copy when it’s available!

Call now to connect with business.