NimbleFins Guide to Home Insurance for a Thatched Roof Property

As of 2026, the home insurance market has entered a 'hardened' phase following record-breaking payouts of £6.1 billion for property claims in 2025 alone. For owners of distinctive properties like those with thatched roofs, this means navigating a landscape of surging premiums (often up by 15% to 30%) and stricter underwriting. Because non-standard homes are more vulnerable to the extreme weather and subsidence events seen over the last year, securing specialized cover that accurately reflects your property’s unique risks is now a financial necessity, making the comparison of expert quotes more vital than ever.

What insurance do I need if my home has a thatched roof?

If you live in a house with a thatched roof, you’ll need non-standard buildings insurance. This applies to any home of non-standard construction.

In other words, if your home isn’t completely made of brick or stone and doesn’t have a tiled or slate roof, then there’s a good chance you’ll need non-standard home insurance.

What is a non-standard home?

Non-standard homes are those constructed with materials outside the typical brick and tile bracket, such as thatched roofs, timber frames, or wattle and daub.

In 2026, the cost of maintaining these homes has risen sharply; specialized construction material prices increased by nearly 40% between 2020 and 2025, and the BCIS Rebuild Cost Index continues to climb by over 3.8% annually.

This means your 2022 rebuild valuation is almost certainly obsolete. Homeowners must urgently recalculate their 2026 reinstatement value to account for the specialized labor and scarce materials like water reed or wheat straw, as being 'underinsured' in today’s market could leave you with a massive shortfall if you need to rebuild.

Insurers sometimes use the term non-standard home to include properties built in flood-risk areas. Don’t forget that many prefab homes will have a brick veneer so although they might look like they’re made of standard materials, they’re really not and will need a specialist policy.

Why do non-standard homes need specialist cover?

By their very nature, non-standard homes are built using very specific materials or are constructed in an unusual way. This can mean non-standard homes are expensive to repair and may need specialist labour. These particular needs will be reflected in a specialist buildings insurance policy and ultimately, your premium.

While thatched properties are no more likely to catch fire than standard homes, the resulting damage is often catastrophic, leading insurers to enforce much stricter compliance in 2026. Most specialist policies now mandate 'Day One' proof of maintenance: this includes a certified chimney sweep at least once (and often twice) per year by a HETAS or NACS professional, and a full Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) every five years. Insurers are increasingly applying 'Average Clauses' to claims, meaning if you cannot provide valid certificates for these inspections, or if your rebuild value is found to be outdated, your fire damage payout may be reduced proportionally or invalidated entirely.

What does non-standard home insurance cover?

Buildings insurance for non-standard homes covers the same sort of events as standard policies, so you’ll be covered for risks including:

You’ll also be able to combine other insurance products with your non-standard buildings insurance, for example:

How much home insurance do I need?

Buildings insurance specifically covers the structure of your home, including permanent fixtures and fittings. The amount you need (the sum insured) should be enough to cover the cost of rebuilding your home if it were completely destroyed. As extreme as that sounds, flood and fire can cause devastating damage which will need thousands of pounds worth of labour and materials to put right.

How do I work out the rebuild value of my home?

One of the trickier aspects of choosing a rebuild value is pitching it just right. If it’s too high, you’ll end up paying a higher premium. If you underinsure your property, you won’t get enough to cover your costs.

In the worst-case scenario, underinsuring your home also means your insurer can reduce any payment you do get by the amount you’re underinsured by. This is known as the ‘average clause’ or ‘condition of average’. So, if (for example) you were underinsured by 30%, the insurer can lower their payout by 30% too.

For standard built homes, working out the rebuild value is relatively simple. Most insurers either work to a generic formula which will cover your needs, or you can use the free rebuild calculator from RICS and the Association of British Insurers.

For non-standard homes, it’s generally advised that you have your home professionally valued by a surveyor. They’ll be able to give you a far more accurate rebuild cost – but don’t forget to include any inflationary costs when it comes to renewal.

How much does non-standard home insurance cost?

Like most other insurance policies, home insurance for non-standard properties are determined by a whole host of factors, including:

Search for home insurance for peace of mind

When it comes to protecting your home, you shouldn’t have to choose between peace of mind and affordability. That’s why we’ve teamed up with Quotezone, to bring you a range of quotes that suit a variety of budgets. To start your quote, simply click below and tell us what you need.