Who would buy a grade II thatch these days ?

[Órla]

No doubt this has been discussed before.
Insurance. Maintenance, unsellable despite being well looked after.

 

[Biomound]

Funnily enough, I just came across a grade 2 thatched cottage on Rightmovee today: https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/144411779

I had visions of how picture perfect it would look with a new roof and all the cosy interiors done up. But reality is that cost of insurance can quickly outweigh the charm if you’re not prepared.

That said, for the right buyer who values heritage, doesn’t mind the commitment and has the financial backing, a Grade II thatched cottage can still be a dream home. They’re part of history, they look incredible when cared for, and for some people the lifestyle trade-off is worth it. It just takes a very particular kind of buyer these days who sadly seem to becoming a rare breed.

 

[Cubist]

Well let me give that more than just a passing thought...
Ok, that was more than just a passing moment of thought - what was your question again?

 

[Órla]

Funnily enough, I just came across a grade 2 thatched cottage on Rightmovee today: https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/144411779

I had visions of how picture perfect it would look with a new roof and all the cosy interiors done up. But reality is that cost of insurance can quickly outweigh the charm if you’re not prepared.

That said, for the right buyer who values heritage, doesn’t mind the commitment and has the financial backing, a Grade II thatched cottage can still be a dream home. They’re part of history, they look incredible when cared for, and for some people the lifestyle trade-off is worth it. It just takes a very particular kind of buyer these days who sadly seem to becoming a rare breed.

Indeed.

 

[Órla]

Well let me give that more than just a passing thought...
Ok, that was more than just a passing moment of thought - what was your question again?

Thanks for the insightful reply.

 

[Órla]

Funnily enough, I just came across a grade 2 thatched cottage on Rightmovee today: https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/144411779

I had visions of how picture perfect it would look with a new roof and all the cosy interiors done up. But reality is that cost of insurance can quickly outweigh the charm if you’re not prepared.

That said, for the right buyer who values heritage, doesn’t mind the commitment and has the financial backing, a Grade II thatched cottage can still be a dream home. They’re part of history, they look incredible when cared for, and for some people the lifestyle trade-off is worth it. It just takes a very particular kind of buyer these days who sadly seem to becoming a rare breed.

Ever owned one ?

 

[Biomound]

No I haven't. But if money wasn't a worry then I would. There's an unique charm that you don't get with other period properties. But they're certainly not for the faint hearted. Not only do they need the extra work and costs, but the worry of fire is always a constant.

Do you own one yourself?

 

[Órla]

No I haven't. But if money wasn't a worry then I would. There's an unique charm that you don't get with other period properties. But they're certainly not for the faint hearted. Not only do they need the extra work and costs, but the worry of fire is always a constant.

Do you own one yourself?

Yes I do

 

[LadyArowana]

I get a lot of “thatching” reels show up on my socials and find them fascinating. The ‘should we buy a thatched property’ discussion never needed to happen for us because it’s not a material used in the specific area where we were looking to buy. We do have a small section of Cotswold stone on the roof and that was enough of a challenge when the roof was re-done, roofer swore he would not take on another job with them after ours. He had to get a couple of specialists in for the section and they drove him slightly mad. I got in trouble for chatting with them about the artistry and skill involved and was told firmly “not to encourage them they think they’re special enough as it is” They were on a fixed price for the job, not a day rate, so were slightly mercurial about their working days, the rest of the roof was standard stuff and the site was being run by one of the roofer’s sons, so all very businesslike and less airy fairy “lets have our tea and look through this pile of stones to see which ones we want to put in the bucket next”

 

[Órla]

Err. OK.

 

[jamest]

Our neighbour across the road just had his cottage rethatched. It's a small, 2-bedroom place and it cost over 40k to do the job and the wait to get it done was over 2 years. Looks great, lovely golden colour (though that only lasts a matter of weeks). Frankly, it's better for us than him - we can look out of the window or sit in the garden and see his charming, golden roof. He looks out of his window and he sees us and no thatch!

I would strongly recommend buying a cottage with a tiled roof in a road with thatched cottages in it. You get the benefits and none of the costs! Thatch is a rich man's roof in this topsy turvy world

 

[stuart45]

I did ours earlier this year, but luckily my mate's a Thatcher, so it worked out a lot cheaper, although I had to help him. That water reed is really sharp when you lean into it.

 

[Robola]

Insurance. Maintenance, unsellable despite being well looked after.

I guess you are trying to sell one then? You are going to have a small pool of buyers for sure - I wouldn't be interested in one, despite having lived in various money pits over the years. Maybe your asking price is too high.

 

[Flyfisher]

I would re-phrase the question thus:

Who would buy a grade II thatch these days ?​

I suppose an unlisted thatch has the potential to be replaced with a tiled roof but even so it's going to be an expensive undertaking for all the reasons listed above.

Some things can stand the test of time and some things belong firmly in their time. There seems to be plenty of new oak-framed houses being built around the country but I don't detect any new houses being built with thatched roofs . . .

 

[Órla]

Yes. I suppose.
Its analogous to all the starry eyed spitfire fans at air shows who wouldn't fly on anything less than an a380

 

[Órla]

Seems to be a lot of hate for the thatch. Quite surprising on a period property forum in the UK.

 

[Órla]

I guess you are trying to sell one then? You are going to have a small pool of buyers for sure - I wouldn't be interested in one, despite having lived in various money pits over the years. Maybe your asking price is too high.

All the viewers said the same thing actually. The garden is too big. I guess they all wanted postage stamp sized gardens that can only fit a trampoline, football net, a barking dog and an unused bbq in

 

[Órla]

I guess you are trying to sell one then? You are going to have a small pool of buyers for sure - I wouldn't be interested in one, despite having lived in various money pits over the years. Maybe your asking price is too high.

I vill put you on zee list

 

[Flyfisher]

Seems to be a lot of hate for the thatch. Quite surprising on a period property forum in the UK.

I wouldn't characterise the general reticence against thatch as 'hate', I'd say it's more a case of economic pragmatism.

 

[stuart45]

There are some new builds with thatched roofs. My mate has done a few. It's quite popular on some estates to throw in a couple with a thatch to add a bit of character.