Thatched properties are valued for their character, architectural appeal and connection with the natural environment. They are particularly common in lodges, guest houses, safari properties, restaurants heritage buildings, rural homes and now with outside gazebos in city houses.
However, the very construction features that make a thatched property distinctive can also create a significant fire exposure. A thatched roof should therefore not be treated simply as an architectural feature. It should be regarded as a specific risk-management consideration requiring deliberate prevention, early detection, regular maintenance and appropriate insurance protection. This is even more important now due to climate change which makes our summer temperatures higher than usual.
