Thatched Home Evidence Pack: What to Include and Why

Editorial review: 10 August 2026Method: current primary/official sources where available, with property-specific advice kept separate

Owner guidance, not a property assessmentAn evidence pack is not a certificate that the property is safe or compliant. It is a structured index of the records the owner has actually kept, designed to make a conversation with an insurer, broker, surveyor, buyer or contractor faster.

Start with a one-page property summary

Include the property name and address, listed status, known thatch material, major roof dates, insurer and renewal date. Mark approximate or unknown facts clearly.

Add the roof chronology

List inspections, repairs, ridge work and major re-thatching in date order. Link each event to photographs, invoices and professional notes where available.

Add chimney and heating records

Include sweeps, inspections, stove services, flue work and relevant certificates. Identify each chimney consistently so the history is understandable.

Index insurance and safety evidence

List current policy conditions that the owner has chosen to track and the evidence held for each. Keep electrical and fire-equipment records as their own documents rather than summarising technical findings into a tick.

Keep the pack current

Generate the pack from the live property record rather than building a new folder from scratch each time. The value is that the same structured history can be used at renewal, survey or sale.

Use your own sourcesFor dates and requirements, follow the current wording of your insurance policy and the advice of the competent professionals who know your property. ThatchKeeper is designed to record those sources, not replace them.

Primary sources used for this guide

Source guidance can change. Check the current version and obtain property-specific advice where needed.