Discovery Insures new fire risk assessment on old policies

Discovery Insures new fire risk assessment for all houses with a thatched roof in Partnership with Danatifire. At the commencement of policy *** Discovery Insure was aware that my roof was thatched, and this has not changed and therefore cannot be considered as a "material change in risk" as this risk always existed and was accepted by the Insurer. The cover for the property through Discovery Insure commenced in 2019. It was clearly stated that the house had a thatched roof. Since 2019 until 1 October 2025, Discovery Insure, I had not requested any inspection or assessment regarding the thatched roof. At the commencement of the policy Discovery Insure made no stipulations regarding additional requirements needed beside a lightening conductor. There was no mentioned of any fire standards which needed to be comp**** with or structural, material, or environmental enhancements or changes prior to the acceptance of cover. Based on the Principles of Fairness and Consumer protection - South African courts emphasised that insurers must act in line with the principle of “treating customers fairly” as Discovery Insure are imposing new requirement this would amount to an unexpected and unfair change in my contract, policy in requiring these additional costly measure and potential rewriting of my risk assessment. I would further argue that no requirements were in the original document, and these new changes have been imposed and enforced retrospectively. I have been insured with you for six years with the understanding that no such assessment requirement was needed; the new requirement was not part of the contract when I first took cover, and I was not sufficiently informed of the change in a clear, transparent way. Discovery Insure is ensuring that its client bear the cost and inconvenience solely because they have a thatched roof a risk which has always been known to them.