After his fathers death, Hatchett largely gave up his activities as a chemist. He inherited his fathers coach-making business and pursued interests in collecting books (including a First Folio) manuscripts, paintings, and musical instruments. His loss was lamented by colleagues such as Thomas Thomson (1773–1852), who wrote that Hatchett "was an active chemist…but unfortunately this most amiable and accomplished man has been lost to science for more than a quarter of a century; the baneful effects of wealth, and cares of a lucrative and extensive business, having completely waned him from scientific pursuits".
Hatchett lived at Mount Clare, Roehampton from 1807 to 1819.
It has been described as "a little estate built in a fine Italian style" with nearby "a very well-equipped laboratory". The house was designed by Sir Robert Taylor for George Clive, with modifications by the Italian architect Placido Columbani in 1780. The gardens were laid out by Capability Brown in 1774.
In 1818 Hatchett either bought back or chose to no longer lease out the house that had been built by his father in 1771, Belle Vue, 92 Cheyne Walk, in Chelsea, London. A grade II listed building, it has a large central portion with bay windows back and front, and two wings. It overlooks gardens and the River Thames. He lived there for the rest of his life. Elizabeth, his wife, predeceased him in 1837.
Hatchett himself died at Belle Vue House in 1847, and is buried at St Laurence's Church, Upton-cum-Chalvey, Slough,
the same church where his friend William Herschel is interred.