Terms and Conditions for Tree Surgeons Clapham

These Terms and Conditions set out the basis on which Tree Surgeons Clapham provides tree surgery and related arboricultural services to residential and commercial customers. By booking or accepting a quotation, the customer agrees to be bound by these terms. They are written to be clear, fair, and consistent with standard UK service practice. For the avoidance of doubt, these terms apply to all services, including inspections, pruning, crown work, felling, stump grinding, hedge maintenance, and the removal of arisings and waste material.

In these terms, references to “we,” “us,” and “our” mean the service provider trading as Tree Surgeons Clapham, and references to “you” or “the customer” mean the person, business, or organisation commissioning the work. These terms should be read together with any written quotation, scope of work, or job confirmation. If there is any inconsistency, the specific written quotation will usually take priority over these general terms for that particular job.

Our services are provided on the assumption that the customer has authority to instruct the work. If you are arranging work on behalf of a landlord, tenant, managing agent, business, or third party, you confirm that you are authorised to do so. The customer is responsible for providing accurate information about the site, access, tree location, boundary matters, and any known hazards. If false, incomplete, or misleading information is supplied, we may revise the quotation, change the schedule, or decline the work.

All services are subject to availability, site conditions, weather, access, and safe working requirements. Tree surgery involves natural variation in tree size, condition, and site constraints, so the final method of work may differ from initial assumptions if the circumstances on site require it. We reserve the right to suspend or stop work where continuation would be unsafe, unlawful, or likely to cause damage that could reasonably be avoided. Our aim is always to complete the agreed service efficiently and with due care.

Booking Process

The booking process for tree surgery in Clapham usually begins with an enquiry and an initial discussion of the work required. We may request photographs, measurements, access details, or a description of the trees and the surrounding area. Where appropriate, a site visit may be arranged to assess the scope of work, identify hazards, and confirm the most suitable method. Any quotation provided will be based on the information available at the time.

Once a quotation is accepted, the customer will be offered an available date or estimated time window. A booking is only confirmed when we have accepted the instruction and, where requested, any deposit or advance payment has been received. We may refuse to confirm a booking if the work appears unsafe, impractical, outside our service scope, or dependent on third-party permission that has not been obtained. Acceptance of a quotation does not guarantee that the original scope can remain unchanged if new conditions are found on site.

The customer must ensure that access is available on the agreed date and that any necessary permissions, parking arrangements, key access, or site instructions are in place. If equipment, vehicles, or staff are unable to access the site due to a reason within the customer’s control, we may treat this as a late cancellation or wasted visit and charge accordingly. Where the work depends on planning permission, tree preservation consent, conservation approval, or landlord or freeholder consent, the customer must secure those approvals unless we have expressly agreed otherwise in writing.

Payments

Unless otherwise stated in the quotation, payment is due in full on completion of the work. For larger or scheduled jobs, we may request a deposit, staged payments, or payment in advance. Prices are usually quoted in pounds sterling and may be stated inclusive or exclusive of VAT depending on our trading status at the time of quotation. Any VAT, if chargeable, will be shown separately or clearly indicated.

Payment may be made by bank transfer or by any other method we agree in writing. Cheques, cash, or card payments may be accepted only if specifically stated. The customer must pay all sums due without deduction or set-off unless required by law. If payment is not made by the due date, we reserve the right to charge interest and reasonable debt recovery costs in accordance with the Late Payment of Commercial Debts legislation where applicable. Title to any removable materials supplied remains with us until full payment has been received, where lawful to do so.

If the work reveals additional tasks not visible during quotation, such as hidden decay, complex rigging requirements, restricted access, cable or root conflicts, or the need for extra waste removal, we will discuss the position with the customer where possible before proceeding. Where immediate action is needed for safety or to prevent damage, we may carry out necessary additional work and charge a fair and reasonable amount for it. Our priority is to maintain safety and avoid unnecessary delay.

Cancellations, Delays, and Rescheduling

The customer may cancel or reschedule a booking by giving reasonable notice. If the customer cancels at short notice, especially after staff, machinery, or vehicles have been allocated, we may charge a cancellation fee to cover our costs and loss of opportunity. If materials have already been ordered, permits arranged, or specialist subcontractors booked, those costs may also be payable by the customer where they are non-refundable.

We may need to reschedule due to adverse weather, equipment failure, staff illness, emergency callouts, access problems, or reasons outside our control. Tree surgery is often weather-sensitive, and we may decide that high winds, heavy rain, ice, or other conditions make work unsafe or unsuitable. In such cases, we will seek to offer a new date. We will not be liable for any indirect loss caused by rescheduling, provided we act reasonably and communicate changes in a timely manner.

If the customer is not present when required and has not made suitable arrangements for access or instructions, we may treat the visit as cancelled or delayed by the customer. Any call-out fee, wasted time, or waiting charge may be applied where reasonable. If we are unable to complete the work because of third-party obstruction, boundary disputes, or the absence of a necessary permit or approval, the customer remains responsible for costs already incurred.

Liability

We will carry out our services with reasonable skill and care and in accordance with applicable UK health and safety requirements. However, tree work naturally involves risk, and certain outcomes cannot be guaranteed. We do not guarantee the future health, growth, or structural behaviour of a tree after pruning, reduction, or other intervention. Natural processes such as disease, dieback, storm damage, subsidence, regrowth, and root movement may still occur even after proper work has been completed.

Our liability for loss or damage is limited to the extent permitted by law. We do not exclude liability for death or personal injury caused by our negligence, fraud, or any other liability that cannot lawfully be limited. Subject to that, we are not responsible for pre-existing defects, hidden decay, unstable ground, underground services not disclosed to us, or damage arising from inaccurate information supplied by the customer. The customer should inform us of any known utilities, boundaries, or sensitive structures before work begins.

If we are instructed to work close to buildings, walls, fences, glass, conservatories, driveways, vehicles, overhead lines, or underground services, the customer accepts that some level of risk exists even where all reasonable precautions are taken. We will normally take practical steps to minimise risk, but we are not liable for unavoidable minor scuffs, pressure marks, or incidental disturbance caused by reasonable access and working methods, unless caused by our negligence. The customer should remove or protect fragile items where appropriate.

Where the customer asks us to leave timber, branches, mulch, or arisings on site, this is done at the customer’s request and at the customer’s risk once the material has been placed in the agreed location. Any item or structure marked, weakened, or previously damaged may be more vulnerable during tree work. If a tree is visibly unstable, dead, or hazardous, we may recommend urgent intervention or refuse work that cannot be performed safely. Our decision on safety matters is final on the day.

Waste Regulations and Disposal

Tree surgeons generate significant green waste, timber, stump arisings, and potentially contaminated material. We will handle waste in accordance with relevant UK environmental and waste management requirements, including proper transfer, transport, and disposal or recovery of waste at authorised facilities or by authorised carriers where required. Waste duty of care applies to both us and, in certain cases, the customer.

The quotation will normally state whether waste removal is included. If waste removal is included, we will remove the agreed arisings from site unless otherwise specified. If the customer requests that waste is retained, stacked, chipped, or left for their own use, responsibility for the material transfers to the customer once it has been safely deposited in the agreed place, subject to any legal restrictions. We may decline to leave waste if doing so would create an unsafe condition, block access, or breach environmental obligations.

We may segregate waste for chipping, recycling, composting, fuel use, or disposal depending on the type and condition of the material. Any timber or green waste that cannot lawfully or practically be reused will be taken to a suitable facility. If we discover materials that are not part of normal tree surgery waste, such as general rubbish, paint tins, chemicals, invasive plant matter, or contaminated debris, we may charge extra for specialist handling or refuse to remove them.

Customer Responsibilities

The customer must ensure that the site is reasonably safe and that no person, animal, or vehicle is placed in danger during the work. Children, pets, and visitors should be kept clear of the work area. The customer should also notify neighbours or relevant occupiers where access, falling debris, noise, or temporary obstruction may affect them. If a boundary line, ownership issue, or shared tree is uncertain, the customer should resolve it before work commences or explicitly instruct us in writing on the basis of a lawful entitlement to proceed.

The customer is responsible for protecting sensitive surfaces, furnishings, ornaments, vehicles, and outdoor items where the risk of dust, sawdust, mud, or minor impact exists. Although we work carefully, tree surgery can be physically disruptive. We are not responsible for damage caused by failure to move or shield easily removable items where such action would have been reasonable. The customer must also ensure that pets, livestock, and any vulnerable persons are kept away from the working zone.

Complaints, Force Majeure, and General Provisions

If the customer believes there is an issue with the service, they should notify us as soon as reasonably possible and before making any attempt to alter the work or instruct another contractor to rectify it, unless urgent action is required to reduce immediate danger. We will review concerns fairly and, where appropriate, inspect the matter or offer a reasonable remedy in line with our obligations. This does not affect any statutory rights the customer may have as a consumer.

We are not liable for delay or failure to perform our obligations where this is caused by events beyond our reasonable control, including severe weather, accident, fire, industrial action, transport disruption, supply shortages, acts of government, or emergency incidents. If a force majeure event continues for a prolonged period, either party may be entitled to cancel the affected booking without liability for further performance, subject to payment for work already completed or costs already incurred.

Governing Law

These terms, and any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with them, are governed by the laws of England and Wales. The courts of England and Wales shall have exclusive jurisdiction, except where consumer law provides otherwise. If any provision of these terms is found to be unlawful, invalid, or unenforceable, that provision will be treated as removed to the minimum extent necessary, and the remaining provisions will continue in full force.

These Terms and Conditions are intended to protect both the customer and the service provider by setting clear expectations for booking, payment, cancellation, safety, waste handling, and legal responsibility. By instructing Tree Surgeons Clapham, the customer confirms that they have read, understood, and agreed to these terms, and that they accept the normal uncertainties and practical requirements of professional tree surgery work.