Terms and Conditions for Tree Surgeons Wandsworth

These Terms and Conditions set out the basis on which arboricultural and tree surgery services are provided by Tree Surgeons Wandsworth. By requesting a quote, making a booking, or allowing work to begin, the customer agrees to be bound by these terms. They are intended to promote clarity, fairness, and safe working practices for both parties. In this document, references to “we”, “us”, and “our” mean the service provider, and references to “you” and “your” mean the customer, property owner, occupier, or authorised representative arranging the work.

These terms apply to domestic and commercial work including pruning, dismantling, crown work, stump-related services, hedge work, and associated site clearance where agreed. They should be read together with any written quotation, job sheet, or schedule of works. If there is any conflict between these terms and a specific written agreement signed or accepted by both parties, the written agreement will take priority to the extent of the inconsistency.

We aim to provide a professional tree surgery service that is carried out with due care, proper equipment, and consideration for the property and surrounding environment. However, trees are living structures and conditions can change due to weather, decay, disease, unstable ground, or hidden defects. As a result, all work is subject to the practical limitations and risks commonly associated with arboricultural operations.

1. Booking Process

A booking may begin with an enquiry, site visit, photographic assessment, or other information supplied by you. Any indication of price given before a full inspection is preliminary unless expressly confirmed as a fixed quotation. For many projects, particularly where access, tree condition, or boundary issues may affect the method of work, a site assessment is the preferred way to confirm the scope and price.

Once the work has been assessed, we may issue a quotation, estimate, or written proposal. A quotation will usually identify the main tasks, any exclusions, the anticipated timing, and any assumptions made when pricing the job. Acceptance of the quotation can be made verbally, by email, in writing, or by another clear method of agreement. When you accept, you confirm that you are authorised to instruct the work and that you agree to these terms.

After acceptance, we will agree a date or time window for the work, although this may remain subject to weather, access, staffing, traffic conditions, and other operational factors. Tree surgery operations are often dependent on safe conditions, and we reserve the right to reschedule where circumstances make it unsafe or impractical to proceed. We will aim to provide reasonable notice where a change is necessary.

It is your responsibility to ensure that we are told about any relevant site information before work begins, including underground services, overhead lines, restricted access, fragile structures, shared boundaries, protected wildlife, or any other matters that could affect the planned operation. If new information becomes known before or during the job, we may need to revise the quotation, amend the method statement, or postpone the work until the issue is properly addressed.

Unless agreed otherwise, the quotation covers only the specified scope and does not include unforeseen additional tasks, third-party permissions, traffic management, specialist access systems, planning-related matters, or remedial work arising from hidden defects. If extra work is required, we will normally discuss the matter with you before carrying it out, unless immediate action is needed to protect people, property, or plant. Any such changes may affect the final price.

Where formal permissions or approvals are needed, such as owner consent, freeholder consent, neighbour consent for access, or statutory permissions, it is your responsibility to obtain them unless we have expressly agreed to do so in writing. You should not assume that a booking confirms any legal permission to carry out work on protected trees or in relation to conservation controls. We may request evidence of any permissions before starting.

Prices are normally quoted exclusive or inclusive of VAT depending on the basis stated in the quotation. If VAT applies, this will be shown separately or clearly indicated in the final charge. Unless specifically stated, all quotations are valid for a limited period and may be revised if the job is delayed, the specification changes, or site conditions differ from those originally described. Prices are based on the information available at the time of quotation.

Payment terms will be set out in the quotation or invoice. For domestic work, payment is often due on completion, although in some cases a deposit, stage payment, or advance payment may be required to secure a booking, cover materials, or reserve labour. For larger or commercial projects, we may invoice in stages or request part-payment before the final completion date. Unless agreed otherwise, invoices are payable within the stated period.

We accept that customers need clear information on what is included in the price. Standard pricing may cover labour, equipment, and disposal of ordinary green waste, but may exclude stump treatment, specialist machinery, waste skips, parking charges, or unusual access costs. If a separate item is chargeable, it will normally be identified in advance or included in a revised quotation.

Overdue payments may result in late payment charges, statutory interest, and recovery costs where permitted by law. We may suspend further work, withhold reports or certificates where lawful and appropriate, or decline future bookings until outstanding sums are settled. If a payment fails or a cheque is dishonoured, you remain responsible for the full amount and any bank or administration fees reasonably incurred in recovering payment.

Where a deposit has been taken, it is usually non-refundable once labour has been reserved, scheduling arrangements have been made, or preparatory costs have been incurred, except where cancellation rights under consumer law apply and have not been waived in accordance with those rules. Any refund due will normally be processed using the original payment method unless otherwise agreed.

If you dispute an invoice, you should notify us promptly and provide the reasons for the dispute and any supporting information. You must pay any undisputed amount by the due date. We will review the matter in good faith and seek to resolve billing issues fairly and efficiently. Delayed payment of the undisputed sum will not be justified by disagreement over a separate part of the invoice.

If you wish to cancel or rearrange a booking, you should notify us as soon as possible. Reasonable notice helps us reduce wasted time and may allow us to allocate the team elsewhere. If cancellation occurs after materials have been ordered, machinery reserved, or staff allocated specifically to your job, we may charge for reasonable losses already incurred.

For consumer customers, any statutory cancellation rights that apply to distance or off-premises contracts will be observed. Where such rights exist, we may provide the required cancellation information and a cancellation form. If you ask us to begin work within the cancellation period, you may be asked to confirm that you want the service to start early and to acknowledge that you may lose the right to cancel once the work has been fully performed, where the law allows.

We may also postpone or cancel a booking due to unsafe weather, access obstruction, equipment failure, illness, legal restrictions, or circumstances beyond our reasonable control. In such cases, we will aim to offer a new date. We are not liable for indirect losses caused by a delay that is reasonable and unavoidable, though we will make every effort to minimise disruption.

Waiting time caused by locked gates, inaccessible driveways, parked vehicles, unremoved obstacles, or the absence of required authorisation may be chargeable where it prevents the scheduled work from proceeding. If we arrive and cannot safely complete the job because conditions are materially different from those agreed, we may charge a call-out or wasted attendance fee where this has been explained in advance or is otherwise reasonable.

In the event that a customer repeatedly changes the booking date or scope at short notice, we reserve the right to require a new quotation or additional deposit before continuing. A tree surgeon allocates time, machinery, and trained personnel to each appointment, and repeated changes can have real cost implications. Fair notice and clear communication help avoid unnecessary expense for both sides.

If work is suspended part-way through due to weather, a safety issue, or another practical reason, we may leave the site in a safe and tidy condition as far as reasonably possible. Any remaining work will be rescheduled when conditions permit. If extra charges arise because of the interruption, they will be explained before the job resumes whenever practicable.

We will perform the services with reasonable skill and care in accordance with accepted arboricultural practice and applicable law. However, you acknowledge that tree work can involve inherent risks, including falling timber, hidden decay, movement of branches, root disturbance, and the unpredictable behaviour of living trees. Some outcomes cannot be completely eliminated even when the work is carried out properly.

Our liability for foreseeable loss or damage arising from our negligence, breach of contract, or breach of statutory duty is not excluded where it would be unlawful to do so. However, to the fullest extent permitted by law, we shall not be liable for indirect or consequential losses, loss of profit, loss of opportunity, or loss arising from information supplied by you that is incomplete, inaccurate, or misleading. Nothing in these terms limits liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, fraud, or other liability that cannot legally be excluded.

You are responsible for removing or protecting items that may be damaged by dust, debris, access equipment, or normal operational activity. This includes garden ornaments, vehicles, outdoor furniture, ornaments, delicate planting, and any personal property within the working area. Where practical, we may assist with identifying items at risk, but the duty to safeguard valuable or fragile items remains with you.

If there are underground services, drain runs, irrigation systems, cables, or other hidden features, you must inform us before work begins. We will take reasonable care, but we cannot accept responsibility for damage caused by services that were not marked, disclosed, or reasonably detectable. Likewise, if a tree or stump is structurally compromised and fails during correct operations, this may not amount to negligence.

Where access equipment is used, you agree not to interfere with barriers, signage, or safety controls. You must keep children, pets, and bystanders away from the working area unless they are directly involved and appropriately supervised. We may stop work if we believe the site has become unsafe. In such circumstances, any delay or cost arising from the unsafe condition may be charged if it is attributable to the customer or property conditions.

Any advice we provide about future tree condition, remedial work, or general maintenance is given in good faith but should not be treated as a guarantee that a tree will remain healthy or stable. Trees can respond unpredictably to disease, weather, pruning stress, soil conditions, and age. A Wandsworth tree surgeon can assess and recommend suitable action, but ongoing tree health cannot be guaranteed.

We will handle green waste, timber, woodchip, brush, and related debris in accordance with applicable waste legislation and environmental duties. Waste arising from our work will usually be classed and managed as controlled waste, and we will transport and dispose of it through appropriate and lawful routes. Where a duty of care applies, we will endeavour to ensure that waste is taken only to authorised facilities or handled by suitably licensed parties.

Unless the quotation states otherwise, removal of ordinary arisings is included only for the materials generated by the specified work. If you request that timber, logs, mulch, or woodchip be left on site, this must be agreed in advance. Some materials may be unsuitable for firewood or reuse because of disease, contamination, pests, or decay. We may separate material as part of the job where doing so is practical and consistent with the agreed scope.

You must not request that waste be burned, buried, or otherwise disposed of in a manner that would breach environmental law, local restrictions, or the site’s management requirements. If waste is to remain on the property, it becomes your responsibility once the work is completed and accepted, unless we have expressly agreed to store, move, or process it further. Any transfer of waste responsibility should be clear and documented where necessary.

We may occasionally recommend recycling, mulching, or habitat-friendly retention of suitable timber or brash where it fits the work specification and the site conditions. Such recommendations are optional and depend on practicality, access, and your wishes. Where invasive pests, disease, or quarantine-related concerns exist, certain materials may need special handling or prompt removal to reduce risk of spread.

We reserve the right to refuse to remove prohibited, hazardous, or non-arboricultural waste unless this has been specifically agreed and priced. If unexpected waste is discovered on site, such as builders’ rubble, household waste, metal, glass, or contaminated material, this may be excluded from the work and may require additional disposal arrangements. We are not responsible for pre-existing waste found on the property.

All waste management activities will be carried out with due regard to environmental protection, neighbour amenity, and public safety. We will aim to leave the site reasonably tidy at the end of the job, though final cleanliness may be affected by weather, ground conditions, and the nature of the trees worked on. Some leaf fall, sawdust, or minor residual debris can occur despite careful work.

We may vary these terms from time to time, but the version in force at the time of your booking will apply to that job unless a later change has been expressly agreed. If any term is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining terms will continue in full force. No failure or delay by us in enforcing a right shall operate as a waiver of that right.

These terms do not create any partnership, agency, or employment relationship between us and you. You may not assign your rights or obligations without our written consent where such consent is reasonably required. We may subcontract parts of the work to suitably qualified contractors while remaining responsible for the overall service where appropriate, provided that the standard of work remains consistent with the agreement.

If a dispute arises, both parties should first attempt to resolve the matter amicably and in good faith. This may include reviewing the quotation, inspection notes, photographs, or job details to identify the issue. Early communication often prevents escalation and can lead to a practical solution without unnecessary formality. Nothing in this section prevents either party from seeking legal advice or taking urgent action where needed.

These Tree Surgeons Wandsworth terms are governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of England and Wales. The courts of England and Wales shall have exclusive jurisdiction over any dispute arising out of or in connection with these terms, the services provided, or any related non-contractual obligations, unless mandatory law provides otherwise.

By proceeding with a booking, you confirm that you have read, understood, and accepted these terms. If you are arranging work on behalf of another person, you confirm that you have authority to do so and that you will pass on any relevant information. These terms are intended to be clear and balanced, supporting safe, lawful, and professional tree surgery services with a straightforward booking and payment process.

For avoidance of doubt, nothing in these terms affects your statutory rights as a consumer where applicable. We encourage customers to keep a copy of the quotation, invoice, and any written acceptance for their records. Clear documentation helps ensure that expectations are aligned and that the service is delivered smoothly from booking through to completion.