UK Service Terms and Conditions for Tree Surgeons Chingford
These terms and conditions set out the basis on which Tree Surgeons Chingford provides arboricultural services to domestic and commercial customers in the United Kingdom. They are intended to create a clear, fair and practical agreement covering the booking process, payments, cancellations, liability, waste handling, and the legal framework that applies to the services. By requesting a quotation, confirming a booking, or allowing work to begin, the customer agrees to these terms and acknowledges that tree surgery work can involve natural variation, site-specific constraints, and risks that are not always fully predictable before attendance.
For the purposes of these terms, the phrase tree surgery services includes, without limitation, tree pruning, crown reduction, crown lifting, crown thinning, sectional dismantling, felling, stump grinding, hedge works, deadwood removal, bracing, site clearance, and associated waste removal. Any reference to the Company, we, or us means the tree surgery business providing the service, and any reference to the customer means the person, organisation, or property owner commissioning the work. These terms apply unless expressly varied in writing before work starts.
Where a quotation is issued, it will normally be based on information provided by the customer, a site visit, photographs, or a combination of these. Quotations are generally valid for a stated period, after which the Company may revise the price if circumstances, materials, access, or waste volumes have changed. A quotation is not a guarantee that all conditions have been fully identified. If the scope of the work changes due to hidden defects, decay, restricted access, utility conflicts, protected tree status, or other site conditions, the Company may adjust the price, timing, or method of work after informing the customer.
Bookings are accepted only when the customer confirms the quotation or written estimate and, where required, pays any requested deposit. The booking process may involve agreeing the scope of works, confirming access arrangements, identifying parking or permit requirements, and supplying any information reasonably needed for safe completion of the job. The customer must ensure that the person placing the order has authority to do so and is responsible for ensuring the work is suitable for the property and any relevant third-party interests.
We reserve the right to refuse or postpone a booking if the site is unsafe, inaccessible, subject to severe weather, affected by emergencies, or if the customer has not provided sufficient information for the work to proceed safely and lawfully. For larger or higher-risk projects, the Company may require a written specification, additional documentation, or confirmation of ownership or consent. Any agreed date is an estimate unless a fixed appointment has been expressly stated. Delays caused by weather, traffic, machinery breakdown, access issues, or unforeseen hazards do not generally entitle the customer to compensation.
Payment terms will be stated in the quotation, invoice, or booking confirmation. Unless otherwise agreed, payment is due on completion of the work and before departure from site. The Company may request part-payment or a deposit in advance, especially for larger projects, specialist equipment, or disposal-heavy work. Accepted payment methods may include bank transfer, card payment, or other methods stated at the time of booking. Any deposit paid secures the date and covers administrative and scheduling costs. Deposits may be non-refundable where work has already been planned, equipment reserved, or labour allocated.
If payment is not received when due, the Company may charge reasonable recovery costs and suspend any outstanding or future work until the account is settled. The customer is responsible for ensuring that sufficient funds are available and that any payment made by a third party is completed correctly. Where a quotation is described as fixed, it applies only to the agreed scope and assumptions. Extra charges may arise for additional labour, machinery, traffic management, specialist lifting, emergency call-outs, or disposal beyond the volume originally allowed for. Any such charges will be communicated as soon as practicable.
Cancellation terms depend on the amount of notice given and the stage of preparation. If the customer cancels with reasonable notice before work has started and before material costs or specialist arrangements have been incurred, the Company may refund any deposit at its discretion, less any non-recoverable expenses already incurred. If cancellation occurs after crew allocation, equipment hire, or travel has begun, the customer may be charged a proportionate cancellation fee. Where a booking is cancelled because the customer has failed to provide access, permission, or accurate information, the Company may treat this as a customer cancellation. Rescheduling is subject to availability and may involve a revised price if conditions have changed.
The Company may cancel or pause work if continuing would be unsafe, unlawful, or unreasonable. This includes situations involving adverse weather, unstable trees, hidden nesting activity, suspected protected species issues, sudden access obstruction, or electrical hazards. In such cases, any deposit may be retained to the extent necessary to cover preparatory costs already incurred. The Company will use reasonable efforts to offer an alternative date, but it is not liable for losses arising from a cancellation or postponement caused by matters outside its control or by the need to comply with safety obligations.
Liability is limited to the extent permitted by law. The Company will carry out work with reasonable skill and care, but tree surgery is a specialist activity involving living materials, changing conditions, and inherent risks. The customer acknowledges that trees may behave unpredictably during pruning or dismantling, and that minor surface damage, bark scuffing, soil disturbance, or incidental wear can occur during normal operations. Unless caused by negligence or wilful misconduct, the Company is not responsible for pre-existing defects, hidden decay, subsurface services, or damage resulting from inaccurate information supplied by the customer.
The customer must inform the Company of any known hazards, including underground services, overhead cables, fragile structures, shared access routes, water features, animal enclosures, or concealed defects in buildings, walls, and fences near the work area. Where the customer asks the Company to work close to such risks, the customer accepts responsibility for ensuring that the area is suitable and that any necessary permissions, isolations, or protections are in place. The Company will not be liable for loss or damage arising from a customer’s failure to disclose relevant information or from leaving parked vehicles, garden items, ornaments, or other property in the work zone.
The Company’s total liability for any claim arising from the services, whether in contract, negligence, breach of statutory duty, or otherwise, shall be limited to the value of the relevant services paid or payable, except where liability cannot legally be limited. Nothing in these terms excludes liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, fraud, or any other matter for which exclusion is prohibited by law. The customer is encouraged to maintain suitable insurance for their property, and the Company may also hold appropriate cover in accordance with its business operations.
Waste arising from tree surgery works is handled in accordance with applicable UK waste regulations and duty of care requirements. The customer agrees that arisings such as branches, logs, chips, stumps, leaves, and green waste may be removed, processed, stored temporarily, reused, or disposed of by the Company or its appointed waste carriers. Unless stated otherwise in the quotation, ownership of waste material passes to the Company once removed from the site. Waste will be managed responsibly and transferred only through lawful and appropriate routes.
Where timber, woodchip, or other arisings are left on site at the customer’s request, the customer takes responsibility for their storage, use, and eventual disposal, subject to any separate agreement. The Company does not accept responsibility for later use of retained waste by the customer or third parties. If waste is to be retained for log stacks, mulch, habitat piles, or similar arrangements, the customer should ensure that storage does not create nuisance, obstruction, pest issues, or contravention of local rules. Any additional handling or segregation requested by the customer may be chargeable.
The customer must not ask the Company to dispose of prohibited, contaminated, or non-arboricultural waste unless this has been expressly agreed and priced. If unexpected materials are discovered, including metal, concrete, fly-tipped waste, asbestos-containing materials, or other hazardous substances, the Company may stop work in the affected area until safe arrangements are made. All waste transfer, transport, and disposal arrangements will be carried out in line with current legal obligations, and the customer agrees to provide any information necessary to support compliant waste handling.
In relation to tree preservation, conservation controls, wildlife legislation, and property permissions, the customer is responsible for ensuring that the work may lawfully proceed unless the Company has expressly agreed in writing to obtain or verify such matters. The Company may advise on obvious issues, but it does not guarantee planning, ecological, or statutory compliance unless this forms part of the agreed service. Where necessary, the customer must obtain landlord consent, neighbour permissions, management company approval, or any required consent from relevant authorities before the work date. If lawful consent is not in place, the Company may suspend or cancel the work without liability.
These terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales. Any dispute arising out of or in connection with the services, these terms, or any related quotation or invoice shall be dealt with under the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales. If any part of these terms is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect. No waiver of any term will be effective unless confirmed in writing by the Company.
By instructing Tree Surgeons Chingford to carry out services, the customer confirms that they have read, understood, and accepted these terms and conditions. The Company may update them from time to time to reflect legal, operational, or commercial changes, and the version in force at the time of booking will apply unless otherwise agreed in writing. Any statement outside these terms will not override them unless expressly confirmed by an authorised representative of the Company.