Terms and Conditions for Tree Surgeons Thamesmead

These Terms and Conditions set out the basis on which Tree Surgeons Thamesmead provides tree surgery services to domestic and commercial clients in the UK. By making a booking, accepting a quotation, or allowing works to begin, the customer agrees to be bound by these terms. Please read them carefully before instructing any Thamesmead tree surgeons to carry out work.

These terms are intended to be clear and fair. They explain how bookings are accepted, when payment is due, how cancellations are handled, what happens if access is restricted, and the limits of liability that apply to tree surgery services in Thamesmead. They also cover the lawful handling and disposal of green waste, timber, and related materials, together with the governing law that applies to the contract.

In these Terms and Conditions, references to “we”, “us” and “our” mean the service provider trading as Tree Surgeons Thamesmead. References to “you” and “your” mean the customer, property owner, tenant, managing agent, or other person instructing the works. The wording applies equally whether the services involve pruning, crown reduction, stump grinding, felling, hedge maintenance, emergency callouts, or inspection-related work.

1. Booking process

A booking may be made by phone, email, online enquiry, or through any other method we may make available from time to time. A booking request does not create a binding contract until we have issued a quotation or estimate, confirmed availability, and received your acceptance of the proposed works. In some cases, we may ask for photographs, site details, or other information before confirming a price.

All quotations are based on the information available at the time and may be subject to revision if the circumstances on site differ from those described. This includes, without limitation, hidden decay, dead wood, storm damage, subsidence risk, invasive roots, restricted access, traffic management requirements, or the presence of nesting birds and protected species. A tree surgery quotation may also depend on the volume of waste, the height and spread of the tree, and the equipment needed to complete the job safely.

2. Acceptance of instructions

Once a quotation is accepted, we will usually confirm a date or appointment window for the works. Any agreed date is an estimate unless we expressly state otherwise. While we make every reasonable effort to attend on the scheduled day, timing may change due to weather, emergencies, staff availability, equipment failure, or conditions that make work unsafe.

You must ensure that the person accepting the quotation has authority to do so. If you are not the owner of the property, you are responsible for ensuring that the owner, landlord, management company, freeholder, or relevant third party has approved the works. We may rely on your instruction as evidence that all necessary permissions have been obtained.

If a site visit reveals that additional work is required for safety or to complete the original request properly, we will normally explain the situation and provide a revised price before continuing, unless urgent action is needed to prevent immediate harm to people or property.

3. Payments

Unless agreed otherwise in writing, payment is due immediately upon completion of the works. For larger jobs or scheduled projects, we may request a deposit, part payment in advance, or staged payments. All sums must be paid in cleared funds using the payment methods we specify at the time of booking or invoicing.

Where a deposit is required, it secures time, staff, equipment, and scheduling resources. Deposits may be non-refundable in the circumstances described in the cancellation section below. If you fail to make payment by the due date, we reserve the right to charge reasonable interest on overdue amounts and to recover any costs incurred in pursuing payment, to the extent permitted by law.

Any quotation or invoice may state whether VAT is included or excluded. If a pricing error is identified, we reserve the right to correct it and notify you before proceeding, except where the work has already been completed and the amount payable is clear from the agreed terms. Any discount or special offer applies only as stated and may be withdrawn before acceptance.

4. Cancellations and rescheduling

You may cancel or reschedule a booking by giving us reasonable notice. The amount of notice that is reasonable will depend on the size and complexity of the job, but in general we ask for as much notice as possible. For larger projects, specialist access arrangements, or booked machinery, short-notice cancellations may result in a charge to cover unrecoverable costs.

If you cancel after we have ordered materials, reserved equipment, allocated labour, or incurred other project-specific expenses, you may be required to reimburse those costs in full or in part. If you cancel on the day of attendance or fail to provide access, we may charge a call-out fee, a wasted journey fee, or the full agreed minimum charge where this is reasonable and proportionate.

We may reschedule or cancel the works where weather, safety concerns, legal restrictions, site conditions, or circumstances beyond our control make it inappropriate to proceed. If we cancel for one of those reasons, we will offer a new date where possible. We are not liable for indirect losses arising from a lawful cancellation or rescheduling, provided we have acted reasonably.

5. Site conditions, access, and safety

You are responsible for ensuring reasonable access to the work area, including driveways, gates, communal entrances, service roads, and any areas necessary for parking or positioning equipment. You must also inform us of underground services, overhead cables, fragile surfaces, concealed chambers, water pipes, irrigation systems, or other hazards that may affect the work.

Where necessary, we may refuse to continue if conditions on site are unsafe, if access is inadequate, or if the work would breach legal or environmental requirements. If we stop work because of information withheld by you, or because access has not been made available as agreed, we may charge for any time already spent and for any costs reasonably incurred.

We may use barriers, cones, signage, climbing equipment, cutting tools, chippers, stump grinders, and vehicles in the vicinity of the work. You agree not to interfere with our methods, equipment, or safety procedures. Children, pets, and unauthorised persons should be kept away from the work area during attendance.

6. Liability

We will carry out services with reasonable skill and care. However, tree surgery involves inherent risks, particularly where trees are decayed, storm damaged, unstable, overhanging, or structurally compromised. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we are not responsible for pre-existing defects, hidden decay, subsurface root issues, or changes in tree condition that were not reasonably apparent before the work commenced.

Nothing in these terms excludes or limits liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, fraud, fraudulent misrepresentation, or any other liability that cannot lawfully be excluded under English law. Subject to that, our total liability for any claim arising out of the contract shall be limited to the amount paid or payable for the specific service in question, unless a different limit is agreed in writing.

We will not be liable for loss of profits, loss of business, loss of opportunity, loss of anticipated savings, or any indirect or consequential loss. We are also not liable for damage caused by events beyond our reasonable control, including severe weather, vandalism, third-party interference, acts of utility providers, or unexpected ground conditions. Where a claim is made, you must take reasonable steps to reduce any further loss.

7. Waste regulations and disposal

All green waste, timber, brushwood, arisings, and related organic material removed during the works will be handled in accordance with applicable waste management legislation and environmental requirements. Unless stated otherwise, we will arrange removal, transport, and lawful disposal or recycling of waste generated by the services we provide. This may include chipping, composting, mulching, or delivery to an authorised transfer facility.

You acknowledge that waste produced from tree surgery may not be left on site unless this has been agreed in advance. If you ask us to leave timber, brash, chips, stumps, or logs on your property, you are responsible for storing and managing those materials safely and lawfully after handover. Once waste has been left at your request, it becomes your responsibility.

If any waste includes items that are not standard green waste, such as contaminated materials, wire, masonry, fencing, soil, treated timber, or domestic rubbish, we may charge additional disposal costs or decline to remove them. We reserve the right to segregate waste where necessary to comply with waste carrier obligations and environmental rules. The customer must not instruct us to dispose of prohibited or hazardous materials without prior written agreement.

8. Trees, wildlife, and legal permissions

It is your responsibility to ensure that the works are permitted and that any required consents, permissions, notices, or approvals have been obtained before the job starts. This may include planning restrictions, preservation protections, conservation-related constraints, landlord consent, or other legal permissions. If you are unsure whether approval is required, you should check before instructing the work.

We may postpone or adapt works if there is evidence of nesting birds, bats, or other protected wildlife, or if the activity could otherwise breach environmental law. In such circumstances, we will act reasonably and may recommend that work be delayed until it is lawful and safe to proceed. This may affect the timing and cost of a tree surgeon service, but legal compliance always takes priority.

Where a tree poses an immediate danger, emergency action may be necessary. Even then, we may still need to limit the scope of work to what is reasonably required to make the situation safe. Any optional or cosmetic work can be arranged separately once the urgent issue has been addressed.

9. Complaints and rectification

If you believe that a service has not been carried out in accordance with the agreed specification, you should notify us within a reasonable time after completion. We may request photographs, a description of the issue, or the opportunity to inspect the work before any resolution is considered. Where we agree that remedial work is required, we may choose to return to site, offer an adjustment, or provide another fair remedy.

You must not arrange third-party remedial work for an alleged defect without giving us a reasonable opportunity to inspect and respond, except where urgent action is necessary to prevent danger or further damage. If a claim is made that is later found to be unfounded, we may recover reasonable costs incurred in investigating the matter, to the extent allowed by law.

10. Force majeure

We shall not be liable for failure to perform, or delay in performance, where such failure or delay is caused by events beyond our reasonable control. This includes, without limitation, extreme weather, flooding, fire, epidemic or pandemic restrictions, accident, industrial action, road closures, utility outages, acts of public authorities, or shortages of materials or equipment.

Where a force majeure event occurs, we will act reasonably and may suspend, postpone, or amend the works until conditions allow safe completion. Any money paid in advance will be dealt with fairly, taking account of costs already incurred and work already performed.

11. General contract terms

If any provision of these terms is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue in full force. No failure or delay by us in enforcing a right shall constitute a waiver of that right. Any variation to these terms must be agreed in writing and authorised by us.

These terms, together with the quotation and any written acceptance, form the entire agreement between the parties in relation to the services. You should not rely on any statement not expressly included in the written contract. We may update these terms from time to time, but the version applicable to your booking will be the version in force at the time the contract was formed.

12. Governing law

These Terms and Conditions, and any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with them, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales. The parties agree that the courts of England and Wales shall have exclusive jurisdiction, subject to any mandatory consumer rights that apply.

If any aspect of the contract is unclear, the interpretation that is most consistent with lawful, fair, and reasonable operation will apply. These terms are intended to support a professional and transparent service relationship for all tree surgeons Thamesmead appointments, whether the work is routine, planned, or urgent.

By proceeding with a booking, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agreed to these Terms and Conditions. This agreement applies to all services supplied by Thamesmead tree surgeons unless a separate written contract states otherwise.