Terms and Conditions for Tree Surgeons Surbiton

These Terms and Conditions set out the basis on which Tree Surgeons Surbiton provides arboricultural and tree care services to domestic and commercial clients. By making a booking, accepting a quotation, or allowing works to proceed, the customer agrees to be bound by these terms. They are intended to create clarity around the booking process, payment expectations, cancellations, liability, waste handling, and the legal framework governing the agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, these terms apply to all services provided under the name tree surgeons Surbiton, Surbiton tree surgeons, or related descriptions used for marketing and service delivery.

1. Definitions. In these Terms and Conditions, “we”, “us”, and “our” refer to the tree surgery business carrying out the works; “customer”, “you”, and “your” refer to the person or organisation requesting the services; “site” means the property or location where the work is to be carried out; and “services” means tree surgery, pruning, felling, stump management, hedge work, site clearance, or any other arboricultural services agreed in writing or by confirmation of booking. These terms are designed to operate as a service agreement and should be read alongside any quotation, estimate, risk assessment, or written scope of works issued before the job begins.

2. Scope of service. Our work may include tree pruning, sectional dismantling, crown reduction, deadwood removal, hedge cutting, stump grinding, emergency response, and waste removal, subject to the quotation and site conditions. We will carry out services with reasonable care and skill, using competent personnel and appropriate equipment. However, the exact method of work may change if site conditions, weather, access restrictions, tree condition, or legal compliance requirements make an alternative approach necessary. Any material change to the original scope will normally be discussed with the customer before proceeding, unless urgent action is needed to prevent danger to persons or property.

3. Booking process. A booking may be made after an initial enquiry and, where appropriate, a site assessment. A quotation may be issued verbally or in writing, but work will only be scheduled once the customer has accepted the quotation, confirmed the preferred date, and provided the information reasonably required to complete the job. Acceptance of a quotation indicates agreement to these terms. The customer is responsible for ensuring that the information supplied during booking is accurate, including the location of trees, access arrangements, and any known hazards. If inaccurate or incomplete information causes additional costs, delays, or changes to the planned work, we may revise the quotation accordingly.

4. Estimates and quotations. Any estimate given before a full inspection is approximate and may change if the work proves more complex than expected. Written quotations are generally valid for the period stated on the document, or, if no period is specified, for a reasonable time in the circumstances. Prices are based on the condition of the trees at the time of inspection, access to the site, disposal requirements, labour, equipment, and any required permissions or traffic management. If the customer requests additional works on the day, those items may be quoted separately and must be agreed before they are carried out. We reserve the right to amend the price where hidden defects, decay, protected species issues, boundary complications, or unforeseen hazards are discovered.

5. Appointment times and site access. We aim to attend at the agreed time or within a reasonable arrival window. However, tree surgery is highly dependent on weather, traffic, emergency call-outs, and site constraints. Delays do not normally entitle the customer to compensation. The customer must ensure unobstructed access for our team, vehicles, and equipment. Where parking permits, suspension bays, gate access, keys, or permission to enter shared land are required, the customer must arrange these in advance unless otherwise agreed. If access is not available or the site is unsafe, we may be unable to start or complete the work and may charge a reasonable abortive visit fee.

6. Payment terms. Unless otherwise stated in writing, payment is due on completion of the works on the day of service. We may request a deposit, staged payment, or advance payment for larger projects, specialist equipment, commercial works, or custom arrangements. We accept the methods of payment specified in the quotation or invoice. All prices are quoted inclusive or exclusive of VAT, as stated in the relevant document. If the customer fails to make payment when due, we may charge interest on overdue sums at the statutory rate and recover reasonable costs incurred in collecting the debt. Title to any goods supplied, where applicable, remains with us until full payment has been received.

7. Cancellations and postponements. If the customer wishes to cancel or reschedule a booking, notice should be given as soon as possible. Where cancellation is received with sufficient notice, no charge may apply. However, if a cancellation is made after resources have been committed, equipment hired, permits obtained, materials ordered, or a team dispatched, we may charge a cancellation fee reflecting our actual loss and reasonable administration costs. If we need to postpone due to adverse weather, safety concerns, sickness, equipment failure, legal restrictions, or any other reason beyond our control, we will seek to agree a new date. We do not accept liability for indirect losses arising from a necessary postponement.

8. Customer obligations. You must ensure that the site is safe and that we are informed of all known risks, including underground services, overhead cables, unstable ground, nesting birds, protected species, invasive plants, hidden structures, or other hazards. You must also tell us if there are vulnerable surfaces, ponds, greenhouses, conservatories, vehicles, or items that should be protected or removed before work begins. We are entitled to rely on the information provided by you or your representative. If you ask us to work near structures, landscaping, or utilities, you acknowledge that tree work can involve unavoidable risk of minor damage despite reasonable precautions. We are not responsible for issues caused by undisclosed hazards or inaccurate instructions.

9. Waste management and regulations. All green waste, timber, brash, stump arisings, and related material generated during the works will be handled in accordance with applicable UK waste legislation and environmental requirements. Unless the quotation states otherwise, waste arising from the job will be removed from site by us and may be transported, processed, recycled, or disposed of through lawful facilities. We aim to follow the waste hierarchy by prioritising reuse and recycling where reasonably practicable. Where the customer wishes to retain timber, logs, mulch, or woodchip, this must be agreed in advance. If waste is left on site at the customer’s request, ownership and responsibility for it passes to the customer once the work is completed. The customer must not instruct us to dump, burn, or abandon waste in a way that breaches law or local regulations.

10. Permissions and legal compliance. Tree works may require consent from a local authority, landowner, managing agent, or other third party. It is the customer’s responsibility to obtain all necessary permissions unless we have expressly agreed in writing to do so on their behalf. This includes, where relevant, tree preservation orders, conservation area constraints, leasehold permissions, neighbour agreements, and access authorisations. If legal consent is refused or delayed, we may postpone or cancel the work without liability. Where we identify that a proposed task may conflict with applicable legislation, we may refuse to proceed until the issue is resolved. We will not knowingly carry out works that would breach planning controls, wildlife protection law, health and safety obligations, or waste regulation.

11. Quality of workmanship. We will perform the services with reasonable care and skill in accordance with accepted arboricultural practices. Because every tree is different, no guarantee is given that a tree will remain stable, healthy, or structurally sound after work, especially where disease, decay, storm damage, or previous poor maintenance exists. Pruning and reduction work may alter future growth patterns, and natural regrowth, seasonal variation, and environmental factors are outside our control. Any warranty or remedial obligation will only apply if expressly stated in writing. The customer accepts that tree surgery is not an exact science and that outcomes can be affected by biological and environmental conditions beyond our control.

12. Liability. Our liability is limited to direct loss or damage caused by our negligence or by breach of these terms, and only to the extent permitted by law. Nothing in these Terms and Conditions excludes or limits liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, fraud, or any other liability that cannot legally be excluded. We are not liable for indirect or consequential loss, including loss of profit, loss of business, loss of amenity, loss of data, or missed appointments arising from matters outside our control. Where we are responsible for damage to property, our liability will be limited to reasonable repair or replacement costs taking account of wear, age, condition, and depreciation. Customers are expected to remove or protect valuable, fragile, or movable items before work starts.

13. Insurance. We maintain insurance cover that we consider appropriate for the nature of our services, including public liability cover and, where relevant, employer’s liability cover. Insurance does not extend to every possible circumstance, and the customer should not assume that all losses are recoverable. If a claim is made, the customer must take reasonable steps to prevent further damage and must notify us promptly with sufficient information to investigate the issue. We may inspect the site, take photographs, and request documents or evidence relevant to any claim. Failure to preserve the affected area or to report the matter in a timely manner may affect the outcome of an insurance review.

14. Force majeure. We shall not be liable for delay or failure to perform any obligation where the delay or failure results from events outside our reasonable control. Such events may include extreme weather, storms, floods, fire, industrial disputes, illness, transport disruption, equipment failure, civil emergency, changes in law, or actions of third parties. In these circumstances, we may suspend works, reschedule the appointment, or, where necessary, terminate the booking without liability for consequential losses. If payment has been made for work not yet carried out, we will either reschedule or refund the unused portion, depending on the stage reached and the costs already incurred.

15. Changes to the works. We may need to adjust the scope of the services if the tree condition, weather, safety assessment, or site circumstances indicate that the original plan is no longer suitable. Where possible, we will explain the reason for the change and seek the customer’s agreement before proceeding. If the customer insists on a method we consider unsafe, unlawful, or unsuitable, we may refuse to carry it out. Any additional labour, equipment, or disposal required because of a change in scope may be charged at a fair and reasonable rate. A request for a tree surgeon in Surbiton or similar service descriptor does not guarantee a particular method, only the agreed outcome within safe and lawful practice.

16. Complaints and concerns. If you are dissatisfied with any aspect of the service, you should notify us promptly so that we may investigate and, where appropriate, put matters right. Complaints should be made within a reasonable time after completion of the works and should include enough detail for us to understand the issue. We may request photographs, access to the site, or other relevant information. Where a remedy is appropriate, it may involve a revisit, repair, or partial refund depending on the facts. Raising a complaint does not entitle the customer to withhold payment for the undisputed portion of the work already completed to a proper standard.

17. Termination. We may suspend or end the contract if the customer fails to pay, provides unsafe access, gives misleading information, requests unlawful activity, or behaves abusively toward our staff or contractors. In such cases, we may charge for work already completed, materials already ordered, and reasonable losses caused by the termination. The customer may also end the agreement before the works begin, subject to any cancellation charges already described. Termination does not affect rights or obligations that have accrued up to the date of termination, including payment obligations, waste responsibility, and liability for any proven damage.

18. Data and confidentiality. Any personal information supplied for the purpose of booking, invoicing, or service delivery will be handled in accordance with applicable data protection law and used only for legitimate business purposes connected with the contract. We may store records of quotations, invoices, site notes, and photographs for operational, legal, and insurance reasons. We will not disclose confidential information except where required by law, by a regulator, by an insurer, or with your consent. The customer must also treat any technical, commercial, or pricing information supplied by us as confidential where it is reasonably marked or ought reasonably to be regarded as confidential.

19. Variation. No variation to these Terms and Conditions shall be effective unless agreed by us in writing. If a quotation or invoice contains specific terms that differ from these general conditions, the specific terms will apply to the extent of any inconsistency. If any part of these Terms and Conditions is found to be unlawful or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force. A failure by us to enforce any right or provision shall not constitute a waiver of that right or provision in the future.

20. 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, except where mandatory law provides otherwise. This governs the relationship between the customer and the service provider whether the service is described as tree surgery, tree care, arboricultural works, or related terms used in the quotation or booking confirmation.

21. Entire agreement. These Terms and Conditions, together with any written quotation or agreed scope of works, form the entire agreement between the parties in relation to the services. The customer acknowledges that they have not relied on any statement not expressly included in the contract. Any illustration, image, or description used in promotional material is intended only as a general indication of the type of service offered and does not create a binding promise about exact results. In all cases, the actual service delivered will depend on the trees, the site, and the conditions present at the time of work.

22. Interpretive note. References to “reasonable” or “reasonably” in these terms mean what would be considered fair and practical in the circumstances, taking into account safety, legality, industry practice, and the interests of both parties. Headings are included for convenience only and do not affect interpretation. If any question arises about the meaning of a clause, it should be read in a way that gives effect to the commercial purpose of the agreement and the lawful delivery of professional arboricultural services. These terms are intended to be clear, balanced, and suitable for customers seeking a dependable tree surgeon service in a UK legal context.

23. Acceptance. By accepting a quotation, confirming a booking, or permitting the works to commence, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agreed to these Terms and Conditions. If you do not agree with any part of them, you should raise the issue before the work begins. Once the service is underway, the agreed terms will apply to the fullest extent permitted by law. These terms are designed to support professional, safe, and lawful delivery of tree surgeon services, whether for routine maintenance or more complex arboricultural operations.