Terms and Conditions for Tree Surgeon Hillingdon

These Terms and Conditions set out the basis on which tree surgery, arboricultural maintenance, and related services are provided by Tree Surgeon Hillingdon (“we”, “us”, “our”) to the customer (“you”, “your”). By making a booking, accepting a quotation, or permitting work to begin, you agree to be bound by these terms. Please read them carefully before confirming any instruction for work. These terms are intended to be fair and clear, and to reflect the practical realities of professional tree care carried out in the UK.

For the purposes of these Terms and Conditions, “services” may include tree pruning, crown reduction, crown thinning, crown lifting, deadwood removal, tree felling, stump grinding, hedge cutting, site clearance, and the removal or processing of green waste where agreed. Any reference to a tree surgeon, tree surgeon in Hillingdon, or Hillingdon tree surgeon in this document refers to the same service provider and the same contractual relationship. These terms apply to all quotations and work orders unless we agree otherwise in writing.

Nothing in these terms affects your statutory rights as a consumer under UK law. If there is any conflict between these terms and mandatory legal rights, the law will prevail. If you are commissioning work as a business customer, you acknowledge that different rules may apply in some circumstances and that our liability may be limited to the fullest extent permitted by law.

1. Booking Process

A booking may be made after an initial enquiry and a review of the work required. We may ask for photographs, site access details, tree location, species information, and any relevant background, such as previous pruning, visible defects, or known hazards. In some cases, a site visit may be needed before we issue a quotation. Any quotation we provide will usually be based on the information available at the time and may be revised if the scope of work changes or if conditions at the site differ materially from what was described.

When you accept a quotation, you are confirming that you have authority to instruct the work and that you have obtained, or will obtain, any permissions necessary for the services to proceed. This may include landlord consent, freeholder consent, neighbour consent where access or boundary issues arise, and any planning, conservation, or tree preservation permissions required by law. We may advise on these matters, but responsibility for obtaining lawful permission remains with you unless we expressly agree in writing to handle a specific application.

Our acceptance of your booking is not final until we confirm the date, scope, and any relevant access arrangements. We may decline, postpone, or amend a booking if we believe the work cannot be carried out safely, lawfully, or to the standard required. Start dates and completion dates are estimates unless we expressly confirm otherwise. Weather conditions, traffic, equipment failure, health and safety concerns, or third-party delays may affect scheduling. We will act reasonably if rescheduling becomes necessary.

2. Scope of Work and Site Conditions

The work we carry out will be limited to the items included in the accepted quotation or written agreement. Any additional work requested on site, or any extra work that becomes necessary because of unforeseen conditions, may be chargeable as a variation. Examples may include concealed decay, unstable timber, restricted access, the presence of nesting birds or protected species, or the discovery that a tree is materially different from the description initially given.

You must ensure that the site is accessible and reasonably safe for the agreed services to begin. This includes clear access for vehicles, equipment, and personnel, as well as informing us of underground services, overhead cables, fragile structures, boundaries, sprinklers, drains, or other features that could be affected by the work. Where access is restricted or where we must take additional precautions, we may need to amend the quotation or the timetable.

Unless otherwise agreed, we will use our professional judgement regarding the most appropriate method of carrying out the works. This may involve climbing, mobile elevated work platforms, winching, sectional dismantling, or other standard arboricultural techniques. We will take reasonable care to minimise damage to surrounding property, but tree surgery is an inherently physical activity and some disturbance to lawns, driveways, adjacent planting, or surfaces may occur, particularly in wet weather or where machinery is required.

3. Payments

Payment terms will be set out in the quotation, invoice, or written confirmation. Unless otherwise agreed, payment is due upon completion of the services and receipt of our invoice. For larger, scheduled, or specialist jobs, we may request a deposit, staged payments, or payment in advance for materials, equipment hire, or disposal costs. Deposits are normally used to secure availability and may be non-refundable where work has been reserved for a specific date or where we have incurred costs.

All prices are stated in pounds sterling and may be subject to VAT where applicable. Any quotation is based on the information supplied and may exclude additional works, parking charges, permits, waste transfer costs, emergency call-out fees, or charges for unusually difficult access unless specifically stated otherwise. If extra costs arise, we will explain them as soon as reasonably practicable.

We accept payment methods as specified at the time of booking or invoicing. If payment is not made by the due date, we may charge interest and compensation on overdue sums to the extent permitted by the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998 for business customers, or otherwise in accordance with applicable law. You will also be responsible for any reasonable costs incurred in recovering unpaid sums, including administrative and legal costs where recoverable.

4. Cancellations, Delays, and Rescheduling

If you need to cancel or rearrange a booking, you must notify us as soon as possible. Where cancellation occurs after we have allocated staff, reserved machinery, ordered materials, or scheduled specialist equipment, we may charge for our reasonable losses and wasted costs. The amount may depend on the timing of the cancellation and the nature of the booking. If work is cancelled on arrival, after access has been arranged, or after work has commenced, you may still be charged for the time, labour, and materials already committed.

We may cancel or reschedule a job if unsafe conditions arise, if weather makes the work impractical or dangerous, if equipment becomes unavailable, or if legal or environmental concerns prevent the work from proceeding. If we must postpone for reasons outside our control, we will attempt to offer a new date within a reasonable time. We are not liable for losses caused by delay where the delay results from circumstances beyond our reasonable control, including severe weather, accidents, road closures, supply issues, or strikes.

Where you fail to provide access, consent, accurate information, or a suitable safe working environment, we may treat the booking as cancelled by you and charge accordingly. We reserve the right to leave the site if conditions are unsafe or if we are asked to carry out work that would be unlawful or contrary to good arboricultural practice.

5. Liability and Limitations

We will carry out our services with reasonable skill and care, using competent operatives and appropriate equipment. However, tree work involves natural variability, hidden defects, and physical risk. While we will take reasonable precautions, we do not guarantee that a tree will remain stable, healthy, or free from future defects after work is completed. Trees are living organisms and may respond unpredictably to pruning, weather, disease, pests, or pre-existing stress.

We are not liable for indirect or consequential losses, including loss of profit, loss of business, loss of enjoyment, or inconvenience, except where such limitation is prohibited by law. Our total liability for any claim arising out of or in connection with the services shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be limited to the amount paid or payable for the specific work giving rise to the claim, unless a higher limit is required by law.

Nothing in these terms excludes or limits liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation, or any other liability that cannot be excluded under UK law. You must notify us of any concern or claim as soon as reasonably possible after the issue arises and provide a reasonable opportunity for us to inspect, investigate, or remedy the matter where appropriate.

If damage is alleged, you must take reasonable steps to mitigate your loss and preserve relevant evidence, including photographs, dates, and details of the incident. Minor cosmetic marks, temporary ground disturbance, or unavoidable impact caused by normal tree surgery operations will not automatically constitute breach of contract, provided the work was performed with reasonable care and in line with the agreed scope.

6. Waste Regulations and Site Clearance

Where waste removal is included, green waste and arisings will normally be chipped, removed, composted, recycled, or disposed of in accordance with applicable waste legislation and environmental obligations. We aim to minimise landfill use and to manage waste responsibly. Unless otherwise stated, quotations will specify whether waste is left on site, stacked, chipped, removed, or included in the service price. If you request the waste to remain on site, you accept responsibility for its storage and subsequent handling.

We will act in accordance with the Environmental Protection Act 1990, the Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2011, and any other relevant rules governing the transfer, transport, and disposal of waste. Where required, waste will be transferred only to authorised carriers or facilities. If waste contains contaminants, mixed materials, invasive species, or non-green items, additional handling charges may apply. You must not place household, hazardous, or non-vegetative waste among arisings unless previously agreed.

Stumps, timber, branches, leaves, and chipped material may be reused or recycled where lawful and practical. If timber is suitable for firewood or other secondary use, this will only occur if agreed. Any retained material becomes your responsibility once it has been left on site or collected by you. You must ensure that waste storage or reuse does not create a nuisance, obstruction, or hazard.

7. Customer Responsibilities

You are responsible for providing accurate information about the property, the trees, and any known risks before the job begins. This includes advising us of boundary disputes, underground services, hidden structures, contamination, protected wildlife, previous incidents, or any other matter likely to affect safe working. If the information supplied is incomplete or inaccurate, we may revise the quotation, delay the work, or withdraw from the job.

You must ensure that pets, children, and unauthorised persons stay clear of the work area while services are in progress. You are also responsible for securing valuables, moving vehicles, and protecting items that may be affected by dust, sawdust, vibration, or falling debris. We will use reasonable care, but we cannot accept responsibility for damage caused by items left in the work zone contrary to our instructions.

Where our work depends on the actions of third parties, such as utility companies, adjoining landowners, managing agents, or local authorities, you must cooperate reasonably and promptly. Any delay caused by third parties may affect completion dates and costs. If you ask us to continue despite an unresolved issue, we may require written confirmation that you accept any resulting risk and cost consequences.

8. Complaints, Remedies, and General Terms

If you are dissatisfied with any aspect of the service, you must notify us promptly so that we can consider the issue and, where appropriate, inspect the work. We may offer to return to site, make adjustments, or discuss a suitable remedy if this is reasonable in the circumstances. Complaints raised long after completion may be harder to assess fairly, especially where weather, seasonal growth, or third-party interference may have changed the condition of the tree or site.

If any part of these terms is found to be unlawful, invalid, or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue in full force. No waiver of any breach will be taken as a waiver of any later breach. We may assign or subcontract elements of the work where this is appropriate, provided that the service is delivered by competent persons and in accordance with the agreed specification.

These Terms and Conditions may be updated from time to time. The version that applies to your booking will be the version in force on the date you accepted the quotation or placed the order, unless a later written agreement replaces it. Any variation must be agreed in writing by both parties.

Governing Law These Terms and Conditions, and any dispute or claim arising from them or in connection with them, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of England and Wales. The courts of England and Wales shall have exclusive jurisdiction, except where consumer law or mandatory legal provisions provide otherwise.

Acceptance of Terms By instructing us to carry out work, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agreed to these terms. If you do not agree with any part of them, you should not proceed with a booking or allow work to begin. These terms are intended to provide a clear framework for professional tree surgery services, responsible contract administration, and fair treatment of both parties.