Tree Surgeons Stjohnswood Terms and Conditions

These Terms and Conditions apply to all services provided by Tree Surgeons Stjohnswood and set out the basis on which work is booked, delivered, paid for and completed. By requesting a quotation, confirming a booking, or allowing work to proceed, the customer agrees to these terms. For clarity, references to “we”, “us” and “our” mean the tree surgery provider, and references to “you” and “your” mean the customer, whether acting as a homeowner, landlord, tenant, managing agent, business, or other authorised party.

These terms are intended to create a fair and transparent agreement for arboricultural services, including tree pruning, crown reduction, hedge maintenance, stump grinding, tree removal, emergency callouts, and associated site clearance. They are designed to work alongside any written quotation, estimate, specification, or job sheet issued in connection with tree surgeon services in Stjohnswood. If there is any inconsistency between a written quotation and these terms, the written quotation will prevail to the extent of that inconsistency.

We may update these terms from time to time to reflect changes in law, operational needs, insurance requirements, or industry practice. The version in force at the time your booking is accepted will apply to your job. Continued use of our tree surgery services after any update will be taken as acceptance of the revised terms.

1. Booking Process

All bookings begin with an enquiry and, where necessary, a site assessment or review of photographs, maps, measurements, and other relevant information supplied by you. Quotes may be provisional if the available information is incomplete. A quotation does not create a binding contract until it has been accepted by you and confirmed by us, either in writing, by email, by text message, or by another recorded method of communication.

When accepting a quotation for Tree Surgeons Stjohnswood, you must ensure that the scope of work is clearly understood. This includes the specific trees or hedges to be worked on, the method of work, access arrangements, traffic or pedestrian management needs, and any optional extras such as stump grinding, wood chipping, or waste removal. If circumstances on site differ materially from the information originally supplied, we may need to revise the quotation, amend the schedule, or decline to proceed until a new agreement is reached.

You are responsible for confirming that you have authority to instruct the work. If you are not the owner of the property or the relevant tree, you must obtain all necessary permissions before the booking is made. This includes landlord consent, managing agent approval, neighbour agreement where required, and any permissions arising under lease terms or title restrictions. We may ask for documentary proof of authority before carrying out the work.

2. Scheduling and Access

We will use reasonable efforts to carry out the services on the agreed date or within any agreed window. However, dates are estimates unless expressly stated otherwise. Tree surgery can be affected by weather conditions, equipment failure, traffic disruption, emergency callouts, arboricultural safety concerns, or unforeseen site issues. We may reschedule work where it is unsafe, impractical, or unlawful to proceed on the planned date.

You must provide safe, suitable, and timely access to the site. This includes unobstructed entry for personnel and vehicles, accurate information about parking restrictions, and any necessary permits or suspensions. You must also ensure that the work area is clear of hazards as far as reasonably possible, including vulnerable items, pets, children, and obstacles that might interfere with safe operations. Where access is delayed or impeded, additional charges may apply if our crew or equipment is kept waiting.

It is your responsibility to identify and notify us of known underground or overhead services, including electrical lines, water pipes, gas pipes, telecommunications equipment, irrigation systems, drainage runs, and hidden structures. While we take reasonable precautions, we cannot accept responsibility for damage caused by undisclosed services or concealed obstructions that could not reasonably have been identified before work commenced.

3. Payment Terms

Unless otherwise agreed in writing, payment is due in accordance with the quotation or invoice issued for the relevant job. Some services may require a deposit to secure a booking, particularly for larger projects, emergency works involving third-party charges, or jobs requiring hire equipment. The balance must be paid on completion unless we have agreed a different payment schedule in advance.

Invoices may be issued electronically. Payment methods may include bank transfer, card payment, or any other method we choose to accept from time to time. Cash may be accepted at our discretion, but we are not obliged to accept it. Where a payment is not received by the due date, we may charge interest and recovery costs to the extent permitted by law. We may also suspend further work, withhold handover of waste or timber, or decline future bookings until overdue sums are cleared.

If additional work is required because the site conditions differ from those described at the time of quotation, or because you request variations during the job, we may charge separately for the extra labour, equipment, waste disposal, or time involved. Any variation will be priced fairly and, where practicable, agreed before the additional work is carried out. In the event of a dispute over payment, you must pay any undisputed amount on time.

4. Cancellations, Delays, and Right to Reschedule

You may cancel or reschedule a booking by giving us reasonable notice. If you cancel after the booking has been scheduled and we have reserved labour, machinery, or disposal arrangements, we may charge a cancellation fee to reflect our loss and administrative costs. The amount charged will depend on the notice given, the type of work, and any non-recoverable expenses already incurred.

If you cancel with very short notice, or if we are unable to complete the work because access is denied, permissions are missing, or the site is not ready, we may treat the appointment as a late cancellation and charge accordingly. Where a deposit has been paid, it may be retained in part or in full to cover preparation time, travel, and other costs reasonably incurred, subject always to any mandatory consumer law rights that apply.

We may also reschedule or cancel a booking where weather conditions, safety concerns, equipment failure, staff illness, or legal restrictions prevent safe completion. In such cases, we will try to offer an alternative date. We are not liable for indirect losses arising from a lawful rescheduling, including lost earnings, inconvenience, or third-party charges, except where such liability cannot be excluded by law.

5. Service Standards and Customer Responsibilities

We will carry out our tree surgeon services with reasonable skill and care and in accordance with generally accepted arboricultural practice. The exact outcome of tree surgery can vary because trees are living organisms and may respond unpredictably to pruning, reduction, felling, or stump treatment. We do not guarantee future growth patterns, structural stability, flowering, fruiting, disease resistance, or other biological outcomes beyond the reasonable scope of the work agreed.

You acknowledge that certain works may change the appearance, balance, shade, privacy, or ecological value of trees and hedges. Decisions about the extent of pruning or removal should be made carefully. Where you have asked us to follow your instructions, we are entitled to proceed on that basis unless we consider the work unsafe, unlawful, or materially contrary to accepted arboricultural practice. If we refuse to carry out an instruction for safety or legal reasons, you will only be charged for work already undertaken or reasonably prepared for.

Throughout the job, you must keep children, pets, residents, and visitors away from the work area. You must not interfere with our team, machinery, rigging, or climbing operations. If you fail to follow safety instructions, we may suspend work until the issue is resolved. Any resulting delay or additional safety measures may be charged to you where appropriate.

6. Waste, Timber, and Environmental Compliance

Waste generated from tree surgery, including branches, chips, leaves, stump arisings, and timber offcuts, will be handled in accordance with applicable waste regulations. Unless otherwise agreed, we will decide how arisings are removed, recycled, processed, reused, or disposed of. Our aim is to manage waste responsibly and lawfully, using recognised routes for green waste handling and disposal.

Where a quotation includes waste removal, that price applies only to the volumes and materials reasonably expected from the agreed work. Significant additional waste, contaminated material, soil, rubble, or non-arboricultural waste may attract extra charges or may be excluded entirely. You must not place household rubbish, hazardous waste, asbestos, oils, chemicals, or other unrelated materials into any pile of green waste intended for our collection.

If you ask to retain timber, logs, mulch, or wood chip, this must be agreed before the work begins. Retained material remains your responsibility once it has been left on site, unless otherwise specified in writing. We are not obliged to split, stack, season, or transport retained materials unless expressly included in the quotation. Any waste transfer, handling, or removal undertaken by us will be carried out in a manner consistent with our legal duties and operational procedures.

7. Liability, Insurance, and Limitations

We hold insurance appropriate to the services we provide, but our liability is limited to the extent permitted by law. We are responsible only for loss or damage caused by our proven negligence, breach of contract, or other legal wrongdoing. We are not liable for pre-existing defects, hidden decay, unstable root systems, underground services not disclosed to us, or damage resulting from conditions that could not reasonably have been identified before work commenced.

Tree work is inherently risky and may involve controlled cutting, rigging, climbing, machinery, falling timber, and variable site conditions. Although we take reasonable precautions, some residual risk remains unavoidable. You accept that minor incidental damage may occur as part of the normal performance of tree surgery, particularly where access is restricted or where tree anatomy makes work complex. We will take reasonable care to minimise disturbance, but we do not guarantee a zero-impact result.

We will not be liable for indirect, special, or consequential losses, including loss of profit, loss of business, loss of opportunity, or inconvenience, except where such exclusion is prohibited by law. Nothing in these terms limits liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, fraud, fraudulent misrepresentation, or any other liability that cannot lawfully be excluded. Where goods, materials, or equipment are left on site at your request, you are responsible for their safe keeping unless we expressly agree otherwise.

8. Complaints and Remedies

If you believe there is an issue with the service, you should notify us within a reasonable time after completion so that we can review the matter. Please provide a clear description of the concern and, where possible, supporting photographs or other evidence. We may inspect the site, discuss the issue with you, and, where appropriate, offer a practical remedy such as re-attendance, correction, partial refund, or another fair solution.

We are not required to remedy issues caused by third-party interference, severe weather after completion, normal tree response, or your failure to maintain the site in a safe condition after the work has been completed. Any remedy will be limited to what is reasonably necessary to address a genuine failure in our service and will not extend beyond the original scope unless separately agreed. Your statutory consumer rights are unaffected.

9. Ownership, Risk, and Site Condition

Risk in any materials removed from the tree or site passes to you when those materials are left in accordance with the agreed specification, or when they are lawfully handed over to you or your representative. Title to removed waste passes in accordance with our waste handling arrangements and any lawful transfer that takes place. If we have agreed to leave stacked timber, chip, or mulch on site, you accept responsibility for its condition from that point onward.

You must disclose any known site condition that may affect the work, including soft ground, historical structures, fragile surfaces, protected areas, or previous repairs that may be vulnerable to vibration or load. If you ask us to operate on surfaces or within areas that are vulnerable to damage, we may require protective measures or refuse the instruction where the risk is unacceptable. Additional protection or reinstatement work may be charged separately.

We may photograph the site before, during, and after the work for job records, quality control, training, insurance, or evidential purposes. Any such images will be handled appropriately and used only for legitimate business purposes. We will not use them in a way that reveals unnecessary personal information.

10. Governing Law and General Provisions

These Terms and Conditions, and any dispute or claim arising from them or from the services supplied by Tree Surgeons Stjohnswood, are governed by the laws of England and Wales. The courts of England and Wales shall have exclusive jurisdiction over any dispute unless mandatory law provides otherwise.

If any provision of these terms is found to be invalid, unlawful, or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue in full force. No failure or delay by us in enforcing any right will amount to a waiver of that right. Any waiver must be given in writing and will apply only to the specific matter stated. These terms constitute the whole agreement between the parties in relation to the services, subject to any written variation agreed by both sides.

Nothing in these terms affects your non-excludable statutory rights. If you are acting as a consumer, you may have additional rights under consumer protection legislation, and these terms are intended to be read consistently with those rights. By proceeding with a booking for tree surgery, tree care services, or related arboricultural work, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agreed to these terms.