Terms and Conditions for Tree Surgeons Highgate

These Terms and Conditions set out the basis on which tree surgery services are provided by Tree Surgeons Highgate. By making a booking, approving a quotation, or allowing work to begin, the customer agrees to be bound by these terms. They are designed to provide clarity around the booking process, payment arrangements, cancellations, liability, waste handling, and the legal framework that applies to the service. The aim is to ensure a fair, professional, and transparent arrangement for both parties.

Throughout this document, references to “we”, “us”, and “our” mean the service provider, and references to “you” and “your” mean the customer, property owner, or authorised representative requesting the work. These terms apply to all forms of tree surgeon services, including pruning, crown work, felling, stump-related work, emergency attendance, and associated site clearance, unless a separate written agreement states otherwise.

A quotation or estimate issued by Tree Surgeons Highgate is based on the information available at the time of inspection or enquiry. Unless stated otherwise, quotations are valid for a limited period and may be withdrawn or revised if the scope of work changes, access conditions differ, hidden risks are identified, or delays arise before the work is undertaken. Any variation to the agreed work may affect price, timing, and crew requirements.

Bookings are accepted only when the customer has provided accurate information about the site, the trees, access arrangements, and any known hazards. We may ask for photographs, written instructions, or a site visit before confirming a job. When a booking is made, it is the customer’s responsibility to ensure that the person authorising the work has the legal right to do so. This includes confirming ownership, landlord approval, managing agent consent, or any other necessary permission.

Booking process may involve an initial enquiry, review of the works required, issue of a quotation or estimate, agreement of dates, and final confirmation. For some jobs, especially larger or higher-risk tree surgery tasks, we may require a deposit or written acceptance before reserving a time slot. A booking is not guaranteed until it has been confirmed by us in writing or by another recorded method. We reserve the right to decline or postpone work where site conditions, weather, safety, or legal restrictions make attendance impractical or unsafe.

The customer must ensure that the site is ready for the agreed date and time. This includes arranging access, removing obstacles, securing vehicles where required, and informing us of any pets, vulnerable occupants, underground services, overhead lines, or other risks that may affect the works. If we attend and cannot proceed due to incomplete access, missing permissions, or inaccurate information, we may charge for wasted attendance time, labour, or any other reasonable costs incurred.

Payments are due in accordance with the quotation, invoice, or written agreement provided. Unless otherwise agreed, payment is required immediately upon completion of the work. For larger projects, staged payments, deposits, or interim invoices may be requested. Any deposit taken may be used to secure labour, scheduling, and materials and may be non-refundable where stated at the time of booking. Prices quoted are normally exclusive of VAT unless explicitly confirmed otherwise.

We accept payment by methods stated at the time of invoicing. If payment is not made when due, we reserve the right to charge interest and recovery costs to the extent permitted by UK law. This may include statutory interest on late commercial or consumer payments where applicable, together with reasonable debt recovery expenses. Title to any goods supplied, where relevant, does not pass until full payment has been received.

Where the customer is a business, organisation, landlord, managing agent, or other entity acting in a commercial capacity, the invoiced entity remains responsible for payment even if another person arranged the booking. Where a third party is expected to settle the invoice, this must be clearly agreed in advance in writing. Failure of a third party to pay does not remove the original customer’s responsibility unless we have expressly accepted that arrangement.

Cancellations must be made as soon as possible if the customer no longer requires the service or wishes to change the date. We understand that circumstances can change, but cancellations made at short notice may still create costs because labour, equipment, transport, and scheduling may already have been committed. If the customer cancels after confirmation, we may retain part or all of any deposit to cover administrative and lost-time costs, depending on the notice given and the nature of the booking.

If cancellation occurs very close to the scheduled date, or if the crew is already on route or has arrived at site, we may charge a call-out fee or a proportion of the agreed price. Where severe weather, unsafe conditions, or legal restrictions require us to postpone work, we will usually offer an alternative date. In such cases, neither party will be treated as being in breach if the postponement is made for safety or compliance reasons.

If you request a change to the agreed scope of work, the booking may need to be re-priced or rescheduled. This includes requests to add extra trees, include additional waste removal, change access arrangements, or alter the method of work. While we will make reasonable efforts to accommodate changes, any revised arrangements must be agreed before the work continues.

All tree surgery and arboricultural work is carried out with reasonable care and skill, using appropriate equipment and trained personnel. However, tree work is inherently hazardous and may involve unpredictable natural conditions, concealed defects, falling material, root movement, or interaction with structures, vehicles, fences, glass, or underground utilities. You acknowledge that some outcomes cannot be fully controlled, even where every reasonable precaution has been taken.

Liability is limited to losses that are a direct and foreseeable result of our negligence or breach of contract, subject always to the maximum extent permitted by law. We do not exclude liability for death or personal injury caused by our negligence, fraud, or any other liability that cannot lawfully be excluded. However, we will not be responsible for pre-existing defects, hidden structural weaknesses, poor maintenance, or damage caused by circumstances outside our reasonable control.

If you ask us to work close to buildings, vehicles, landscaping, or utilities, you accept that some level of disturbance may be unavoidable. You should remove or protect items that are fragile, valuable, or easily damaged. Unless we have expressly agreed to move or safeguard items, we will not accept responsibility for property left in vulnerable positions. We may refuse to proceed if we believe the proposed work would create unacceptable risk without adequate precautions.

Customers must disclose any known protected species, nesting activity, Tree Preservation Order status, conservation restrictions, leasehold conditions, boundary disputes, or planning constraints that may affect the work. We may pause or refuse work where permission or statutory consent is required but has not been obtained. If illegal or non-compliant work is requested, we will decline the instruction. You remain responsible for ensuring that the work is lawful and properly authorised before it begins.

Waste regulations are an important part of tree surgery operations. Green waste, timber, branches, woodchip, stump arisings, and related debris will be handled in line with applicable UK environmental and waste-duty requirements. Unless otherwise agreed, waste arising from the works may be removed from site for reuse, recycling, composting, or lawful disposal. We aim to manage waste responsibly and to separate materials where practical.

The customer should not assume that all waste will remain on site or that all by-products can be left in a specific location unless this has been agreed beforehand. If waste is to be retained by the customer, this must be discussed in advance and the customer may become responsible for storage, transport, and onward handling. Where we remove waste, the customer authorises us to do so as part of the service. Charges may vary depending on volume, weight, access, and disposal requirements.

We may recycle or repurpose wood and green waste where lawful and practical. Any timber, chip, or arisings removed from site become our property once taken away, unless a different written arrangement has been made. We will not be responsible for waste that is later handled by third-party facilities once it has been lawfully transferred in accordance with the relevant duty-of-care requirements.

The customer agrees to keep the site reasonably clear and safe for access during the work. This includes notifying us of concealed hazards such as septic tanks, fragile roofs, irrigation systems, cable runs, or animal enclosures. If emergency access is required, you should ensure that gates, pathways, and parking arrangements allow efficient movement of machinery and crew. Any delay caused by site obstructions may result in additional charges.

Where stump grinding, root removal, or related ground works are included, results may vary depending on root spread, soil conditions, underground obstructions, and previously buried materials. We do not guarantee that every root or stump trace will be completely eliminated unless this is expressly stated in the quotation. Aftercare, replanting, or restoration work must be arranged separately unless included in the agreed scope.

Any times or dates provided are estimates unless specifically confirmed as fixed. We will make reasonable efforts to attend on the agreed day, but weather, traffic, equipment failure, supply issues, staff illness, or emergency call-outs may require rescheduling. We are not liable for indirect loss caused by delays, including loss of business, inconvenience, missed appointments, or consequential damage, except where such liability cannot be excluded under law.

Customers must ensure that any children, pets, staff, residents, or visitors are kept away from the working area. Tree surgery can create falling timber, flying debris, noise, and restricted movement zones. We may stop work if, in our reasonable judgment, the site is unsafe. If work is halted because of customer actions, third-party interference, or unsafe site conditions, additional charges may apply for lost time or return visits.

We may subcontract parts of the service where appropriate, provided the work is completed to a professional standard and in accordance with these terms. Any subcontractor used will be expected to follow applicable safety, legal, and waste-handling requirements. We remain responsible for the service contract unless the agreement states otherwise in writing.

The customer grants us permission to enter the site at the agreed time and carry out the agreed works using suitable tools, machinery, vehicles, and personnel. If keys, codes, or special access instructions are required, these must be provided in advance. We are entitled to refuse access if the information supplied appears incomplete, unsafe, or inconsistent with the agreed booking.

In the event of unforeseen circumstances, including hidden defects in trees, unstable limbs, undocumented nesting activity, suspected disease, or encroachment by third-party property, we may suspend work and seek further instructions. Additional work not included in the original quotation will only proceed once authorised. We are not required to undertake work that would conflict with professional standards or legal obligations.

Nothing in these terms affects your statutory rights as a consumer. If you are contracting as a consumer, any provisions that conflict with mandatory consumer protection law will be interpreted in a way that preserves those rights. Where a term is found to be unenforceable, the remainder of the agreement will continue in force.

These terms may be updated from time to time to reflect changes in law, business practice, or service arrangements. The version in force at the time of booking will normally apply to that booking unless a later version is expressly agreed in writing. It is the customer’s responsibility to review the applicable terms before confirming the works.

Governing law and jurisdiction: these Terms and Conditions are governed by the laws of England and Wales. Any dispute arising from or connected with the service, quotation, booking, invoice, or the interpretation of these terms will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales, unless mandatory law provides otherwise.

By confirming a booking with Tree Surgeons Highgate, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and accepted these Terms and Conditions. These terms are intended to support safe, lawful, and professional tree surgeon services and to provide a clear framework for both routine and complex arboricultural work.