Terms and Conditions for Tree Surgeons Barkingside

Tree Surgeons Barkingside provides professional arboricultural services subject to the terms set out on this page. These terms and conditions apply to all bookings, quotations, site visits, works, and related services supplied by us, whether the service is a one-off tree surgery appointment, routine maintenance, or an urgent call-out. By instructing us, the customer agrees to be bound by these terms, which are intended to set out a fair and transparent basis for working together. Any reference to we, us, or our means the service provider operating under the Tree Surgeons Barkingside name, and any reference to you or the customer means the person or organisation requesting the work.

These terms apply in conjunction with any written quotation, invoice, work order, or agreed specification. If there is any inconsistency between these terms and a signed agreement or clearly stated special condition, the latter shall take precedence only to the extent of the inconsistency. Tree surgery services are often affected by weather, access, nesting restrictions, utility locations, and tree condition, so the final scope of work may need to be adjusted for safety and legal compliance. We reserve the right to refuse or pause any work if conditions become unsafe, unlawful, or materially different from those described at the time of booking.

The customer is responsible for ensuring that they have authority to instruct the works, including where the tree stands on shared, leased, managed, or otherwise controlled land. If permission from a landlord, managing agent, neighbour, freeholder, or local authority is required, it is the customer’s responsibility to obtain it before the scheduled appointment unless we have expressly agreed in writing to handle that element. Any delays caused by lack of permission, disputed ownership, or incomplete information may result in rescheduling charges or cancellation fees, subject to the circumstances and our reasonable discretion.

Booking Process

All bookings begin with an enquiry and a discussion of the proposed work. We may ask for photographs, measurements, access details, tree species, and a description of the issue in order to provide an initial estimate or arrange a site visit. A quotation may be provided verbally or in writing, but it is only a confirmed booking once accepted by the customer and acknowledged by us. Acceptance may be by email, text, written confirmation, or another recorded method that clearly shows agreement. In some cases, a deposit or pre-payment may be required before a date is reserved.

Where a site assessment is necessary, it is based on the visible and accessible condition of the tree at the time of inspection. A quotation may change if hidden defects, decay, structural instability, protected species concerns, underground hazards, or access issues are discovered later. Tree surgeons Barkingside will always aim to explain any changes before continuing, but if additional work is urgently required to make the site safe, we may proceed where reasonably necessary and then charge for the extra labour or materials involved. The customer should make sure that the site is clear, safe to access, and suitable for the agreed works on the scheduled date.

We will normally confirm the expected start date, approximate duration, and any customer responsibilities before the job begins. However, all dates are estimates unless we explicitly state otherwise. Weather conditions, emergency call-outs, equipment failure, traffic restrictions, and unforeseen arboricultural complications may affect timing. If access is not available, if vehicles or obstacles prevent work, or if the site is not ready, we may need to leave and rebook. In such cases, reasonable charges may apply for wasted attendance time, staff mobilisation, and any specialist equipment already deployed.

Payments and Charges

Our prices are usually based on the quotation supplied for the agreed scope of work. Unless stated otherwise, quotations are valid for a limited period and may be withdrawn or revised if there is a significant delay before acceptance. Payments must be made in full by the date stated on the invoice. We may request part payment in advance, particularly for larger projects, traffic management, stump grinding, waste removal, or works involving specialist access equipment. Accepted payment methods may include bank transfer, card payment, or any other method agreed in advance. Cheques are accepted only if agreed beforehand.

All quoted prices are subject to VAT where applicable. If the customer is a business, company, landlord, managing agent, or other non-household client, any invoice details required for their own accounting process must be supplied promptly. Any bank charges, failed payment fees, chargeback costs, or collection costs reasonably incurred by us due to late or disputed payment may be added to the outstanding balance, to the extent permitted by law. We may suspend or withhold further work, documentation, or waste transfer information until overdue sums are settled.

If a quotation is based on assumptions about tree size, access, spoil volume, wood retention, or the level of dismantling required, and those assumptions prove inaccurate, we may issue a revised price before proceeding. This can arise where the tree is taller, wider, more decayed, or more difficult to dismantle than described. Any additional costs will be explained wherever practical. The customer agrees that a quotation is not a fixed-price guarantee for works that differ materially from the original description. For clarity, tree surgery services involving emergency removals or unsafe trees may require immediate decisions on site in order to protect people and property.

Cancellations, Postponements and Delays

The customer may cancel or postpone a booking, but notice should be given as early as possible. If the customer cancels after we have reserved a date, arranged staff, hired equipment, obtained permissions, or purchased materials, we may charge a reasonable cancellation fee to cover our losses. For larger jobs, a deposit may be non-refundable if it has already been used to secure planning, administration, or mobilisation. Where cancellation occurs very close to the agreed date, the charge may reflect the actual loss of business opportunity and preparatory costs already incurred.

We may also cancel or postpone a booking if weather, safety considerations, legal restrictions, illness, vehicle breakdown, or circumstances beyond our reasonable control make it impractical or unsafe to proceed. In such cases we will usually offer a new date, but we are not liable for any indirect loss caused by the delay, including inconvenience, loss of use, or third-party arrangements, except where the law requires otherwise. If work is interrupted after it has started, we may charge proportionally for the work carried out and any materials consumed up to the point of stoppage.

If the customer is not present where attendance is required, or if the site cannot be accessed because gates, vehicles, animals, locked entrances, parking restrictions, or missing permissions prevent us from working, we may treat the appointment as a late cancellation or wasted visit. In all cases, we will act reasonably and proportionately. We recognise that tree surgeons in Barkingside often work around changing circumstances, but the customer must cooperate to the extent necessary to make the agreed service possible. Any rescheduling is subject to our availability and the urgency of the job.

Liability and Risk

We will take reasonable care and skill in carrying out all agreed works. However, tree surgery involves inherent risks, including falling branches, hidden decay, shifting timber, stump movement, sawdust, debris, noise, and ground disturbance. The customer acknowledges that some level of disruption is unavoidable. We do not accept liability for minor scuffs, surface disturbance, compacted lawns, or pre-existing defects that arise in the normal course of properly executed arboricultural work, provided we have taken reasonable care. Equally, we are not responsible for damage caused by unstable structures, concealed defects, or conditions that could not reasonably have been identified in advance.

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. Subject to that, our total liability for loss or damage arising from any one booking is limited to the amount paid or payable for the specific service giving rise to the claim. We are not liable for consequential loss, loss of earnings, loss of profit, business interruption, or loss of opportunity unless required by law. Customers are responsible for securing valuables, vehicles, ornaments, fragile items, and other property within the working area before we commence.

The customer should tell us in advance about underground services, irrigation lines, septic tanks, hidden cables, shared driveways, fragile structures, nesting concerns, or any feature that could affect the work. If inaccurate or incomplete information is given, and this leads to delay, damage, or extra work, we may charge the additional cost or decline responsibility for the resulting issue. Where appropriate, we may recommend that the customer obtains independent advice or specialist surveys before proceeding. Our team may stop work if they believe continuing would create an unacceptable safety or legal risk.

Waste, Wood, and Environmental Regulations

All green waste, timber, brushwood, woodchip, and related by-products produced during the job are handled in accordance with applicable waste regulations and environmental requirements. Unless the quotation states otherwise, we decide how waste is removed, reused, recycled, processed, or disposed of, in line with lawful and responsible practice. The customer must not assume that all arisings will be taken away automatically if the quotation specifies retention on site, stacking, seasoning, or leave-as-found arrangements. Any retained timber or chip becomes the customer’s responsibility once the job is completed unless agreed otherwise in writing.

We aim to reduce waste and maximise recycling where practical, but some materials may need to be separated or disposed of in different ways. This may include diseased timber, invasive species material, soil-contaminated debris, or items that cannot be mixed with general green waste. If biosecurity, plant health, or local disposal requirements mean that extra handling is necessary, the customer may be charged for those additional steps where they arise from the nature of the material or the agreed service. We may also refuse to leave certain waste on site if doing so would create a hazard or breach environmental obligations.

Any woodchip, logs, or brash left on the property are left at the customer’s request or under the agreed specification. We do not guarantee that retained organic material will remain free from pests, fungus, insects, or natural deterioration. The customer is responsible for its storage and future use after completion. If waste transfer notes, duty of care records, or similar documentation are required for commercial or managed premises, we will provide them where relevant and where the information has been supplied correctly. Tree surgeon Barkingside services are delivered with lawful disposal practices in mind, and the customer agrees not to request or encourage any disposal method that would breach environmental law.

Customer Responsibilities, Access, and Site Conditions

The customer must ensure safe access to the working area and must remove or protect any items that may be damaged or obstruct the work. This includes garden furniture, delicate planting, outdoor lighting, ornaments, vehicles, and other personal property. Where children, pets, visitors, or members of the public may be affected, the customer must help keep them clear of the work zone. We may erect barriers or ask that the area remain unused during the service. If the site is unusually muddy, narrow, steep, or otherwise difficult to access, the customer should inform us beforehand so that we can assess whether specialist methods or extra time will be needed.

The customer is also responsible for obtaining any permissions, consents, or approvals needed for the proposed work, including tree preservation controls, conservation constraints, lease permissions, neighbour agreements, and relevant estate rules. We may assist by providing technical information, but this does not transfer responsibility for compliance unless we agree in writing to manage that process on the customer’s behalf. If a lawful restriction prevents work from taking place, we may suspend the booking and charge for any time already spent on administration, visit time, or preparations that cannot be recovered.

Where our work depends on the condition of the tree or surrounding structures, the customer must understand that arboricultural judgment involves professional assessment rather than certainty. Trees can contain hidden defects, cavities, fungal decay, and unpredictable stress patterns. We will use reasonable skill and care, but tree surgery is not an exact science. For that reason, some decisions must be made on site to protect safety. If conditions differ significantly from the description supplied at the point of booking, we may revise the method, price, or timetable accordingly.

Complaints, Variations, and Governing Law

If the customer believes any aspect of the service is unsatisfactory, they should raise the issue promptly so that we have a fair opportunity to review it. We may request photographs, a description of the concern, and access to the relevant site area. Where appropriate, we will investigate and, if justified, offer a correction, partial refund, or other reasonable remedy. No complaint made after the customer has significantly altered the site or employed a third party to alter the same work will affect our ability to review the original condition. Any agreed variation to the work should be confirmed in writing where possible.

These terms, and any dispute or claim arising from or in connection with them, are governed by 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. If any provision of these terms is found unlawful or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force. The fact that we do not immediately enforce a right does not mean that we waive it. Tree surgeons Barkingside operate under these terms to provide a clear, lawful, and professional service framework for all customers.

By accepting a quotation, confirming a booking, or allowing work to proceed, the customer acknowledges that they have read, understood, and agreed to these terms and conditions. These terms are intended to support safe, lawful, and efficient tree surgery services, while setting fair expectations around communication, payment, access, waste handling, and risk. We may update these terms from time to time, and the version in force at the time of booking will apply unless otherwise agreed in writing.