Terms and Conditions for Tree Surgeons Cricklewood

These Terms and Conditions set out the basis on which tree surgery and related arboricultural services are provided by Tree Surgeons Cricklewood (“we”, “us”, “our”). By making a booking, accepting a quotation, or permitting us to begin work, you (“the client”, “you”, “your”) agree to be bound by these terms. They apply to domestic, commercial and other lawful service requests unless a separate written agreement has been signed. For the avoidance of doubt, these terms are intended to be fair and clear under UK consumer and contract law, and they should be read alongside any written quotation, work specification, or site-specific instructions provided before the service begins.

Our services may include tree pruning, crown reduction, crown lifting, crown thinning, sectional dismantling, stump grinding, hedge work, tree inspections, emergency call-outs and other arboricultural tasks. Because each site is different, the exact scope, timing, and price of a job may vary depending on access, tree size, risk, disposal requirements, weather, and any planning, conservation, or permission issues. Any description of work, whether verbal or written, is based on the information available at the time and may need to be updated if site conditions change. Where a change is necessary, we will explain the impact on price, timing, and method before continuing.

These terms should be treated as a legal service page and are not a guide to tree care, arboriculture, or DIY work. If anything in a quotation or job sheet differs from these terms, the written quotation or specific agreement will take precedence only to the extent of that inconsistency. All other provisions remain in force. Nothing in these terms affects your statutory rights.

Booking process begins when you request a quotation, inspection, or attendance. We may ask for photographs, measurements, access details, tree species, location, and any relevant information about nearby structures, cables, vehicles, roads, or protected features. A quotation may be provided in writing, by email, or through another recorded method. A quotation is normally based on the visible information supplied and on the site conditions observed at inspection or inferred from the information you provide. If additional hazards or complications are discovered when we attend, we may revise the price or the method of work before proceeding.

Once you accept a quotation, we will confirm the booking date or a booking window where exact dates are not yet possible. A booking is only secured when we have accepted your request, confirmed the work, and, if required, received any deposit or prepayment. Tree surgeons Cricklewood reserve the right to decline or cancel a booking if the site is unsafe, if the work is outside our competence or insurance cover, or if required permissions are missing. You are responsible for ensuring lawful access to the site and for informing us of any relevant restrictions, including parking limitations, shared access, fragile surfaces, underground services, or boundary disputes.

Before work starts, you must ensure that the area is reasonably clear and that all necessary permissions are in place. This may include permission from landlords, neighbours, management companies, local authorities, or other relevant parties. If we attend and cannot complete the work due to lack of access, missing permission, incorrect information, unsafe conditions, or the need for specialist equipment not disclosed in advance, we may charge a call-out fee, waiting time, abortive visit fee, or part of the quoted price at our discretion, provided it is reasonable in the circumstances.

Payments must be made in the manner and by the deadline stated on the quotation, invoice, or booking confirmation. Unless otherwise agreed in writing, commercial clients may be required to pay a deposit or to settle invoices within a specified number of days after completion. Domestic clients may be asked for a deposit in advance for larger or scheduled works. We may accept bank transfer, card payment, or other agreed methods. Payment is due in full once the work is completed unless we have agreed a different arrangement in writing. Where staged payments apply, each stage becomes payable when that stage is completed or when materials are ordered, whichever is earlier.

All prices are stated in pounds sterling and may be quoted inclusive or exclusive of VAT depending on our VAT status and the quotation wording. Any quotation remains valid only for the period stated or, if no period is stated, for a reasonable time in the circumstances. If the scope changes after acceptance, extra charges may apply for additional labour, machinery, waste removal, traffic management, emergency call-out, or repeated attendance. Non-payment may result in suspension of further work, recovery action, interest where permitted by law, and the recovery of reasonable costs associated with collecting overdue sums. Where a dispute concerns only part of an invoice, you should pay the undisputed amount promptly.

We may retain ownership of materials, timber, logs, chips, or waste until payment has been received in full, where legally permissible. If payment is made by cheque, bank transfer, or other method that is later reversed or fails, you remain liable for the outstanding amount together with any bank charges or reasonable administrative costs caused by the failed transaction. Any discounts, promotional rates, or special prices are conditional on the job being carried out as agreed and on payment within the stated terms.

Cancellations and postponements may be made by either party, but reasonable notice is expected. If you cancel a booking, you should notify us as soon as possible. Depending on how much notice is given and whether costs have already been incurred, we may charge for administration, reserved labour, hired equipment, permits, materials, disposal arrangements, or other non-recoverable losses. If you cancel at short notice or fail to provide access on the arranged day, you may be charged a cancellation fee that reasonably reflects our loss. Any deposit paid may be retained in full or in part if it has already been used to cover preparatory costs.

We may postpone, reschedule, or cancel a booking if weather conditions, wind, ice, storms, lighting, or other environmental factors make the work unsafe or impractical. Tree surgery often depends on suitable conditions, and we may need to delay work for safety reasons. We may also postpone work if equipment becomes unavailable, staff are unavailable due to illness or emergency, or there is a legal or operational reason preventing attendance. In such cases, we will aim to offer an alternative date, but we will not be liable for indirect losses caused by the delay, unless required by law. Safety decisions made by our team at the site are final where they relate to immediate risk.

If you are a consumer, you may have cancellation rights under the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 where the contract is made at a distance or off-premises, subject to any lawful exceptions. If you ask us to begin work during the cancellation period, you may be required to pay for services already provided up to the point of cancellation. If the service has been fully performed with your express request and acknowledgement, the cancellation right may no longer apply. These rights do not prevent us from applying reasonable fees where a booking is cancelled after we have started mobilising resources.

Liability is limited to the extent permitted by law. We will carry out our services with reasonable care and skill, and we will use competent staff and suitable equipment. However, tree surgery involves inherent risks, including falling timber, hidden defects, root disturbance, property contact, ground damage, and unforeseen structural failures. You acknowledge that trees can be unpredictable and that no inspection can guarantee complete certainty about their condition. We are not responsible for pre-existing defects, decay, disease, storm damage, subsidence, or issues arising from factors outside our control.

We will not be liable for loss or damage caused by information supplied by you being incomplete or inaccurate, by concealed services or utilities, by defective access routes, by weak fences, paving, walls or structures, or by items left near the work area. You should remove or protect valuables, vehicles, garden furniture, ornaments, and vulnerable items before work starts. Where we agree to move items to allow the work to proceed, we will do so with reasonable care, but this does not transfer the risk of pre-existing weakness or concealed defects. Nothing in these terms excludes liability for death or personal injury caused by our negligence, fraud, or any other liability that cannot legally be excluded.

We are not responsible for losses that are indirect or consequential, such as loss of profit, loss of enjoyment, business interruption, or wasted management time, except where such liability cannot lawfully be excluded. If we are liable for any claim, our maximum liability for a single incident will normally be limited to the amount paid or payable for the specific work giving rise to the claim, unless a higher amount is required by law or covered by our insurance. You must notify us of any alleged damage or defect within a reasonable time and allow us a fair opportunity to inspect, investigate, and, where appropriate, remedy the issue. Tree Surgeons Cricklewood may not accept responsibility for issues reported long after completion if prompt notification was not given.

Waste regulations apply to all green waste, timber, woodchip, soil, stumps, and other materials removed from site. Unless otherwise agreed, waste generated by our work becomes our responsibility to transport, manage, recycle, or dispose of lawfully in accordance with applicable UK environmental and waste legislation. We will use licensed carriers or lawful disposal routes where required. Where waste transfer notes, duty of care records, or similar paperwork are needed, they will be handled in line with legal requirements. You must not ask us to dispose of prohibited or hazardous materials that are unrelated to the agreed tree work unless we expressly agree and have the proper competence and arrangements to do so.

Any statement that waste will be removed includes only the materials reasonably arising from the agreed service. It does not include unrelated garden waste, household rubbish, asbestos, chemicals, contaminated soil, or other controlled waste unless separately agreed in writing. If you choose to keep timber, logs, chip, or mulch on site, this must be agreed before work starts. Once materials are left with you, responsibility for their storage and use passes to you, and we are not responsible for subsequent movement, decay, staining, insect activity, or other effects. Where site conditions prevent immediate removal, we may leave material temporarily in a safe and agreed location.

Governing law and jurisdiction: these terms, and any dispute or claim arising from them or in connection with them, are governed by the laws of England and Wales. If you are a consumer, the courts of England and Wales will have jurisdiction, although you may retain any additional protections that apply under mandatory consumer law. If you are a business client, you agree that the courts of England and Wales shall have exclusive jurisdiction. If any part of these terms is found unlawful, invalid, or unenforceable, the remainder will continue in effect. No waiver of any term shall be effective unless made in writing and signed by an authorised representative of ours.

We may update these Terms and Conditions from time to time to reflect legal, operational, or commercial changes. The version in force at the time of booking will normally apply to that booking unless a later written update has been expressly agreed. By proceeding with a booking, you confirm that you have read, understood, and accepted these terms, including the provisions on booking process, payments, cancellations, liability, waste regulations, and governing law. If any special conditions are agreed for a particular job, those conditions will be recorded in writing and will apply only to that job to the extent stated.

Tree surgeons Cricklewood aim to provide a professional, lawful, and transparent service. However, if a situation arises that is not specifically covered here, we will interpret these terms in a reasonable manner consistent with the nature of tree surgery work, the quotation, and the applicable law. These terms are designed to protect both parties and to ensure that work can be carried out safely, efficiently, and with clear expectations.