Tree Surgeons Teddington Service Terms and Conditions

These service Terms and Conditions set out the basis on which Tree Surgeons Teddington provides tree surgery and related arboricultural services to customers. By requesting a quotation, making a booking, or accepting the commencement of work, the customer agrees to be bound by these terms. These provisions are designed to create a clear, fair, and lawful framework for both parties, covering the booking process, payment obligations, cancellation rules, liability limits, waste handling, and the law that applies to the agreement.

For the purposes of these terms, references to “we”, “us”, and “our” mean the service provider trading as Tree Surgeons Teddington, and “you” or “the customer” means the person, business, landlord, managing agent, or other party who engages our services. If you instruct us on behalf of another owner or occupier, you confirm that you have the authority to do so and that the relevant property owner has consented to the proposed work.

Our services may include tree pruning, crown reduction, deadwood removal, tree felling, stump grinding, emergency tree work, site clearance, hedge cutting, and associated arboricultural operations. All work is subject to a suitable assessment of the tree, access conditions, ground conditions, and any legal or practical constraints. Nothing in these terms overrides statutory duties, planning restrictions, conservation controls, or the requirements of relevant local authorities.

1. Quotations and Booking Process

Before any work begins, we may provide an estimate or a formal quotation based on the information available at the time. Tree surgeons often need to assess trees in person because prices can depend on height, species, condition, proximity to buildings, access limitations, equipment requirements, and disposal needs. A quotation may be given verbally or in writing, and unless stated otherwise, it will remain valid for a limited period.

To proceed with a booking, you may be asked to confirm acceptance of the quotation, provide written instruction, or pay a deposit if applicable. A booking is only confirmed once we acknowledge it and agree a date or attendance window. Any appointment time is an estimate unless we expressly state otherwise. Weather, traffic, machinery issues, permit requirements, or unforeseen site conditions may affect scheduling. We will act reasonably to keep you informed if any change is necessary.

You must ensure that all information supplied during booking is accurate and complete. This includes details about the location, access, overhead lines, hidden services, tree ownership, protected status, and any known hazards. If the information provided is incomplete or inaccurate, we may need to revise the quotation, delay the work, or decline to proceed. Where additional work becomes necessary because of circumstances not reasonably apparent at the time of quotation, we may charge extra at a fair and proportionate rate.

2. Customer Responsibilities Before Work Starts

Before the agreed service date, you are responsible for obtaining any permissions or consents needed for the work, including landlord approval, neighbour consent where necessary, and any planning or conservation permissions. Where trees are subject to legal protection or restrictions, you should disclose this to us before the booking is confirmed. We may assist with general information, but responsibility for permission remains with the customer unless we expressly agree in writing to handle the matter.

You must also make reasonable arrangements to ensure that the site is safe and accessible on the scheduled day. This includes keeping driveways, paths, gates, and working areas clear, securing pets, and notifying occupants or neighbours if needed. If vehicles, garden furniture, ornaments, cables, irrigation systems, or other items may obstruct the work, you should remove or protect them in advance. We are not responsible for delays or additional costs caused by obstructions or unsafe conditions within the customer’s control.

If the work requires access through third-party land, shared drives, communal areas, or neighbouring property, you must arrange permission in advance. We may refuse to work if access is unavailable or if proceeding would create an unreasonable risk. Where our team believes that a tree or branch poses an immediate danger, we may take reasonable steps to make the site safe, but this does not create an obligation to carry out all requested work in emergency circumstances.

3. Prices and Payment Terms

Unless otherwise agreed in writing, our prices are based on the quotation issued and may be expressed inclusive or exclusive of VAT depending on the nature of the service and our current tax status. Any change requested by you after acceptance of the quotation may lead to a revised price. Additional charges may apply for waste removal, stump treatment, traffic management, emergency attendance, difficult access, or unsociable hours if these were not included in the original quote.

Payment terms will be confirmed before or at the time of booking. We may request a deposit to secure larger jobs or to cover materials, permits, or scheduling commitments. Unless we agree otherwise, full payment is due upon completion of the work and on presentation of an invoice. Payment methods may include bank transfer, card payment, or other agreed methods. We do not usually accept late payment without prior arrangement.

If payment is not received by the due date, we may charge statutory interest and reasonable debt recovery costs where permitted by law. Tree surgeons Teddington may suspend further work, retain any goods or materials lawfully in our possession, or decline future services until outstanding balances are settled. You are responsible for any bank charges, failed payment fees, or intermediary costs imposed by your payment provider.

Where a dispute arises about the quality, scope, or completion of the work, you should notify us within a reasonable time after the service date and before any relevant evidence is altered or removed. Disputed payment does not entitle you to withhold the full amount unless the issue is serious and properly evidenced. We will review concerns in good faith and may inspect the site, photographs, or job records to determine an appropriate response.

4. Cancellations, Rescheduling, and Missed Appointments

You may cancel or reschedule a booking by giving us reasonable notice. If you cancel after we have reserved labour, machinery, transport, or disposal arrangements, we may charge a cancellation fee that reflects our actual loss and administration costs. The amount will depend on how much notice is provided and whether specialist resources have already been allocated. We will always act reasonably and proportionately when applying any charge.

If adverse weather, power outages, equipment failure, access issues, or other circumstances beyond our control prevent us from carrying out the work safely, we may postpone or cancel the appointment without liability for consequential loss. In such cases, we will try to rearrange the service for another suitable date. If we need to suspend or stop work because conditions become unsafe, you will only be charged for work already completed and any reasonable costs incurred up to that point.

5. Carrying Out the Work

We will use reasonable skill and care when delivering our arboricultural services. However, tree surgery is a skilled and often inherently risky activity, and outcomes can be affected by factors such as tree decay, hidden defects, unstable timber, weather, soil conditions, and prior damage. For that reason, no guarantee can be given that a tree will remain stable, healthy, or free from future failure after our work has been completed.

We may use qualified operatives, subcontractors, or specialist equipment where appropriate. All personnel remain under our control or the control of our appointed contractor for the duration of the service. We reserve the right to refuse to proceed with any part of the work if, in our professional judgment, it would create an unacceptable risk to people, property, utilities, or the tree itself. Any such decision will be made in good faith and with regard to safety and statutory obligations.

If the work includes climbing, rigging, chainsaw operations, stump grinding, or the use of machinery, you must not enter the working area unless directed by our team. We may mark exclusion zones, temporarily restrict access, or ask occupants to remain indoors while operations are taking place. These safety measures are mandatory and form part of the service conditions.

6. Liability and Limitations

Nothing in these terms limits or excludes liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, fraud, fraudulent misrepresentation, or any other liability that cannot lawfully be limited or excluded under UK law. Subject to that, we will not be liable for indirect or consequential losses, loss of profit, loss of amenity, business interruption, or any loss arising from circumstances outside our reasonable control.

We will take reasonable care to avoid damage to property, but certain risks are unavoidable in tree surgery, particularly where roots, branches, fencing, paving, glass, underground services, or hidden defects are present. You should tell us about any fragile, valuable, or vulnerable items near the work area. We are not responsible for pre-existing damage, wear and tear, unstable structures, or damage that occurs because of inaccurate or incomplete information supplied by the customer.

7. Waste Removal and Environmental Compliance

All green waste, timber, brash, woodchip, and related arisings will be handled in accordance with applicable waste legislation and environmental standards. Unless otherwise agreed, we will decide how waste is processed, recycled, reused, transported, or disposed of using lawful and responsible methods. Where we remove waste from site, we may transfer it to licensed facilities or approved recovery operations in line with duty of care obligations.

You must not instruct us to dispose of waste unlawfully or to leave material in a manner that breaches environmental or local rules. If you ask us to retain firewood, timber, or woodchip on site, we will do so only where this is safe, practical, and agreed in advance. Any retained material becomes your responsibility once left in an agreed location, and we are not liable for theft, decay, or weather damage after handover.

We may provide or arrange waste transfer documentation where required by law. If the service involves controlled waste, mixed waste, or material requiring special handling, additional charges may apply. You agree to cooperate with any reasonable request needed to meet waste carrier, recycling, or record-keeping obligations. Our commitment to lawful disposal is a core part of the tree surgery services we provide.

8. Property, Trees, and Legal Status

It is the customer’s responsibility to confirm ownership of the tree or to obtain the authority of the owner before booking work. Where a tree stands on a boundary, involves shared ownership, or affects neighbouring land, you must ensure that all necessary permissions have been secured. If a dispute about ownership or consent emerges, we may pause or cancel the job until the matter is resolved.

You must inform us if any tree is subject to a tree preservation order, conservation area controls, planning conditions, lease restrictions, covenant obligations, or any other legal limitation. If we later discover that work cannot proceed lawfully, we may cancel the booking or modify the proposed work. We are not liable for losses arising from your failure to disclose relevant restrictions or from changes in legal status after the quotation has been issued.

9. Complaints and Resolution

If you are unhappy with any aspect of our service, please raise the issue promptly so we can investigate and, where appropriate, put matters right. We may ask for photographs, a description of the concern, and access to the site. Minor issues can often be resolved quickly through discussion, site inspection, or limited remedial work. Our aim is to deal with complaints fairly and without unnecessary delay.

Nothing in this section prevents you from pursuing your legal rights, but we ask that you give us a reasonable opportunity to respond before taking further steps. If a complaint concerns workmanship, we may consider whether the issue is due to natural tree behaviour, third-party interference, weather events, or subsequent site changes rather than any failure in our service.

Tree Surgeons Teddington is committed to professional standards, but no service can eliminate every risk associated with living trees. By booking, you accept that arboricultural work involves judgement, variability, and environmental factors that may affect outcomes over time.

10. Governing Law and General Provisions

These terms and any dispute or claim arising from them, whether contractual or non-contractual, are governed by and interpreted in accordance with the law of England and Wales. The courts of England and Wales shall have exclusive jurisdiction unless mandatory law provides otherwise. If any part of these terms is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue in full force.

We may update these service terms from time to time to reflect changes in law, practice, or operational requirements. The version in force at the time of booking will usually apply to your service, unless a change is required by law or agreed in writing. No variation to these terms is effective unless confirmed by us in writing. These conditions represent the whole agreement between the parties in relation to the services provided, except where a separate written contract states otherwise.