Terms and Conditions for Tree Surgeons Barnet

These Terms and Conditions set out the basis on which tree surgery services are provided by Tree Surgeons Barnet and related arboricultural contractors. By requesting a quotation, making a booking, or allowing work to begin, you agree to be bound by these terms. Please read them carefully before instructing any tree surgery, pruning, felling, stump grinding, hedge reduction, site clearance, or associated tree care service. These terms are intended to ensure clarity, safety, lawful working practices, and a fair framework for both parties.

In these terms, references to “we”, “us”, and “our” mean the service provider carrying out the tree surgery work. References to “you” and “your” mean the customer, property owner, tenant, managing agent, or any person who instructs or authorises the work. If you are arranging services on behalf of another party, you confirm that you have authority to do so.

The tree surgery services covered by these terms may include pruning, crown reduction, crown thinning, deadwood removal, tree removal, stump treatment, hedge work, clearance, emergency call-outs, and the removal or recycling of green waste. These terms do not replace any specific written quotation, and if there is any conflict, the written quotation or service agreement shall prevail to the extent of the inconsistency.

1. Booking Process

All bookings are subject to availability, site assessment, and acceptance of these terms. A request for an estimate does not constitute a confirmed appointment. Any quotation given for tree surgeons in Barnet or similar tree care services is based on the information available at the time, which may include photographs, telephone discussions, previous site visits, or a visual inspection. Where necessary, a further inspection may be required before work can be scheduled.

Once you accept a quotation, a booking will be arranged for an agreed date or date range. For certain jobs, especially larger tree removal projects, access-restricted sites, or work requiring traffic management, confirmation may be dependent on weather, equipment availability, or required permissions. We may ask you to confirm instructions in writing, including details of the trees or hedges to be worked on, access arrangements, and any known site hazards.

You are responsible for ensuring that the person making the booking has the authority to approve the work. If multiple parties have an interest in the property, such as landlords, tenants, neighbours, freeholders, or managing agents, you must ensure all necessary permissions have been obtained before the work starts. We are entitled to rely on your instruction and are not responsible for disputes between interested parties unless caused by our negligence or breach of these terms.

2. Quotations and Changes to Scope

Any quotation for tree surgery services is based on the condition of the trees, the site, the estimated volume of waste, and the assumed ease of access. If the actual conditions differ materially from those described, we may revise the price, the programme, or both. Examples include concealed decay, multiple stems, restricted access, unusual rigging requirements, or additional waste beyond what could reasonably be estimated.

Unless expressly stated otherwise, quotations remain valid for a limited period from the date of issue. We reserve the right to withdraw or amend a quotation before acceptance. After acceptance, any change you request to the agreed scope may result in a revised price and an adjustment to the schedule. If work has commenced and further work is requested on the day, we may treat this as an additional instruction and charge accordingly.

Where consent, planning permission, or a tree-related approval is needed, it is your responsibility to obtain it unless we have expressly agreed in writing to assist. Any delay caused by missing permissions, inaccurate instructions, site access issues, or third-party objections may affect the appointment date and may also affect the final cost if our time, labour, or equipment has been allocated and then wasted through no fault of our own.

3. Payments

Payment terms will be stated on the quotation or invoice. Unless otherwise agreed in writing, payment is due on completion of the work on the same day, or within the period specified on the invoice. We may request a deposit for larger or scheduled works, including major tree felling, sectional dismantling, or jobs requiring specialist machinery. A deposit reserves labour and resources and may be non-refundable in accordance with the cancellation terms below.

We accept payment by the methods notified to you in advance. If a payment is returned, reversed, refused, or disputed after work has been completed, you remain liable for the outstanding balance and any reasonable bank or administrative charges incurred. Interest may be charged on overdue sums in accordance with the applicable law, together with reasonable costs of recovery.

All prices are stated exclusive of VAT unless expressly indicated otherwise. If VAT applies, it will be shown separately on the invoice. You must check invoices promptly and raise any genuine billing queries within a reasonable period. Non-payment may result in the suspension of further services, cancellation of future bookings, and pursuit of debt recovery action where necessary.

4. Cancellations and Rescheduling

You may cancel or reschedule a booking by giving us reasonable notice. Because tree surgery operations involve labour planning, machinery allocation, transport, and disposal arrangements, late cancellation may result in a charge. If you cancel after a booking has been confirmed and we have incurred costs, a cancellation fee may apply to reflect losses already incurred.

If you cancel within a short period before the planned start date, or if our team arrives on site and is unable to proceed due to lack of access, missing permissions, unsafe conditions caused by the customer, or failure to make the site available, you may be charged for the call-out, attendance, or part of the planned work. Any deposit paid may be retained to the extent necessary to cover reasonable losses, administration, and reserved capacity.

We may reschedule or cancel a booking where weather, unsafe site conditions, equipment failure, staff illness, or legal restrictions make it unreasonable or unsafe to continue. In such cases, we will seek to arrange an alternative date within a reasonable time. We will not be responsible for indirect losses arising from a lawful rescheduling, provided we take reasonable steps to notify you promptly.

5. Customer Responsibilities

You must ensure that the site is reasonably accessible and that any hazards likely to affect the work have been disclosed in advance. This includes concealed underground services, unstable ground, overhead cables, asbestos, nesting wildlife, protected species, boundary disputes, or any condition that might affect the safety of our team or the success of the job. If in doubt, tell us before work starts.

You are responsible for securing pets, moving vehicles, protecting fragile items, and informing occupiers and neighbours where necessary. Where tree surgery may create noise, dust, vibration, or temporary obstruction, it is your responsibility to make appropriate arrangements. Unless otherwise agreed, we are not responsible for protecting lawns, paving, walls, fences, sheds, or garden features from ordinary, unavoidable effects of properly performed arboricultural work.

If our team reasonably believes that work is unsafe, unlawful, or materially different from the agreed instructions, we may stop work until the matter is resolved. Any delay or additional costs caused by inaccurate information, unsafe conditions, or failure to cooperate may be charged to you where lawful and reasonable.

6. Liability and Insurance

We will carry out services with reasonable care and skill. Nothing in these terms excludes or limits liability for death or personal injury caused by our negligence, fraud, fraudulent misrepresentation, or any other liability that cannot legally be excluded under UK law. Subject to that, our liability is limited to the total amount paid or payable for the relevant service, except where a different limit is expressly agreed in writing.

We are not liable for pre-existing defects, hidden decay, latent structural weakness, storm damage, subsidence, or failure of trees, hedges, roots, or adjacent structures unless caused by our negligence. Natural movement, regrowth, disease progression, and future failure are outside our control. Advice provided on tree condition is given in good faith but does not amount to a structural guarantee unless separately confirmed in writing by a qualified professional.

Where work is carried out adjacent to buildings, walls, utilities, driveways, or boundary structures, you acknowledge that some risk may remain even when proper precautions are used. We do not accept liability for loss of profit, loss of use, loss of goodwill, or indirect or consequential losses. Any claim arising from our work must be notified as soon as reasonably practicable and supported by relevant details and evidence.

7. Waste Regulations and Site Clearance

All green waste, timber, branches, and related arboricultural arisings will be handled in accordance with applicable waste regulations and duty of care requirements. Unless otherwise agreed, waste generated by the work becomes our responsibility for lawful transport, recycling, composting, reuse, or disposal through appropriate channels. We may separate waste streams where practical and may retain timber, woodchip, or other material for processing or reuse.

If you ask to keep logs, woodchip, or any other arisings on site, that request must be made before work starts and may affect the quotation, the removal method, and site safety. Once material has been removed from site, ownership passes in accordance with the agreed arrangement. We will not unlawfully deposit waste, and we will use only lawful transfer, storage, and disposal routes consistent with environmental obligations.

You must not request or permit the disposal of waste in a way that would breach the law, create a nuisance, or increase environmental risk. If waste needs to be moved through a shared driveway, communal area, or third-party land, you must ensure permission has been obtained. Additional charges may apply if waste handling requires extra labour, specialist vehicles, or multiple trips due to restricted access or large volumes.

8. Permits, Wildlife, and Legal Compliance

Tree surgery often involves legal considerations such as tree preservation orders, conservation controls, highway restrictions, and wildlife protection duties. Unless expressly agreed otherwise, you are responsible for confirming whether any permissions, notices, or approvals are required before work begins. We may decline to carry out work where doing so could breach planning controls, protected species legislation, or any other applicable legal requirement.

If nesting birds, bats, or other protected wildlife are identified or reasonably suspected, we may pause or cancel the work until the issue is assessed appropriately. In such circumstances, you may still be liable for any costs incurred up to the point of suspension, provided those costs are reasonable and lawful. We will act responsibly and expect the same level of compliance from customers.

Where a local authority, neighbour, utility company, or other third party requires cooperation, you must provide accurate information and timely responses. We are not responsible for delays caused by third-party approvals, access disputes, or enforcement action arising from matters outside our control, provided we have acted with due care and within the scope of our instruction.

9. Completion, Access, and Sign-Off

Work will be treated as complete when the agreed services have been carried out to a reasonable professional standard, subject to any snagging or follow-up items identified in writing. You should inspect the completed work as soon as reasonably possible and notify us of any genuine issue without undue delay. Minor variations in appearance, regrowth pattern, or final shape are not defects where they arise from the nature of living trees and the agreed scope of work.

If the job includes stump grinding, hedge shaping, or reduction work, the final result may vary slightly depending on species, season, weather, and the condition of the plant. No guarantee is given that a tree will not regrow, decline, or require future maintenance unless a separate written maintenance agreement states otherwise. Any agreed aftercare must be specified in writing.

We may leave the site in a reasonably tidy condition, but absolute cleanliness cannot be guaranteed where the work is inherently messy or where conditions make complete clearance impractical. Unless stated in the quotation, reinstatement of lawns, borders, irrigation, or decorative features is excluded.

10. Governing Law and General Terms

These Terms and Conditions, and any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with them, shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of England and Wales. The courts of England and Wales shall have exclusive jurisdiction unless the parties agree otherwise in writing. If any provision of these terms is found to be unlawful or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force.

These terms constitute the entire agreement between the parties in relation to the relevant service, unless varied in writing by an authorised representative. No failure or delay in enforcing any right under these terms shall operate as a waiver of that right. Headings are included for convenience only and do not affect interpretation.

By booking or permitting work to proceed, you confirm that you have read, understood, and accepted these terms for tree surgeons Barnet services, Barnet tree surgery, and related arboricultural work. These terms are intended to support safe, lawful, and professional service delivery while protecting the rights and responsibilities of both parties.