Terms and Conditions for Tree Surgeons Heston

These Terms and Conditions set out the basis on which tree surgery services, arboricultural work, and related site operations are provided by Tree Surgeons Heston. By making a booking, accepting a quotation, or allowing work to begin, the customer agrees to be bound by these terms. They are intended to create a clear understanding of responsibilities, payment obligations, site access requirements, safety measures, and the handling of waste materials arising from tree work. If any part of these Terms is not understood, the customer should raise the issue before confirming the booking.

For the purposes of these Terms, references to “we”, “us”, and “our” mean the service provider carrying out the tree work, while “you” and “your” mean the individual, business, landlord, managing agent, or organisation requesting the services. These Terms apply to domestic, commercial, and multi-property work unless a separate written agreement states otherwise. Nothing in these Terms affects your statutory rights where they apply. Any wording describing tree surgeons in Heston should be read as part of the wider service description and not as a promise that every project will have identical requirements, risks, or outcomes.

This document should be read alongside any quotation, estimate, written scope, or job sheet issued before work starts. If there is any conflict between these Terms and a separately signed written contract, the signed contract will take precedence to the extent of the inconsistency. We reserve the right to update these Terms from time to time, and the version in force at the time of booking will normally apply to the work in question.

1. Booking process

Bookings are usually made after an enquiry and a review of the requested work. Depending on the nature of the job, we may ask for photographs, videos, measurements, access details, or a site visit before issuing a quotation. Any quotation or estimate is based on the information available at that time and may be subject to revision if the condition of the tree, site, access, or surrounding environment differs from what was originally described. A booking is not confirmed until we have accepted the work and, where required, received any agreed deposit or written confirmation from you.

When you accept a quotation, you confirm that you are authorised to instruct the work on the relevant property or land. If consent from a landlord, freeholder, managing agent, neighbour, local authority, or other third party is required, it is your responsibility to obtain it before the scheduled date. We may refuse to proceed if we reasonably believe that the necessary permissions or legal approvals are missing. Any delay caused by missing consent may result in rescheduling charges or a revised lead time.

2. Scheduling and site conditions

The date and time offered for the work are estimates unless we state otherwise. Weather, traffic, equipment failure, staff availability, emergencies, and unforeseen site conditions may affect attendance or completion. Where tree surgery work is particularly dependent on weather conditions, we may postpone or modify the planned service if wind, rain, ice, lightning, or poor ground conditions make the work unsafe or impractical. We will normally aim to give reasonable notice of any change, but urgent operational changes may sometimes arise on the day.

You must ensure that the site is accessible and reasonably prepared for the work. This includes clear access for personnel, vehicles, and machinery, safe parking where needed, and removal of obstacles that could impede the service. If cars, garden items, structures, utilities, or other hazards prevent proper access, we may not be able to complete the work as planned. In such cases, additional charges may apply if we have incurred mobilisation costs or if the visit must be repeated.

Tree surgeons Heston may also need you to identify underground services, concealed hazards, protected features, or fragile structures before work begins. Unless otherwise agreed, we are entitled to rely on the information you provide. If a service line, pipe, cable, fence, greenhouse, boundary feature, or decorative element is not disclosed and is damaged due to its hidden or unmarked presence, liability may be limited in accordance with these Terms and the law.

3. Pricing and payments

Our prices may be fixed, estimated, or based on time and materials depending on the type of job. A fixed price will only apply to the specific work described in the quotation and assuming the site conditions and scope remain unchanged. If the scope changes, the price may be revised. Estimates are provided in good faith but may alter if the actual work is more complex, takes longer, or involves additional waste, access requirements, equipment, or disposal charges.

Unless otherwise agreed in writing, payment is due immediately upon completion of the work, or within the period shown on the invoice. For certain larger jobs, we may request a deposit before the work is scheduled, or stage payments during longer projects. Where payment is not made on time, we reserve the right to charge interest and reasonable recovery costs to the extent permitted by law. We may also suspend further services until overdue sums are settled in full.

All prices are stated inclusive or exclusive of VAT depending on the invoice description. If VAT applies, it will be charged at the prevailing rate. Any special permits, traffic management, parking charges, disposal fees, emergency attendance fees, or third-party costs that are not expressly included in the quotation may be added separately. For clarity, prices for tree surgery services do not usually include unrelated building work, landscape restoration, stump replacement, or specialist remedial work unless specifically itemised.

4. Cancellations, postponements, and changes

You may cancel or postpone a booking by giving us notice as soon as possible. If cancellation is made after we have reserved a date, allocated staff, hired equipment, or incurred other costs, we may charge a reasonable cancellation fee to cover losses already incurred. The amount may depend on how much notice was given and whether the work was bespoke, urgent, or resource-intensive. For work booked at short notice, a higher proportion of the fee may be payable if the appointment is cancelled shortly before the scheduled start.

If we need to cancel or postpone due to safety concerns, adverse weather, access problems, illness, equipment failure, or circumstances beyond our control, we will aim to rearrange the work at a mutually convenient time. We are not liable for indirect loss arising from a necessary postponement, including loss of use of land, missed arrangements, or third-party inconvenience, provided the postponement was reasonable and made in good faith. We may also pause work if a new risk becomes apparent during the job and further action would be unsafe.

Any request by you to change the agreed scope after booking may affect timing and price. Examples include changing from pruning to removal, adding stump grinding, requesting extra waste removal, or asking for additional clearance beyond the original specification. We are not obliged to carry out variation requests immediately unless we agree to do so. If work has already started, changes may be charged on the basis of additional labour, equipment, and disposal requirements.

5. Liability and limitation

We will exercise reasonable skill and care in carrying out the services. However, tree work carries inherent risks, including the possibility of falling branches, hidden decay, soil movement, and damage arising from the condition of the tree itself. Unless we have been negligent or otherwise at fault, we are not responsible for damage that arises from pre-existing defects, unstable structures, undisclosed hazards, or the natural behaviour of trees and root systems. This includes situations where a tree or branch was already compromised before work began.

Our liability for direct loss or damage, if established, is limited to the amount paid or payable for the specific service giving rise to the claim, except where such limitation is not permitted by law. Nothing in these Terms excludes liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, fraud, fraudulent misrepresentation, or any other liability that cannot legally be excluded or limited. We do not accept responsibility for indirect or consequential losses such as business interruption, loss of profit, or loss of amenity, except where the law requires otherwise.

You must tell us about any special vulnerabilities on site before the work begins, including fragile roofs, solar panels, water features, conservatories, underground tanks, cables, and other sensitive structures. If you ask us to work close to such features, we may require additional precautions or refuse the task if the risk is too high. You remain responsible for securing valuables, vehicles, ornaments, garden furniture, and other moveable items before the work starts. Reasonable care will be taken, but we cannot guarantee protection of items that have not been moved or protected in advance.

6. Waste handling and disposal regulations

All waste generated by tree surgery, including branches, logs, foliage, stump arisings, and general green waste, will be handled in line with applicable waste and environmental regulations. Unless otherwise agreed, waste arising from the work becomes our responsibility once removed from the site and accepted for transport. We may reuse, chip, compost, mulch, or dispose of the waste in lawful facilities as appropriate. If you wish to keep logs, woodchip, or other arisings, you must tell us before the job starts so that the work can be planned accordingly.

We will make reasonable efforts to ensure that waste is transported and disposed of by lawful means. However, if material is contaminated, mixed with non-green waste, or subject to additional handling requirements, extra charges may apply. You must not place hazardous materials, household rubbish, chemicals, or construction waste into green waste unless we have agreed in writing to handle it. Any waste left on site at your request remains your responsibility from the point the job is completed, and you should store it safely to avoid nuisance, pest issues, or obstruction.

Where the work involves protected trees, conservation considerations, or planning restrictions, you are responsible for ensuring that any required permissions or notices are in place before the service begins. We may refuse to remove or cut material if doing so would reasonably appear to breach environmental or waste law. If we believe the site is not compliant with applicable regulations, we may stop work and seek further instructions.

7. Customer responsibilities

You are responsible for giving accurate information when requesting services. This includes the location, size, condition, and species of the tree where known, as well as any history of storm damage, subsidence, disease, previous surgery, or structural weakness. Where necessary, you should notify neighbours, tenants, occupants, or other affected persons before the work begins. You should also ensure that pets, children, and unauthorised persons are kept away from the work area.

Unless we agree otherwise, you are responsible for obtaining any permissions, approvals, or licences required from owners, adjoining landholders, or authorities. This includes permissions related to tree preservation orders, conservation areas, boundary issues, or access over third-party land. If the work cannot proceed because such approvals are missing, the booking may be treated as a late cancellation or may be postponed at our discretion. You also agree not to instruct us to do anything unlawful or unsafe.

In some cases, our work may reveal hidden issues such as decay, root instability, cavities, fungal activity, or structural defects. Any observations we make are based on visual inspection and practical experience only and do not constitute a formal arboricultural report unless expressly stated. If further expert assessment is recommended, you should arrange it separately before relying on the tree for load-bearing, safety, or development decisions.

8. Insurance, force majeure, and complaints

We maintain insurance cover appropriate to the services we provide. Evidence of cover may be available on request. Insurance does not remove your obligations under these Terms, and it does not cover losses caused by your breach of contract, failure to disclose relevant information, or failure to secure the site. If an incident occurs, you should notify us promptly and take reasonable steps to prevent further damage.

We are not liable for failure or delay caused by events beyond our reasonable control, including severe weather, fire, flood, industrial action, transport disruption, accidents, epidemics, equipment supply issues, or actions by third parties. In such circumstances, our obligations will be suspended for the duration of the event, and we will resume services as soon as reasonably practicable. Where a force majeure event continues for an extended period, either party may be entitled to terminate the affected booking on reasonable notice.

If you have a concern about the service, you should raise it promptly so that we can investigate and, where appropriate, take corrective action. We welcome the opportunity to address issues such as incomplete work, damage claims, invoice queries, or misunderstanding of the agreed scope. Any complaint should be made within a reasonable time after completion of the work and before the affected area is altered by others, unless this would be unreasonable in the circumstances.

9. Governing law and general terms

These Terms and Conditions, and any dispute or claim arising from them or connected with them, shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of England and Wales. The courts of England and Wales will have exclusive jurisdiction, except where mandatory consumer rights provide otherwise. If any provision of these Terms is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue in full force to the extent permitted by law.

No delay or failure by us to enforce any right under these Terms shall operate as a waiver of that right. Any waiver must be confirmed in writing. The headings used in this document are for convenience only and do not affect interpretation. These Terms reflect standard expectations for tree surgeons carrying out professional arboricultural work, but they do not limit any rights that cannot lawfully be excluded. By proceeding with the booking, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agreed to these Terms and Conditions.