Terms and Conditions for Tree Surgeons Sydenham

These Terms and Conditions set out the basis on which tree surgery services are provided by Tree Surgeons Sydenham and explain how bookings, payments, cancellations, liabilities, waste handling, and governing law are managed. By requesting or confirming a service, the customer agrees to these terms. They are intended to create a clear and fair framework for both parties, with particular attention to safety, lawful performance, and responsible site management. In these terms, references to “we,” “us,” and “our” mean the service provider, and references to “you” or “the customer” mean the person or business commissioning the works.

The services covered by these terms may include tree pruning, crown reduction, crown lifting, stump grinding, hedge work, sectional dismantling, deadwood removal, emergency tree attendance, and related arboricultural operations. Every tree surgery service is unique and may be affected by species, size, access, weather, legal protections, and site conditions. Because of this, any quotation or proposed schedule is based on the information available at the time of assessment. If circumstances change before or during the works, we may need to revise the scope, timing, method, or price in a reasonable manner.

These terms should be read alongside any written quotation, job sheet, site survey, or agreed scope of works. If there is any inconsistency, the more specific written agreement for the relevant job will generally take priority, provided it does not conflict with applicable law. No variation to these terms will be binding unless agreed in writing by both parties. The customer should ensure that all instructions, access details, and site-related information are accurate and complete before work begins.

Bookings for tree surgery services may be made by telephone, email, online enquiry, or other approved means of communication. A booking is not confirmed until we have accepted the job, agreed the date or timeframe, and, where required, received any deposit or written confirmation. We reserve the right to decline a booking if the site is unsuitable, if the work is unsafe, if legal permissions are not in place, or if we are unable to provide the service to the required standard. Any proposed appointment is subject to operational availability and may be adjusted to suit weather, staffing, equipment, or access requirements.

Before the works start, the customer must provide all relevant information that may affect the job, including the location of trees, ownership details, boundary issues, access limitations, underground services, overhead cables, pests, nesting birds, or known hazards. If the customer is acting for a landlord, managing agent, company, or other party, they must confirm that they have authority to instruct the works. The customer is responsible for ensuring that necessary consents, permits, licences, or neighbour permissions are obtained where applicable, unless we have expressly agreed in writing to handle a specific approval process. Tree surgeons in Sydenham often operate in environments where public access and neighbouring properties must be considered, so accurate information is essential.

At the middle stage of the booking process, we may carry out a site visit or request photographs, measurements, or other details to confirm the price and method. If the situation on site differs materially from the description given at booking, we may amend the quotation or pause the work until the revised terms are accepted. If urgent attendance is requested, such as after storm damage or where a tree presents an immediate risk, we will use reasonable efforts to respond promptly; however, emergency attendance does not guarantee that the work can be completed immediately or without interruption. Safety and lawful compliance always take priority over speed.

Payments must be made in accordance with the quotation, invoice, or booking confirmation. Unless otherwise agreed, invoices are payable within the stated period, and we may require a deposit, staged payment, or full payment in advance for certain services. Tree surgeons Sydenham service charges may vary depending on complexity, access, equipment, disposal requirements, and the duration of the works. Prices may be quoted as fixed sums or estimated sums. An estimate is not a binding fixed price if the scope, conditions, or customer instructions change.

Unless expressly stated otherwise, any quotation excludes unforeseen extra work, difficult access, additional waste removal, traffic management, specialist equipment, or delays caused by circumstances outside our control. If such matters arise, we may charge a reasonable additional sum, provided that this is lawful and, where practical, agreed in advance. Where payment is overdue, we may charge statutory interest and recovery costs in accordance with the applicable law for business-to-business or business-to-consumer transactions, as relevant. We reserve the right to suspend ongoing work or withhold finalisation of certain non-urgent services until outstanding sums are paid in full.

All sums quoted are normally inclusive or exclusive of VAT according to the invoice wording and the tax status of the service. The customer is responsible for checking invoice details promptly and notifying us of any genuine dispute within a reasonable time. Partial payment does not waive our rights in relation to any remaining balance. If a deposit has been paid and the customer later cancels outside the permitted cancellation period, we may retain all or part of the deposit to cover administration, reserved labour, plant allocation, and losses incurred, subject always to consumer law and any mandatory rights the customer may have.

Cancellation requests should be made as soon as reasonably possible. If the customer cancels a scheduled service, we may charge a cancellation fee where we have incurred costs or lost the opportunity to undertake the work. The amount of any fee will be reasonable and proportionate to the timing of the cancellation, the level of preparation already completed, and any non-recoverable expenses. If cancellation occurs after arrival on site, after equipment has been deployed, or after work has started, the customer may be charged for time spent, materials used, and any additional loss caused by the cancellation. Where a consumer has a legal right to cancel a distance or off-premises contract, that right will apply unless an exception under the Consumer Contracts Regulations or other law applies.

We may cancel or reschedule a booking if weather conditions, safety concerns, access problems, staff illness, equipment failure, legal restrictions, or other events beyond our control make it impractical or unsafe to proceed. In such cases, we will aim to offer an alternative date. We will not be liable for delay or non-performance caused by events outside our reasonable control, including storms, extreme heat, frost, acts of third parties, utility failures, road closures, or public authority intervention. This is without prejudice to any rights that cannot lawfully be excluded.

If the customer is not present at the agreed time, fails to provide access, or does not make suitable arrangements for keys, parking, loading, or site entry, we may treat the booking as cancelled or charge waiting time and wasted attendance costs. Tree surgery services often require punctual access to a safe and prepared work area, so any delay may affect the day’s planned operations. If we choose to proceed despite a delay, that choice does not waive our right to charge reasonably for the additional time or inconvenience caused.

Liability is limited to the extent permitted by law. We will carry out the services with reasonable skill and care, using competent staff, appropriate equipment, and industry-accepted methods. However, tree work carries inherent risks, including but not limited to falling timber, hidden decay, root disturbance, debris projection, minor property contact, and changes in tree stability following pruning or dismantling. The customer acknowledges that even carefully planned tree surgery can produce unavoidable surface marks, soil compaction, or temporary disruption to lawns, beds, driveways, and access routes. Such consequences are not necessarily defects if they arise from the ordinary execution of the agreed works.

We are not responsible for pre-existing defects, hidden conditions, or matters outside our control, including structural weakness in trees, unstable ground, concealed utilities, deteriorated fences, brittle paving, underground drainage, or neighbouring property issues. The customer must make us aware of any known vulnerable features before work starts. Unless negligence is proven and liability cannot lawfully be excluded, we will not be responsible for indirect or consequential loss, loss of profit, business interruption, or loss arising from delayed completion. Nothing in these terms excludes liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, fraud, fraudulent misrepresentation, or any other liability that cannot lawfully be excluded under UK law.

If damage occurs and is alleged to have been caused by our negligence, the customer must notify us as soon as reasonably possible and provide a fair opportunity to inspect the issue. We may choose to repair, replace, reinstate, or compensate at our discretion, provided this is appropriate and lawful. Any claim must be supported by evidence and must not be inflated beyond the actual loss suffered. The customer must take reasonable steps to protect any property, garden, or structure that may be affected by the works, including removing fragile items and securing pets, vehicles, and valuables. We will not be liable where damage results from the customer’s failure to take reasonable precautions or from instructions given against our advice.

All waste arising from the works, including branches, timber, chip, leaves, and stump arisings, will be handled in accordance with applicable waste regulations and environmental requirements. We operate with appropriate duty-of-care arrangements and will manage green waste responsibly, whether it is removed from site, recycled, or retained for agreed purposes such as mulch or firewood. Waste transfer notes or similar records may be created where required by law. The customer must not require us to dispose of controlled waste in a way that would breach legal obligations, and we may refuse instructions that are unlawful, unsafe, or environmentally improper.

If the customer requests that waste be left on site, moved to a specified area, or cut into logs for retention, that instruction must be agreed in advance and may affect the quotation. We are not responsible for the subsequent storage, use, decay, shifting, or infestation of material left on site at the customer’s request. The customer must ensure that any retained wood, chip, or brash does not block access, create a hazard, or contravene local rules or property covenants. Where waste is removed by us, title to the waste generally passes for lawful disposal or recycling once it is loaded, unless we agree otherwise in writing.

We may suspend or refuse waste removal if the arisings include contaminated material, asbestos, chemicals, construction debris, protected species materials, or other items not normally accepted within an arboricultural service. In such cases, additional charges may apply for segregation, specialist disposal, or return transport. Tree surgeons in Sydenham must comply with environmental and transport duties just as all UK tree surgery providers must, and the customer agrees to cooperate with any steps needed to ensure lawful handling of the waste stream. The customer should also understand that woodchip and green waste may be recycled off site and may not be traceable after lawful transfer.

Any intellectual property, risk assessment, method statement, or technical documentation supplied by us remains our property unless expressly transferred. Site photographs may be taken for operational, safety, quality-control, or record-keeping purposes. Where permitted by law, these may also be used to evidence the condition of the site before and after the work. Personal data collected during the booking and service process will be handled in accordance with applicable data protection law, but these terms do not create a separate privacy policy.

If any part of these terms is found to be unlawful, invalid, or unenforceable, the remainder will continue in force to the fullest extent permitted by law. Failure by us to enforce any right or provision immediately does not mean that right or provision has been waived. Any variation, additional promise, or special arrangement must be agreed in writing. The customer agrees that no statement, estimate, or informal discussion will override these terms unless confirmed properly.

Governing law and jurisdiction: these terms, and any dispute or claim arising from 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 shall have exclusive jurisdiction unless mandatory consumer law provides otherwise. By entering into a service arrangement with Tree Surgeons Sydenham, the customer confirms understanding of these terms and accepts that tree surgery work is carried out under a framework designed to protect safety, fairness, compliance, and professional standards.