Tree Surgeons Hornsey Terms and Conditions

These Terms and Conditions set out the basis on which Tree Surgeons Hornsey provides tree surgery, arboricultural, and associated site services to customers in the United Kingdom. By making a booking, confirming a quotation, or allowing work to begin, the customer agrees to be bound by these terms. These terms are intended to protect both parties by setting clear expectations about the scope of work, access, payments, cancellations, safety responsibilities, waste handling, and legal obligations. Where a written quotation or order confirmation includes additional terms, those terms shall apply alongside this document unless they directly conflict, in which case the written quotation will prevail only for the specific job concerned.

For the purposes of these terms, references to “we”, “us”, and “our” mean the service provider trading as Tree Surgeons Hornsey, while references to “you” and “your” mean the person, business, landlord, managing agent, or other party instructing the work. These terms apply to all domestic and commercial customers unless a separate written agreement has been signed. If any provision is found to be unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue to apply in full. Nothing in these terms is intended to limit any statutory rights that cannot lawfully be excluded under UK law.

All services are provided subject to a confirmed booking and a clear scope of work. The exact nature of the job may include tree pruning, crown reduction, crown thinning, felling, stump-related work, hedge cutting, emergency attendance, site clearance, branch removal, and related arboricultural tasks. A quotation is normally based on the information available at the time, including photographs, descriptions, site visits, or other details supplied by you. If the actual site conditions differ from the information provided, we may need to revise the price, method, or timing before work continues. We will always aim to explain any change in a clear and reasonable manner.

Booking Process

Bookings are usually made after an enquiry and may be confirmed following an on-site assessment or a remote review of the work required. A quotation is not an automatic acceptance of a job; it is an invitation for you to accept the terms described. A booking becomes binding only when the quotation is accepted and we have confirmed the schedule, whether verbally or in writing. To avoid doubt, any proposed date is an estimate unless expressly stated as fixed. We may ask for information such as site access arrangements, tree location, parking restrictions, boundary issues, protected status, or permission from a landlord, freeholder, or managing agent. You must ensure that any necessary authority to instruct the work has been obtained before the appointment proceeds.

It is your responsibility to provide accurate and complete details about the site and the work required. This includes the location of underground services, overhead lines, irrigation systems, drains, fragile surfaces, hidden structures, nesting activity, and any other conditions that may affect safe performance. If access is restricted or requires special arrangements, you should tell us in advance. Failure to provide relevant information may result in delay, extra charges, or cancellation of the booking. We may refuse or postpone work if, in our reasonable opinion, the site is unsafe, the instructions are unclear, or the work would breach applicable law, planning controls, conservation rules, or safety standards.

Where a deposit is requested, the amount and purpose of the deposit will be stated in the quotation or booking confirmation. Deposits are used to secure time, labour, and equipment, and may be non-refundable where costs have already been incurred, unless required otherwise by law. We reserve the right to decline, amend, or withdraw a booking if the customer has previously failed to pay invoices, has repeatedly cancelled appointments, or has not provided the required site access or permissions. Any date change requested by you is subject to availability and to our consent. The final job specification may also be adjusted on the day if the site conditions differ materially from the original description.

Payments

Payment terms will be confirmed in the quotation or invoice. Unless otherwise agreed in writing, payment is due on completion of the works or within the period stated on the invoice. We may require full or part payment in advance for large, urgent, or specialist jobs, including work involving traffic management, heavy equipment, or out-of-hours attendance. Accepted payment methods may include bank transfer and other methods set out in the invoice. We are not obliged to accept cash unless agreed beforehand. The price quoted normally includes only the work specified; any additional work requested by you, or additional work made necessary by unforeseen site conditions, will be charged separately at our prevailing rates or at a rate agreed before the work is carried out.

If payment is not made on time, we may charge interest on overdue sums in accordance with applicable legislation and may recover reasonable debt recovery costs where permitted. Title to any materials supplied by us does not pass to you until we have received payment in full. If a payment is returned, reversed, or disputed without valid cause, you remain liable for the outstanding balance and any resulting administrative or recovery costs. We may suspend future services, withhold final paperwork, or decline warranty-related requests until all amounts due have been settled. Where invoices are issued to a business, public body, or managing agent, the organisation accepting these terms shall remain jointly responsible for payment unless agreed otherwise in writing.

Cancellations and Rescheduling

You may cancel or reschedule a booking by giving us reasonable notice. Because tree surgery often involves reserved labour, machinery, and waste planning, late cancellations may result in a cancellation charge. Where a job has already been scheduled, staff or equipment assigned, or materials prepared, we may deduct our reasonable losses from any deposit or charge a proportionate cancellation fee. The exact amount will depend on the circumstances, including how much notice was given and what costs have already been committed. If you cancel after we arrive on site and before work begins, or if we are unable to proceed because access is unavailable, permission is lacking, or the site is unsafe, you may still be liable for a call-out charge or wasted attendance fee.

We may reschedule or cancel a job due to adverse weather, safety concerns, plant failure, staff illness, traffic disruption, emergency call-outs, or any event beyond our reasonable control. In such cases, we will make reasonable efforts to offer an alternative date. We are not liable for indirect losses arising from a change of date, including loss of time, inconvenience, missed appointments with third parties, or business interruption, except where required by law. If we cancel a booking for reasons within our control before the work starts, any prepaid amount for the cancelled element will normally be refunded or credited, subject to any valid deductions for work already performed or costs already incurred.

Liability

We will carry out our services with reasonable skill and care, using suitably trained personnel and equipment appropriate to the task. However, tree surgery is a specialist activity involving natural variation, hidden defects, and inherent risks. Trees can contain decay, cavities, unstable limbs, concealed cracks, and deadwood that may not be visible before work begins. As a result, we do not guarantee the internal structural condition of any tree or the future behaviour of any tree following pruning, reduction, or felling. Any advice given is based on the condition of the tree at the time of inspection and the information available to us.

We shall not be liable for loss or damage caused by circumstances outside our reasonable control, including extreme weather, third-party interference, inaccurate information supplied by you, undisclosed underground or overhead hazards, or pre-existing defects in structures, surfaces, plants, fences, or utilities. You must tell us about any known risks, fragile items, hidden services, or special property features before work begins. Where we identify a risk that could reasonably affect safety or property, we may alter the method of work, stop work, or refuse to continue until the issue is resolved. We shall not be responsible for damage arising from a customer’s failure to provide such information.

Nothing in these terms excludes or limits liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, fraud, fraudulent misrepresentation, or any other liability that cannot be excluded under UK law. Subject to that, our total liability for any claim arising out of or in connection with the services shall be limited to the value of the relevant contract, or such lower amount as is permitted by law. We will not be liable for indirect, special, or consequential losses, including loss of profit, loss of business, loss of opportunity, or reputational harm. Any claim must be notified to us promptly and, where reasonably possible, before the site is altered by others or the condition of the relevant tree or property changes.

Waste Regulations and Site Clearance

Tree surgery work commonly generates green waste such as branches, timber, brush, stump arisings, leaves, and woodchip. Unless the quotation states otherwise, we will remove and dispose of the agreed waste generated by the specific works we have carried out. Waste handling is performed in accordance with applicable UK waste management requirements, including duty of care obligations. We may use licensed waste carriers or authorised facilities, and we may segregate, recycle, chip, compost, or otherwise process the material where appropriate. Any timber, logs, or woodchip left on site at your request becomes your responsibility once the job is complete, unless we agree otherwise in writing.

You must not ask us to dispose of materials that are not produced by the agreed tree surgery works unless we expressly agree to do so. Additional waste, contaminated materials, soil, old fencing, household rubbish, asbestos, or hazardous substances require separate handling and may be refused or charged at a different rate. If waste is to remain on site, you must ensure that it is stored in a safe, lawful, and suitable location. We are not responsible for the future condition, movement, decay, or use of any waste, timber, or mulch left at your request after completion. Any transfer note, ticket, or related record required by law will be handled in line with our usual waste management procedures where applicable.

Customer Responsibilities

To allow the work to proceed efficiently and safely, you must ensure reasonable access to the site, including any gates, driveways, parking areas, and working space required for vehicles and equipment. You must also ensure that pets, children, and unauthorised persons are kept away from the work area during operations. Where necessary, you must obtain consent from neighbours, landlords, managing agents, leaseholders, or other affected parties before the work begins. If tree work requires prior permission from a planning authority, conservation body, or other regulator, it is your responsibility to confirm that such permission exists unless we have expressly agreed in writing to assist with the checking process.

You must tell us about any legal restrictions, covenants, preservation measures, disputes, or boundary uncertainties that could affect the work. If you instruct us to cut, reduce, or remove a tree that may be protected or subject to special controls, we may ask for evidence of consent before proceeding. Where work is carried out in reliance on information supplied by you, you remain responsible for its accuracy. If we are delayed because of access problems, missing permissions, or third-party objections, we may charge for waiting time, aborted attendance, or a return visit.

Completion, Variations, and Complaints

The work will be treated as complete when the agreed tasks have been finished to a reasonable professional standard, the site has been left in a condition consistent with the quotation, and any agreed waste arrangement has been implemented. Minor variation in appearance, stump height, cut angles, timber size, or debris levels may occur due to the practical nature of tree work and does not by itself mean the service has failed. If you request additional work during the visit, we may provide a revised quotation or proceed on a chargeable basis if the additional work is minor and can be reasonably agreed on site. Any complaint should be raised as soon as reasonably possible and, where practicable, before unrelated work is carried out by another contractor or the site condition changes.

If a concern is reported, we may inspect the relevant area, request photographs, or ask for further details in order to assess the issue fairly. Where we accept that remedial action is appropriate, our liability is limited to repairing, re-performing, or refunding the affected portion of the work at our discretion, subject to applicable law. We do not guarantee that all cosmetic concerns or natural after-effects of tree surgery will be eliminated. Natural leaf fall, regrowth, sap movement, bark marking, and seasonal changes are not defects in themselves. Any remedial work agreed after completion will be carried out within a reasonable time and subject to access, weather, and availability.

Governing Law

These Terms and Conditions, and any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with them, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales. The parties agree that the courts of England and Wales shall have exclusive jurisdiction, subject to any mandatory consumer rights that allow a claim to be brought elsewhere. If a customer is acting as a consumer, nothing in these terms affects rights that may be available under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, the Consumer Contracts Regulations, or other applicable legislation. If any part of these terms conflicts with a statutory right that cannot be excluded, the statutory right shall prevail only to the extent of that conflict.

We may update these terms from time to time to reflect changes in law, industry practice, or business operations. The version in force at the time of booking will generally apply to that booking unless a later written agreement replaces it. Continued use of our services after any update will constitute acceptance of the revised terms for future bookings. By proceeding with a booking, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agreed to these Tree Surgeons Hornsey service terms, which are designed to provide a fair framework for safe and professional tree surgery services.