Tree Surgeons Ruislip Terms and Conditions
These Terms and Conditions set out the basis on which tree surgeons in Ruislip provide arboricultural services to domestic and commercial customers. By making a booking, accepting a quotation, or allowing work to begin, the customer agrees to these terms. Please read them carefully before confirming any appointment, as they explain the scope of our service, the booking process, payments, cancellation rules, liability limits, waste handling arrangements, and the legal framework that applies to the contract.
In these terms, references to “we”, “us”, and “our” mean the provider of the tree surgery service, and references to “you” and “your” mean the customer or the person authorised to arrange the work. These terms apply to all services carried out by our tree surgeons, including pruning, crown reduction, tree removal, stump grinding, hedge maintenance, site clearance, and related arboricultural tasks, unless otherwise agreed in writing. If any part of these terms is found unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue to apply.
We aim to provide a professional and safe service, but all tree work carries inherent risk. Trees are living organisms, and conditions can change due to weather, decay, root movement, or hidden structural defects. For that reason, every Ruislip tree surgery appointment is subject to a site assessment and may require adjustments once the work area has been inspected. Customers are responsible for giving accurate information about access, boundaries, services, and any known hazards before the work is scheduled.
Our quotations are normally based on the information provided by the customer, including photographs, measurements, descriptions, and, where appropriate, a site visit. Unless expressly stated otherwise, quotations are valid for a limited period and may be withdrawn or revised if the scope of work changes, access becomes more difficult, or additional risks are identified. A quotation does not create a binding obligation until accepted, and acceptance may be made verbally, in writing, or by confirming a booking date.
Booking process is as follows: we review the request, assess the work required, and provide a quotation or estimate. If you accept, we agree a date or date range for attendance. In some cases, we may ask for further details, photographs, or permissions before confirming the appointment. Your booking is not guaranteed until confirmed by us. We reserve the right to decline or postpone a booking where access, safety, weather, planning constraints, or legal restrictions make the work unsuitable or impracticable.
You must ensure that the site is accessible on the agreed date and that any vehicles, garden items, valuables, pets, or vulnerable objects are removed from the work area unless we have specifically agreed otherwise. If our team arrives and cannot safely begin the work because of blocked access, incomplete information, or the absence of required permission, we may charge a wasted attendance fee or rearrangement cost. The exact charge will depend on the time reserved and any costs already incurred.
Where a tree is close to boundaries, buildings, overhead lines, or underground services, you must tell us about any known restrictions before work starts. Although our tree surgery company will take reasonable care, we are entitled to rely on the information you provide. If third-party consent is needed, including from neighbours, landlords, management companies, or freeholders, it is your responsibility to obtain it unless we have expressly agreed to assist. Any delay caused by missing consent may result in rescheduling charges.
Payments must be made in full in accordance with the quotation or invoice unless we have agreed a staged payment plan in writing. Unless otherwise stated, prices are exclusive of VAT where applicable. We may request a deposit to secure larger projects or to cover materials, permits, disposal fees, or plant hire. Deposits are usually non-refundable once preparatory work has begun, subject to your statutory rights. Final payment is due immediately on completion unless a different due date is stated on the invoice.
We accept the payment methods described at the point of booking or invoicing. If payment is not made on time, we may suspend further work, withhold completion certificates or documentation, and recover reasonable costs of collection. Interest may be charged on overdue sums in accordance with the Late Payment of Commercial Debts legislation where applicable, or at the lawful statutory rate for consumer transactions, where permitted. Ownership of any goods supplied may remain with us until payment has been received in full.
Cancellations and rescheduling must be communicated as soon as possible. If you cancel more than a reasonable notice period before the appointment, no cancellation fee may apply, unless we have already incurred non-recoverable costs such as specialist equipment, disposal arrangements, or labour set aside specifically for your job. If you cancel at short notice, fail to provide access, or are not present where attendance is required, we may charge for lost time and any expenses already incurred.
We may also cancel or postpone work if conditions are unsafe or unsuitable, including severe weather, ground instability, unexpected decay, illness, equipment failure, or a requirement to comply with legal or environmental constraints. In such cases, we will aim to rearrange the appointment within a reasonable time. We are not liable for indirect loss arising from a delay caused by weather, emergency safety concerns, or matters beyond our reasonable control. This includes loss of earnings, inconvenience, or temporary disruption to garden use.
If work is postponed because the tree presents a greater risk than originally identified, or because additional controls are needed to complete the task safely, we may amend the quotation accordingly. Tree surgery is often dependent on circumstances that are not fully visible until the work begins. Accordingly, the final method, sequence, and extent of pruning or removal may differ from the original plan if a qualified arborist considers that change necessary for safety or tree health.
Liability is limited to the extent permitted by law. We will carry out services with reasonable skill and care, using trained personnel and appropriate equipment. However, we are not responsible for pre-existing defects, natural tree failure, hidden decay, defective structures, unstable ground, or damage caused by factors beyond our control. Where possible, we will identify foreseeable risks in advance, but trees may conceal internal weaknesses that become apparent only when work is underway.
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 lawfully be excluded. Subject to that, we will not be liable for minor cosmetic damage to lawns, driveways, paving, fences, or planting where such damage is reasonably incidental to heavy tree work and we have taken reasonable care. We are also not liable for consequential or indirect losses, including loss of profit, business interruption, or sentimental value.
Where we are responsible for damage directly caused by our negligence, our liability will ordinarily be limited to repairing the damage or paying the reasonable cost of repair, whichever we consider appropriate. If a claim is made, you must notify us promptly and allow us a reasonable opportunity to inspect the issue before any remedial work is carried out by a third party, unless emergency action is required to prevent further harm. Any mitigation steps you take should be reasonable and proportionate.
We hold appropriate insurance for the type of services we provide, but insurance does not change the limits of liability set out in these terms. You must inform us of any concealed services, fragile surfaces, alarms, irrigation systems, or other features that could be affected by the work. If you fail to disclose important information, we are not responsible for resulting damage. Likewise, we are not liable for damage arising from your instructions where you have asked us to proceed against our recommendation and we have agreed to do so in writing.
Waste regulations are an important part of tree surgery, and we will handle waste in accordance with applicable UK law, including relevant environmental and waste duty requirements. Green waste, timber, brash, sawdust, and stump arisings may be removed from site, recycled, chipped, or disposed of through approved facilities. Unless agreed otherwise, waste remains our property until collected and processed as part of the contracted service. We will not unlawfully burn, dump, or abandon waste.
The customer must not arrange independent disposal of our waste without our consent. If you request that timber or arisings be left on site, this must be agreed in advance and recorded in the quotation or invoice. Any waste left on site becomes your responsibility once the work is complete and you have accepted that arrangement. If we are required to move or double-handle waste because of access constraints, contamination, or a change in instruction, we may charge an additional fee.
Where logs, woodchip, or other by-products are retained by you, they are accepted in their condition at the time of handover. We do not guarantee suitability for firewood, mulching, landscaping, or commercial use unless this has been expressly stated. We may separate waste streams where needed to comply with environmental obligations or to improve recycling rates. If protected species, nesting birds, or evidence of wildlife habitat are discovered, work may pause until the issue is assessed and, where necessary, relevant legal advice or specialist guidance is obtained.
Any permits, permissions, or notifications required for the work are your responsibility unless we have expressly agreed to manage them. This includes, where applicable, tree preservation orders, conservation constraints, landlord approval, and highway or neighbour access arrangements. Our acceptance of a booking does not confirm that planning, legal, or ownership checks have been completed unless we have specifically stated so in writing. You should ensure that the person instructing us has authority to do so.
We may refuse to carry out any instruction that would put people, property, wildlife, or our operatives at unacceptable risk, or that would cause us to breach applicable law, industry standards, or insurance conditions. If such refusal results in a change to the scope of work, we may issue a revised quotation or decline the appointment altogether. Any verbal promises made before the contract is formed are subject to these written terms unless we confirm otherwise in writing.
Time estimates are given in good faith but are not guaranteed, because tree work often depends on weather, access, timber weight, and unforeseen conditions. We will use reasonable efforts to complete the agreed services within the estimated schedule, but delays may occur. If a job must be paused to protect safety or to comply with legal obligations, we may return on another date and charge only for additional time or resources where this is fair and reasonable.
We retain the right to make practical decisions on site about the safest method of working, including the use of rigging, sectional dismantling, climbing, MEWPs, stump grinders, or alternative pruning approaches. Our arboricultural service is provided by qualified operatives or suitably trained staff under supervision where necessary. Any specific requests you have about timing, access, or retaining certain timber must be raised before work begins so that we can confirm whether they are feasible.
These terms may be updated from time to time. The version in force on the date your booking is accepted will normally apply to that contract unless a newer version is agreed in writing. If we make a change that materially affects your rights after a booking has been confirmed, we will act fairly and in accordance with applicable consumer law. No failure by us to enforce a right or remedy shall operate as a waiver of that right or remedy.
The contract is between you and us only, and no third party has the right to enforce any part of it unless such a right is expressly provided by law. If one clause is invalid or unenforceable, that clause will be severed to the minimum extent required and the remainder will continue in force. Headings are included for convenience only and do not affect interpretation. Any reference to a statute includes amendments and re-enactments in force from time to time.
Governing law and jurisdiction: these Terms and Conditions, and any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with them, are governed by the laws of England and Wales. The courts of England and Wales shall have exclusive jurisdiction, except where consumer law provides otherwise. Nothing in these terms affects your statutory rights under UK consumer legislation, including rights relating to services performed with reasonable care and skill, information, and cancellation where applicable.
By instructing us to carry out tree surgery, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agreed to these terms. You also confirm that you are authorised to enter into the contract and that the information provided is accurate to the best of your knowledge. For the avoidance of doubt, these terms are intended to operate as a fair and reasonable service agreement for tree surgeons Ruislip and similar arboricultural services across the UK, with no unnecessary local detail beyond the service area itself.