Terms and Conditions for Tree Surgeons Sevensisters

These Terms and Conditions set out the basis on which Tree Surgeons Sevensisters provides arboricultural and related site services to domestic and commercial clients in the UK. By requesting a quotation, confirming a booking, or allowing work to commence, the customer agrees to be bound by these terms. They are designed to ensure that both parties understand the scope of the service, payment arrangements, site responsibilities, and the standards that apply before, during, and after the work. In these terms, references to “we”, “us” and “our” mean the service provider, while “you” and “your” refer to the customer.

We provide tree surgery and associated services with reasonable care and skill, in accordance with applicable UK law and industry practice. However, the nature of arboricultural work means that outcomes can be affected by weather, access, ground conditions, tree condition, nesting wildlife, hidden defects, and third-party interference. For that reason, any quotation or estimate is based on the information available at the time and may be revised if the facts change materially before work begins.

These terms apply to all services supplied by Tree Surgeons Sevensisters, including inspections, pruning, crown reduction, deadwood removal, felling, stump-related work, hedge management, emergency attendance, and clearance services. They are intended as a legal page for service use and should be read carefully before booking. If you do not agree with these terms, you should not proceed with a booking or instruct us to start work.

Booking Process

Bookings may be made after an initial enquiry and, where appropriate, a site assessment or review of photographs and information supplied by you. Any quotation provided by Sevensisters tree surgeons is normally an invitation to book rather than a binding offer, unless expressly stated otherwise in writing. A booking becomes confirmed only when we have accepted your request and, where applicable, received any required deposit or advance payment.

When you make a booking, you must provide accurate and complete information about the property, the trees, access routes, underground services so far as known, parking restrictions, shared boundaries, and any other relevant conditions. If the information provided is incomplete or incorrect, we may need to amend the quotation, change the schedule, or decline the work. You are responsible for ensuring that you have authority to instruct the work, including consent from landlords, managing agents, neighbours, or local authorities where necessary.

Scope of Work and Site Conditions

All work is carried out only to the extent described in the quotation or written confirmation. If you request additional work on the day, we may agree to it verbally or in writing, but it will be treated as an extra charge unless clearly included in the original price. Any change in scope may also alter the timing, labour required, equipment needed, and waste removal arrangements.

You must ensure the site is reasonably safe and accessible on the agreed date. This includes keeping children, pets, vehicles, and unrelated visitors away from the working area. You should also tell us about known hazards, such as concealed cables, unstable ground, or weak structures. Although tree surgery services are planned with care, we may suspend or postpone work if conditions are unsafe, if access is blocked, or if weather makes the job unsuitable.

We will use reasonable skill and judgement when carrying out the work. Nevertheless, some natural defects may only become apparent once work has started. If a tree is found to be more hazardous than expected, or if decay, cavities, fungal fruiting bodies, or structural weakness are observed, we may recommend altering or stopping the work. This is for safety and may affect the agreed price.

Payments and Charges

Unless otherwise agreed in writing, prices are quoted in pounds sterling and are subject to any applicable tax. A quotation may include labour, equipment, transport, and waste handling where specifically stated. If the quote is based on estimated quantities or access conditions, the final amount may differ where the actual work reasonably exceeds the original assumptions. We will normally explain any material variation before proceeding, where practicable.

Payment terms will be stated in the quotation or invoice. For many jobs, payment is due on completion, but we may require a deposit, staged payment, or advance payment for larger, specialist, or emergency works. If a deposit is requested, the booking may not be secured until it has been received. Sevensisters tree surgeons reserve the right to withhold final documentation, certifications, or waste transfer records until full payment has been made, where lawful and appropriate.

If payment is not made by the due date, we may charge interest and recovery costs to the extent permitted by law. Any bank charges caused by failed or reversed payments may also be added to the outstanding balance. You must pay all undisputed amounts promptly, and you may not withhold payment unless you have a genuine legal right to do so. Where a dispute arises, you should notify us as soon as possible so that the matter can be reviewed.

Cancellations and Rescheduling

You may cancel or reschedule a booking by giving us reasonable notice. The closer the cancellation is to the planned date, the more likely it is that costs will already have been incurred for labour, machinery, traffic management, waste arrangements, or staff allocation. Accordingly, cancellation charges may apply. Any deposit paid may be retained in part or in full to reflect genuine losses, administration, and non-recoverable expenses, subject to consumer law where applicable.

If you cancel after work has begun, you will be liable to pay for all work completed up to the point of cancellation, including any materials used and time spent mobilising to site. If weather, access issues, or legal restrictions mean we must postpone, we will try to rearrange at a suitable time. However, we are not responsible for delays caused by events beyond our reasonable control, including storms, road closures, equipment failure, illness, or supply disruption.

In some cases, we may need to reschedule or cancel a booking ourselves. This might happen if circumstances on the day make the work unsafe, if required permissions are not in place, or if a safety issue arises that cannot be addressed immediately. Where possible, we will offer an alternative date or a revised arrangement. Our liability in such cases is limited to the amount already paid for the affected work, except where the law requires otherwise.

Health, Safety, and Customer Responsibilities

Tree work can be hazardous. You agree to take reasonable steps to support a safe working environment, including advising occupiers not to enter the work zone while operations are in progress. You should keep any vulnerable persons, animals, and valuable items clear of the area. If public access is likely to be affected, you may need to arrange suitable barriers or temporary restrictions, depending on the nature of the job and any statutory requirements.

You must not ask us to perform work that would be unlawful, unsafe, or contrary to a tree preservation order, conservation area restriction, planning condition, or other legal control unless the proper authorisation has been obtained. Where an application or consent is needed, it is your responsibility to secure it unless we have expressly agreed in writing to assist with the process. Even where we assist, the responsibility for ensuring that the required permission exists remains with you unless the law states otherwise.

Liability

We accept responsibility for loss or damage caused by our negligence, fraud, or any other liability that cannot legally be excluded. Subject to that, we are not liable for indirect or consequential losses, loss of profit, loss of business, or loss arising from information that you failed to disclose. We also do not accept liability for pre-existing defects, hidden underground services not identified by you, or damage that occurs despite us taking reasonable care in the circumstances.

Where trees are felled or branches are removed, there may be minor scarring, stump movement, or ground disturbance, especially on soft or wet soil. This is a normal risk of the work and does not necessarily amount to defective performance. Likewise, if a tree is in poor condition, removal of dead or weak material may expose structural weakness that was already present. We will not be liable for the natural behaviour of trees, including decay progression, regrowth, shedding, or failure caused by pre-existing defects not reasonably identifiable at the time of inspection.

To the fullest extent allowed by law, our total liability for any one claim arising out of the services shall not exceed the amount paid or payable for the relevant work, except in relation to death or personal injury caused by negligence, or any other matter where the law does not permit limitation. Nothing in these terms affects your statutory rights if you are a consumer. Where business customers are involved, additional statutory protections may apply only to the extent required by law.

Waste Regulations and Green Waste

Work on trees produces green waste, timber, arisings, stumps, soil, and mixed materials that must be managed responsibly. Unless otherwise agreed, waste from the job will be collected, transported, treated, or disposed of by us in line with applicable UK waste rules, including the duty of care obligations. We will aim to separate recyclable material where practicable and use lawful facilities or licensed contractors for disposal or recovery.

Waste Handling and Ownership

Once removed from the site, waste arising from the service generally becomes our responsibility if the quotation states that clearance is included. If the quotation states that waste is to be left on site, stacked, or chipped for your use, then you become responsible for its storage, handling, and subsequent disposal. Where you ask us to leave timber, logs, mulch, or branches for reuse, you accept all risks relating to that material after handover.

If waste must be transported off-site, we may produce or retain records such as transfer notes, invoices, or disposal documentation where appropriate. You agree not to request illegal tipping, uncontrolled burning, or any disposal method that breaches environmental law. Any contamination discovered in waste, such as asbestos, chemicals, or non-green material, may require special handling and additional charges. We may stop work if prohibited materials are found or suspected.

You must not place in our waste any item that was not generated by the agreed work unless we have specifically accepted it beforehand. Mixed or contaminated waste can increase costs significantly, and those costs may be passed on to you if the contamination originated from your site or instructions. We reserve the right to adjust charges where disposal requirements change due to regulatory, safety, or classification issues.

Complaints, Variations, and Force Majeure

If you are dissatisfied with any aspect of the service, you should notify us as soon as reasonably possible so we can investigate and, where appropriate, remedy the issue. Complaints raised long after completion may be harder to assess because site conditions can change quickly. Any alleged defect should be supported with clear details and, where possible, photographs. This helps us review the matter fairly and promptly.

No variation to these terms is valid unless agreed in writing or confirmed by us in an email, invoice, or other durable record. If any provision is found to be unlawful or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms will continue in force. A failure by us to enforce any right on one occasion does not waive that right on another occasion. These terms together with the quotation form the entire agreement relating to the service.

We are not liable for delay or failure to perform caused by events outside our reasonable control, including severe weather, accidents, fire, flood, epidemic, strikes, shortages, access restrictions, or legal intervention. If such an event occurs, we may suspend the work, extend deadlines, or cancel the affected booking without liability other than refunding amounts due for services not performed. In all cases, we will act reasonably and seek to minimise disruption where practicable.

Governing Law and Jurisdiction

These Terms and Conditions are governed by the laws of England and Wales. If you are based elsewhere in the UK, mandatory local consumer or business protections may still apply where required by law, but the interpretation of these terms shall otherwise follow English law. Any dispute arising out of or in connection with the services, the quotation, or these terms shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales, except where a different court must be used by law.

By proceeding with a booking, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agreed to these terms. They are intended to provide a clear framework for professional, safe, and lawful tree work. Whether you instruct tree surgeons in Sevensisters for a routine maintenance job or a more complex site operation, these conditions help ensure that expectations are properly managed and that the service is delivered on a fair and transparent basis.