Tree Surgeons Kingscross Terms and Conditions

These Terms and Conditions set out the basis on which Tree Surgeons Kingscross provides tree surgery and related arboricultural services to residential, commercial, and public-sector customers. By making a booking, confirming an estimate, or allowing work to begin, the customer agrees to be bound by these terms. These conditions are designed to create a clear, fair, and lawful arrangement for both parties, covering the booking process, payment, cancellations, liability, waste handling, and the governing law that applies to the contract.

For the purposes of this document, references to we, us, or our mean the service provider operating under the Tree Surgeons Kingscross trade name, and references to you or the customer mean the person or organisation requesting the work. These terms apply to all quotations, surveys, scheduled appointments, and works carried out by our tree surgeons, unless we expressly agree otherwise in writing.

By instructing us, you confirm that you are legally able to enter into a contract and that any person authorising work at the property has the necessary authority to do so. If you are acting on behalf of a landlord, managing agent, business, committee, or other organisation, you must ensure that you have the relevant permission before work starts. We may rely on your instructions as binding unless told otherwise in advance.

1. Booking Process

All bookings are subject to availability and acceptance by us. An enquiry does not create a contract. A contract begins only when we have provided a quotation or estimate, you have accepted it, and we have confirmed the booking in writing, by email, or through another recorded method. The booking process for tree surgery services typically involves an initial request, a review of the proposed work, and, where necessary, a site visit or assessment before final scheduling.

Any quotation we provide is based on the information available at the time. If the scope of work changes, if access conditions differ from those described, or if additional hazards are identified on arrival, we may revise the price, schedule, or method of carrying out the work. We will try to explain any material changes before continuing. Where the customer requests extra work on the day, that work will only proceed if it is safe, lawful, and agreed by both parties.

We may ask for photographs, documents, or relevant information before confirming a booking. This may include details about tree species, size, location, proximity to buildings, overhead lines, boundary issues, protected status, or other matters that could affect the work. You agree to provide accurate and complete information. If incomplete information leads to additional costs, delays, or changes to the service, we reserve the right to adjust the charge accordingly.

2. Scheduling and Access

Dates and times are scheduled in good faith, but any appointment time is an estimate unless we state otherwise. Tree surgery can be affected by weather, equipment issues, road access, traffic, staff illness, emergency callouts, and other factors outside our control. We will make reasonable efforts to attend on the agreed date, but we do not guarantee that work will always begin or finish at a specific time.

You are responsible for ensuring reasonable access to the work area. This includes arranging entry to gardens, yards, car parks, service roads, roofs, or communal areas where applicable. You should also ensure that vehicles, pets, children, garden furniture, fragile items, and other obstacles are moved or protected before our arrival where required. If we are unable to complete the work because access is not available, a wasted visit charge may apply.

Where tree work requires parking permits, gate codes, key holding arrangements, or other special access measures, you must tell us in advance. If a third party controls access, you must arrange cooperation with that party. Any delays caused by waiting for access, approvals, or site clearance may affect timing and may be charged if significant.

3. Prices, Payments, and Invoicing

Unless otherwise agreed in writing, prices are quoted in pounds sterling and may be subject to VAT where applicable. Quotes will normally state whether the price includes labour, equipment, stump grinding, waste removal, traffic management, or other elements. If the quote is based on a day rate, hourly rate, or provisional estimate, the final amount may vary depending on the actual work completed. The customer remains responsible for payment of all agreed charges.

Payments are due in accordance with the invoice or booking confirmation. We may require a deposit or part-payment before work is scheduled, especially for larger projects or work requiring specialist equipment. Unless stated otherwise, the balance becomes payable immediately upon completion of the work, or within the stated invoice period. We accept payment by the methods indicated at the time of booking, and we may refuse cheques, cash, or other methods at our discretion.

If payment is late, we may charge reasonable interest and recovery costs in line with the Late Payment of Commercial Debts legislation where applicable, and otherwise in accordance with the law. We may also suspend further services, withhold completion documentation, or refuse future bookings until outstanding sums are paid. No set-off or deduction may be made unless agreed by us in writing or required by law.

For commercial customers, payment terms may be specified separately and shall take priority over standard terms if agreed in writing. For domestic customers, any deposit paid is used to reserve labour, equipment, and scheduling capacity. Deposits are not automatically refundable if you later cancel without sufficient notice, because we may have already incurred preparatory costs. A receipt or invoice should be retained as proof of payment.

4. Cancellations, Postponements, and Rebooking

You may cancel or postpone a booking by giving notice in writing. Where practical, we ask for as much notice as possible so that resources can be reassigned. If cancellation occurs after we have ordered materials, allocated staff, arranged equipment, or otherwise committed to the job, we may charge for reasonable losses, administrative costs, and unrecoverable expenses. This is especially relevant where the work was reserved for a specific date or required special preparation.

If you cancel less than 48 hours before the agreed start time, or if we are unable to begin due to circumstances within your control, we may charge a cancellation fee or wasted visit fee. The amount will depend on the nature of the booking and the costs already incurred. We will act reasonably and only seek recovery for losses that are genuine and proportionate.

Our right to cancel or postpone

We may cancel, pause, or reschedule a booking if weather conditions, safety concerns, equipment failure, staff availability, legal restrictions, access problems, or other operational issues make it impractical or unsafe to continue. We may also stop work where a protected tree consent, property permission, utility clearance, or other necessary approval is missing. If we do so, we will normally offer an alternative date. We are not liable for consequential losses arising from a reasonable postponement, except where the law requires otherwise.

Where work is postponed because the customer has not prepared the site or has failed to provide necessary information, the booking may be treated as a cancellation for charging purposes. We recommend that you avoid arranging dependent events, deliveries, or property sales around the proposed date unless you understand that tree surgery schedules can change.

5. Customer Responsibilities and Site Conditions

You are responsible for ensuring that the work can be carried out safely. This includes informing us of underground services, overhead cables, hidden structures, unstable ground, pest infestations, asbestos, contaminated materials, or any other site condition that may create risk. You must also tell us if the tree is subject to a preservation order, conservation area controls, lease restrictions, neighbour agreements, or planning conditions. If you fail to disclose such matters and we incur loss as a result, you may be liable for that loss.

Unless otherwise agreed, you are responsible for obtaining all permissions and consents required for the work. We may, at our discretion, assist with information relevant to applications, but the legal responsibility remains with the customer unless we expressly accept it in writing. Where access to adjoining land is required, the customer must make the necessary arrangements in advance. We are not obliged to trespass, damage property, or proceed unlawfully in order to complete the service.

If our team identifies a serious risk while working, we may take any reasonable steps necessary to protect people, property, and equipment. This may include stopping work, changing the method, removing only part of a tree, or leaving the site temporarily. Any such decision is made in the interests of safety and does not amount to a breach of contract.

All waste produced by the work, including branches, timber, brash, woodchip, and related arboricultural debris, will be handled in accordance with applicable waste laws and environmental standards. We aim to dispose of green waste responsibly, and where possible it may be recycled, composted, chipped, or processed through approved facilities. Waste transfer arrangements will be managed in line with relevant UK regulations, including the duty to prevent illegal dumping and to ensure that waste is transferred to authorised recipients.

6. Waste, Arisings, and Environmental Compliance

If the quotation states that waste is removed, then removal applies only to the material described in the quote. Large timber sections, stumps, invasive species, or contaminated waste may require separate handling and may be charged additionally if not included. Any timber or woodchip left on site becomes your responsibility unless we agree to remove it. If you ask for waste to be left for firewood, habitat piles, mulch, or other reuse, you accept responsibility for its storage and future handling.

We may provide a waste transfer note or equivalent record where required by law or where reasonably appropriate. You agree not to request disposal methods that would breach environmental law, fly-tipping rules, or local authority requirements. If the site contains hazardous or controlled waste that is not typical for tree surgery, we may suspend work until appropriate arrangements are made. We will not knowingly dispose of waste illegally or in a manner that could cause pollution.

Where stump grinding or root work is carried out, the resulting arisings may include soil, chips, and woody material that cannot always be removed completely from the site without additional cost. Ground disturbance, dust, and residual debris are normal features of this type of service. Unless specifically agreed, reinstatement of lawns, borders, paving, or other surfaces is not included.

7. Liability and Limitations

We will carry out our services with reasonable skill and care, using suitably trained personnel and appropriate equipment. However, tree surgery is an inherently risky activity, and outcomes may be affected by hidden decay, structural weakness, weather, subsurface conditions, and other factors that cannot always be fully predicted. No guarantee is given that a tree will remain safe, healthy, or stable after work, especially where the tree has underlying defects or is subject to environmental stress.

To the fullest extent permitted by law, we are not liable for indirect or consequential losses, loss of profit, loss of business, loss of amenity, or delayed completion caused by circumstances beyond our reasonable control. 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 under UK law. Your statutory rights, where applicable, are not affected.

If we are responsible for physical damage to property, our liability will normally be limited to repairing the damage or paying reasonable compensation, taking into account the condition and age of the affected item. We are not responsible for pre-existing defects, latent weaknesses, or damage that results from the natural condition of a tree or the customer’s failure to disclose relevant information. You should protect valuables, delicate surfaces, and garden features before work begins.

We are not liable for damage caused by third-party interference, concealed services, illegal parking restrictions, or circumstances where we have followed your instructions in good faith. If a neighbour, contractor, or other person prevents completion of the work or causes delay, we may charge for the time and resources already committed.

8. Insurance, Complaints, and Records

We maintain insurance appropriate to the nature of our services, subject to the policy terms and exclusions. Upon reasonable request, we may provide confirmation of cover relevant to the work being undertaken. Any complaint should be raised as soon as possible after the issue arises so that we can investigate while the facts are fresh and, where appropriate, offer a remedy. Delayed complaints may be harder to assess and may reduce the remedies available.

Records of quotations, instructions, variations, invoices, waste transfer documentation, and other relevant communications may be retained for administrative, legal, and tax purposes. By entering into the contract, you agree that we may keep such records for as long as reasonably necessary in line with our legal obligations and legitimate business interests. We will handle personal data in accordance with applicable data protection law where relevant, but this document is not intended to provide a separate privacy notice.

If any clause is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining clauses will continue in full force. No failure or delay by us in exercising any right under these terms shall operate as a waiver of that right. Any variation to these terms must be agreed in writing and authorised by us.

These Terms and Conditions form the complete agreement between the customer and Tree Surgeons Kingscross for the services described, unless replaced by a later written agreement. No employee or representative may change these terms verbally unless we confirm the change in writing. By proceeding with a booking, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and accepted the terms set out above.

9. Governing Law

These terms and any dispute or claim arising from them, including non-contractual disputes or claims, 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, except where consumer law or other mandatory legal rules provide otherwise. This governing law clause applies regardless of where the customer is located or where the work is carried out within the United Kingdom.