Terms and Conditions for Tree Surgeons Finchley

These Terms and Conditions set out the basis on which tree surgeons in Finchley provide arboricultural services to domestic and commercial customers. By making a booking, you agree to these terms, which are designed to protect both parties and to ensure that work is carried out safely, legally, and with reasonable care. They apply to quotations, site visits, scheduled works, emergency call-outs, and any related waste removal or disposal arranged as part of the service.

For the purposes of these terms, references to “we”, “us”, and “our” mean the tree surgery business carrying out the work, and references to “you” or “the customer” mean the individual or organisation booking the service. These terms should be read alongside any written quotation, estimate, job sheet, or agreed scope of work. If there is any inconsistency, the written quotation or confirmed job specification will usually take precedence for the specific work described.

All services are subject to availability, site access, weather conditions, legal restrictions, and the condition of the trees or surrounding area. Tree surgery can involve risk, and works may need to be adjusted if unexpected issues arise, including hidden decay, unstable limbs, underground services, boundary disputes, or changes required to comply with law. We reserve the right to refuse, pause, or modify work where doing so is necessary to protect safety or legal compliance.

1. Booking Process

Bookings are usually made after an initial enquiry and a site assessment or review of the information you provide. In many cases, a quotation can be issued based on photographs, measurements, or a site visit. However, for more complex tree surgery, an inspection may be required before a final price or schedule is confirmed. A booking is only considered accepted once we have confirmed it in writing, by email, message, invoice, or another clear form of agreement.

When you book tree surgery services, you must provide accurate and complete information about the property, access arrangements, ownership or permission to work, and any known hazards. This includes details about nearby structures, power lines, drainage covers, fences, gardens, roads, parking limits, protected trees, and trees subject to planning controls. If your information is incomplete or incorrect, it may affect timing, pricing, or the ability to complete the work.

It is your responsibility to ensure that you have authority to instruct the work. If you are not the owner, you must have the owner’s permission or the lawful right to commission the service. Where applicable, you should also tell us about any lease terms, management company rules, party wall matters, or other restrictions that could affect the tree surgeon’s access or ability to proceed. We may ask for proof of authority before accepting a booking.

2. Quotation, Scope, and Changes to Work

All quotations are based on the scope described at the time of quoting and any assumptions stated in the quote. Unless otherwise specified, prices typically include labour and routine equipment required for the agreed task, but may exclude permits, specialist access equipment, traffic management, additional stump treatment, or unforeseen disposal requirements. A quotation is usually valid for a limited period and may be withdrawn or revised if conditions change before acceptance.

If you ask us to change the scope of work after booking, we may revise the price and timetable accordingly. Examples include adding stump grinding, reducing crown size beyond the original specification, dealing with extra stem sections, or removing additional waste. Any extra work requested on site must be agreed before it is carried out, unless it is urgently required for safety reasons. If we discover that the original quotation was based on materially incomplete information, we may amend the price to reflect the actual task.

We will always aim to be clear about what is included and what is excluded. However, tree surgery often involves variable conditions that cannot always be fully assessed in advance. Accordingly, the final cost may differ where hidden defects, access obstacles, adverse weather, or legal issues require additional labour, equipment, or time. If a significant change is needed, we will explain the reason where reasonably possible before proceeding.

3. Payments and Invoicing

Payment terms will be stated on the quotation or invoice. Unless agreed otherwise in writing, payment is due on completion of the work, or for larger projects, according to the staged payment terms set out in advance. We may request a deposit to secure a booking, particularly for substantial works, specialist equipment, or scheduled removals. Deposits are normally deducted from the final invoice unless stated otherwise.

All payments must be made using the payment methods we accept at the time of invoicing. If payment is not received by the due date, we may charge interest and reasonable recovery costs in accordance with applicable law. We also reserve the right to suspend future work, withhold certificates or paperwork where lawful, or take recovery action for unpaid sums. Any discount or promotional offer is only valid if confirmed in writing and may be withdrawn if the booking is changed or cancelled outside the agreed conditions.

Where a customer is a business, payment terms may differ from domestic arrangements and may include shorter payment deadlines, credit limits, or advance payment requirements. Invoices should be checked promptly on receipt. If you believe there is an error, you should notify us as soon as possible so that we can review it. Failure to raise a query does not remove the obligation to pay undisputed amounts by the due date.

4. Cancellations, Postponements, and Missed Appointments

If you need to cancel or postpone a booking, you must give notice as early as possible. Cancellation charges may apply where we have already committed labour, equipment, transport, or disposal arrangements. For example, if a team has been scheduled, materials ordered, or machinery reserved, we may retain all or part of the deposit or charge a reasonable cancellation fee to cover losses already incurred.

If access is not available when we attend, or if we are unable to carry out the work because of missing permissions, unsafe conditions, blocked access, vehicle restrictions, or a customer’s failure to prepare the site, this may be treated as a late cancellation or wasted visit. In such cases, a call-out charge or full booking charge may apply, depending on the circumstances and the extent of the loss suffered. We will act reasonably when deciding whether any charge is payable.

We may also postpone or reschedule work if weather, safety, equipment failure, illness, or legal requirements make it impractical or unsafe to proceed. Tree surgery can be heavily affected by wind, rain, ice, lightning, darkness, or other conditions that increase risk. If we have to change a date, we will aim to agree an alternative appointment within a reasonable time. We are not liable for delay caused by events beyond our reasonable control.

5. Liability and Limitations

We will carry out services with reasonable skill and care and in accordance with good arboricultural practice. However, tree work is inherently risky and some outcomes cannot be completely controlled, especially where trees are diseased, damaged, leaning, hollow, or close to buildings, glass, services, or neighbouring land. To the extent permitted by law, we do not accept liability for pre-existing defects, hidden weaknesses, structural movement, or problems that arise from the natural condition of the tree.

We are not responsible for indirect or consequential losses, including loss of use, loss of profit, business interruption, or inconvenience, except where such exclusion is not permitted by law. 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 lawfully be excluded. Where we are found liable for proven loss or damage, our liability will be limited to the amount reasonably foreseeable and, where lawful, no more than the price paid for the service in question.

You must take reasonable steps to protect property, vehicles, garden items, ornaments, sheds, greenhouses, and other fragile or valuable items before work begins. Unless we have expressly agreed to move or protect them, such items remain your responsibility. We may ask you to keep children, pets, and unauthorised persons away from the work area. If you ask us to work in a restricted or congested area, you accept that some minor scarring, turf disturbance, or surface marking may occur despite reasonable care.

6. Waste Removal and Waste Regulations

Waste generated from tree surgery, including timber, brushwood, stump arisings, sawdust, and related green waste, will be handled in accordance with applicable waste regulations. Where we agree to remove waste, we will transport and dispose of it using lawful methods and licensed facilities where required. Waste transfer and duty of care obligations may apply, and we may keep records for compliance purposes. Ownership of waste usually transfers to us only when this is expressly included in the service agreement.

If you request that arisings are left on site, piled, chipped, cut for firewood, or placed in a specific location, you must make this clear before the work begins. Once waste has been left in accordance with your instructions, responsibility for storage and subsequent use may pass to you. Any material identified as contaminated, invasive, or otherwise requiring special handling may attract additional charges because of the need for separate disposal procedures.

We will not knowingly breach environmental or waste law, and you agree not to ask us to dispose of materials unlawfully, including mixed household waste, hazardous substances, or items not arising from the agreed service. If unexpected waste is discovered, such as buried debris, treated timber, or contaminated matter, we may stop and seek further instructions. Extra disposal costs may be added where lawful if the nature or volume of waste materially differs from what was quoted.

7. Customer Responsibilities

To allow us to perform the service safely, you must provide clear access to the site and ensure that the area is reasonably prepared. This may include moving vehicles, securing pets, notifying neighbours where necessary, and ensuring that gates, codes, and permissions are available on the agreed day. You must also tell us about any underground cables, drains, irrigation systems, or hidden services that could be affected by our equipment or operations.

You are responsible for confirming whether planning permission, conservation restrictions, preservation orders, or other legal controls apply to the trees or the site. If approvals are needed, it is your responsibility to obtain them unless we have expressly agreed in writing to handle the application. If work must be delayed because consent has not been obtained, this will not usually be treated as our fault and any resulting charges will be governed by the booking and cancellation provisions above.

Where work affects neighbouring property, you should ensure that any necessary permissions or notices are in place before the date of service. We may rely on your representations regarding ownership, consent, and boundaries unless we have reason to believe otherwise. If a neighbour objects, or if a boundary dispute arises, we may suspend work until the issue is resolved. Any costs incurred due to incorrect instructions or lack of authority may be charged to you where lawful.

8. Complaints, Defects, and Remedies

If you are unhappy with any part of the service, you should notify us as soon as reasonably possible and give us a fair opportunity to review the concern. We may request photographs, site access, or further information so that we can assess whether the issue is due to our workmanship, the natural condition of the tree, weather, third-party interference, or some other cause. Prompt notification helps preserve evidence and allows matters to be resolved more efficiently.

Where a genuine defect in our work is established, our usual remedy will be to return and correct the issue within a reasonable time, provided this is practical and proportionate. We do not accept responsibility for changes that arise after completion due to regrowth, storms, soil movement, disease progression, subsidence, or other natural processes beyond our control. Any claim must be made within a reasonable period after the service has been completed.

Nothing in this section affects your statutory rights where the service is supplied to a consumer. If a court or competent authority decides that any part of these terms is unenforceable, the remaining terms will continue in force. A failure to enforce any right on one occasion does not mean that right is waived for the future.

9. Governing Law

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. If any aspect of the service is supplied across a wider area, this governing law clause will still apply unless a mandatory legal rule states differently.

By proceeding with a booking, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agreed to these terms. They are intended to be fair and practical for both customers and tree surgeons, while reflecting the realities of arboricultural work, waste handling, payment administration, and legal compliance. We may update these terms from time to time, and the version in force at the time of your booking will normally apply to that booking unless a later change is expressly agreed.