Terms and Conditions for Tree Surgeons Kenton

These Terms and Conditions set out the basis on which Tree Surgeons Kenton provides tree surgery, arboricultural, pruning, felling, stump-related, and associated site services to domestic and commercial customers in the United Kingdom. By making a booking, accepting a quotation, or allowing work to begin, the customer agrees to be bound by these terms. These conditions are intended to create a fair and practical framework for both parties, covering the booking process, payments, cancellations, liability, waste handling, and the law that governs the agreement. They should be read together with any written quotation, job specification, or service notes provided before the work starts.

For the purposes of these terms, the words “we,” “us,” and “our” refer to the service provider, while “you” and “your” refer to the customer, owner, occupier, agent, or authorised representative requesting the service. If you are booking on behalf of a business, landlord, managing agent, or other organisation, you confirm that you have authority to agree to these terms. Where a quotation or proposal differs from these general terms, the quotation or proposal will prevail only to the extent of the difference.

Any reference to tree surgeons in Kenton, Kenton tree surgery services, or Tree Surgeons Kenton is used for identification and service description only. These terms are designed for a legal information page and do not form promotional material. Nothing in these conditions affects any rights that cannot lawfully be excluded under UK law, including mandatory consumer rights where applicable.

1. Booking Process and Acceptance

A booking is normally made after an initial enquiry, followed by a site review, assessment of the work, and issue of a quotation or estimate. We may request photographs, access details, measurements, or other relevant information to help us assess the job. In some cases, a site visit may be necessary before a final price or scope can be confirmed. A quotation may include labour, equipment, waste removal, traffic management, access requirements, or other related items. Unless expressly stated otherwise, quotations are valid for a limited period and may be withdrawn or revised after expiry.

A booking is only confirmed when we have accepted the work and, where applicable, received a deposit, written acceptance, or confirmation by email, text, or other recorded method. Verbal discussions, informal messages, and preliminary estimates do not create a binding obligation to attend or carry out the work until the booking is confirmed. We may refuse or decline a booking where access is unsafe, the requested work is unsuitable, legal permissions are missing, or the job falls outside our available scope, certification, or scheduling capacity. We also reserve the right to suspend or delay a booking if weather conditions, safety concerns, or third-party restrictions make attendance impractical.

2. Customer Responsibilities Before Work Starts

You must ensure that the site is ready for the scheduled work. This includes giving us accurate information about tree location, boundaries, underground services, overhead obstructions, parking restrictions, and any hazards that may affect the work. You are responsible for obtaining any necessary permissions from landlords, neighbours, management companies, local authorities, or other interested parties unless we have expressly agreed in writing to handle part of that process. If the job requires a felling licence, tree preservation consent, conservation-related approval, or similar permission, work will not proceed until the required authority has been obtained or confirmed as not required.

Payments and Pricing

Our prices are based on the information available at the time of quotation. If the actual work differs materially from the description provided, if hidden hazards are discovered, or if additional tasks are requested, the price may be adjusted to reflect the extra time, equipment, labour, disposal costs, or specialist input required. Unless stated otherwise, prices are exclusive of VAT where VAT applies. Any deposit requested is usually non-refundable once the work has been scheduled and resources have been committed, except where we cancel the booking or where consumer law requires a refund.

Payment terms will be set out in the quotation, invoice, or booking confirmation. In most cases, payment is due upon completion of the work, though larger, commercial, or phased projects may require staged payments or an upfront deposit. We may accept bank transfer, card payment, or other agreed methods, but we are not obliged to accept cash or any method not expressly approved in advance. If payment is not made by the due date, we reserve the right to charge reasonable late fees, interest, administration costs, or recovery expenses to the extent permitted by law.

Where a customer withholds payment due to a complaint or dispute, they must notify us promptly and clearly identify the issue. Withholding the full amount without reasonable cause may be treated as a breach of contract. Any undisputed amount remains payable on time. We may suspend further work, withhold certificates or documentation, or decline future services if invoices remain overdue. Pricing errors caused by obvious typographical mistakes or incorrect site assumptions may be corrected before or after acceptance, provided we act fairly and in good faith.

3. Cancellation, Rescheduling, and Delays

Either party may request a cancellation or rescheduling, but charges may apply depending on how much notice is given and what preparations have already been made. If you cancel with adequate notice, we will aim to avoid charging unnecessary costs; however, where crews, machinery, permits, or waste arrangements have already been committed, you may be liable for those reasonable costs. If cancellation occurs after arrival on site or after work has begun, you may be charged for the full or partial cost of labour, travel, and any completed element of the service.

We may cancel or reschedule a booking for safety reasons, adverse weather, equipment failure, access issues, staff illness, or if the customer fails to provide accurate information, access, or required permissions. In such circumstances, we will try to offer a new date or reasonable alternative. We are not liable for losses caused by unavoidable delay, including weather-related postponement, traffic disruption, third-party obstruction, or legal restrictions outside our control. If delay continues for reasons beyond our reasonable control, either party may agree to pause or terminate the arrangement without further obligation apart from payment for work already completed.

We recommend that customers do not arrange unrelated contractors, deliveries, or travel dependent on our attendance until the work is confirmed and started. Any loss arising from relying on an unconfirmed or delayed booking is outside our responsibility unless caused by our negligence or deliberate breach. The same applies to deadlines linked to house sales, landlord inspections, insurance matters, or compliance dates unless we have expressly guaranteed a completion date in writing.

4. Health, Safety, Liability, and Limitations

Tree surgery involves inherent risks, including falling timber, sharp tools, debris, noise, dust, and unstable ground conditions. We take reasonable steps to work safely and in accordance with applicable health and safety obligations. However, you acknowledge that some degree of disruption or disturbance is an unavoidable part of the service. You must keep children, pets, residents, staff, and visitors away from the working area while work is in progress. If you fail to do so, or if you interfere with the work, we may stop the job until the site is made safe.

We are responsible only for losses caused by our proven negligence, wilful misconduct, or breach of contract, and only to the extent permitted by law. We are not responsible for pre-existing defects, hidden decay, storm damage, underground utilities, boundary disputes, subsidence issues, or any condition that was not reasonably discoverable at the time of quotation or inspection. Where we advise that additional specialist input is needed, such as an engineer, surveyor, utility operator, or authority approval, it is your responsibility to obtain that advice unless we have agreed otherwise in writing.

To the fullest extent allowed by law, we exclude liability for indirect, consequential, or economic losses such as loss of profit, loss of business opportunity, or loss of amenity. Nothing in these terms excludes liability for death or personal injury caused by our negligence, fraud, fraudulent misrepresentation, or any other liability that cannot lawfully be excluded. If our liability is found to exist, it will be limited to the reasonable value of the service provided or the amount recoverable under our insurance, whichever is lower, subject always to applicable law.

5. Waste, Arisings, and Environmental Compliance

Tree surgery work often produces branches, trunks, brushwood, stump material, leaves, woodchip, sawdust, and other arisings. Unless the quotation states otherwise, we will remove and dispose of the agreed waste in accordance with current UK waste regulations and accepted environmental practice. Waste may be reused, recycled, chipped, composted, or sent to licensed disposal or recovery facilities. We will not knowingly leave material in a condition that breaches environmental law or creates an unsafe nuisance, but some residual dust, small debris, or marks may remain after work involving heavy pruning, grinding, or felling.

If you ask us to leave timber, woodchip, or other arisings on site, that request must be made clearly in advance and may affect the price, timing, or method of work. Any waste left on site becomes your responsibility once accepted, unless we agree to retain control of it for a specific purpose such as mulching or storage. You must not require us to dispose of protected, hazardous, contaminated, or regulated materials unless we have the proper authority and equipment to do so. If unexpected waste is discovered, the job may be paused until the issue is assessed and priced.

We may provide, retain, and where required present records relating to waste transfer, carrier status, or disposal arrangements in line with applicable law. The customer must cooperate with any lawful documentation requests that relate to waste classification, site access, or duty of care obligations. If you instruct us to leave green waste or timber in a public area or in a way that could cause nuisance, obstruction, or regulatory breach, we may refuse that instruction and instead remove the material at additional cost.

6. Variations, Access, and Site Conditions

Where the customer requests changes to the original specification, we may revise the price and timing accordingly. Examples include additional trees, extra pruning, different heights, altered stump treatment, emergency attendance, or changes to waste handling. We will use reasonable skill and care in carrying out the agreed work, but the exact appearance or outcome of live tree work can never be guaranteed because trees are natural, variable, and influenced by species, season, age, prior maintenance, and site conditions.

You must provide safe access to the property and ensure that any locked gates, vehicle restrictions, restricted lanes, alarm systems, or access codes are communicated in advance. If access is delayed or denied, waiting time may be charged. Where equipment cannot reach the work area due to parking limitations, soft ground, narrow access, or overhead obstacles, we may need to change the method, bring alternative machinery, or reduce the scope. Additional costs arising from such changes may be chargeable.

We are not responsible for minor cosmetic effects arising from necessary tree work, including bark scuffing, lawn compression, disturbed soil, leaf fall, or marks caused by equipment access, provided reasonable care has been taken. Where particularly sensitive surfaces or nearby structures are present, you should inform us before the job begins so that protective measures can be discussed. Our willingness to take precautions does not mean we accept responsibility for every unavoidable effect of site operations.

7. Complaints and Remedies

If you believe that a service issue has occurred, you should notify us as soon as reasonably possible and provide a clear explanation of the concern. This gives us the opportunity to inspect the matter, offer clarification, or where appropriate, propose a remedy. We may choose to revisit the site, complete a minor correction, or offer another fair solution, provided that the issue relates to the work we actually carried out and not to later damage, third-party interference, or normal natural change.

Any remedy will be proportionate to the nature of the problem. If a defect is capable of being corrected, we may do so rather than offering a refund. Where a partial refund is justified, it will reflect the reduced value of the affected element only. Complaints will not be accepted where the result was caused by factors outside our control, inaccurate instructions, hidden site conditions, or the customer’s failure to maintain the work area after completion. This does not reduce any legal rights available under UK consumer law.

8. Governing Law and General Provisions

These Terms and Conditions, and any dispute or claim arising from them, are governed by the laws of England and Wales. Where Scottish or Northern Irish law is mandatory in relation to a particular customer or contract, the relevant legal provisions will apply to that extent only. The parties agree that the courts of England and Wales shall have jurisdiction, unless mandatory law provides otherwise. If any part of these terms is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue in full force.

Failure by us to enforce any right or provision at any time will not be treated as a waiver of that right. Any waiver must be in writing to be effective. These terms represent the entire agreement between the parties for the service, unless modified in writing by both sides. Headings are included for convenience only and do not affect interpretation. References to one gender include all genders, and references to the singular include the plural where the context allows.

By proceeding with a booking for Tree Surgeons Kenton services, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agreed to these Terms and Conditions. You also confirm that the information you have given is accurate to the best of your knowledge and that you will cooperate with any reasonable requests necessary for safe, lawful, and efficient completion of the work.