Terms and Conditions for Tree Surgeons Stratford

These Terms and Conditions set out the basis on which tree surgery services are provided by Tree Surgeons Stratford and related arboricultural works are delivered to domestic and commercial customers. By requesting a quotation, making a booking, or allowing work to commence, you agree to be bound by these terms. Please read them carefully before any appointment is confirmed.

In these Terms, references to we, us, and our mean the service provider carrying out the works, and references to you and your mean the customer, client, or person authorising the work. These terms apply to all tree surgery services, including but not limited to pruning, crown reduction, crown lifting, deadwood removal, tree felling, stump treatment, hedge maintenance, and site clearance, subject always to any agreed written quotation or specification.

A booking with Tree Surgeons Stratford may be made after an initial enquiry and may involve a site assessment, photographs, measurements, or other information reasonably required to prepare an accurate quotation. Quotations are normally based on the condition of the trees, site access, ground conditions, waste volume, equipment required, and any foreseeable risks. Unless otherwise stated in writing, quotations are valid for a limited period only and may be withdrawn or revised if material information changes before the work date.

Booking Process

When you accept a quotation, a provisional slot may be allocated for the work. A booking is only confirmed when we have accepted your instruction and, where required, received any deposit or written confirmation requested. It is your responsibility to ensure that the site is accessible on the agreed date and that any necessary permissions, notices, or consents have been obtained before the work begins.

Where work is to be carried out on trees subject to planning controls, preservation orders, lease terms, or other restrictions, you must tell us before the booking is confirmed. We may request evidence that any required approvals have been obtained. If you instruct us to proceed without the necessary permissions, you remain fully responsible for any consequences, including delays, penalties, additional costs, or the need to stop work.

We reserve the right to decline, suspend, or reschedule work where weather conditions, safety concerns, access issues, hidden hazards, or equipment failures make it impractical or unsafe to proceed. In such cases, we will make reasonable efforts to rearrange the appointment. However, we do not guarantee attendance at a specific time unless this has been expressly agreed in writing as a fixed appointment.

Payments and Charges

All prices are quoted in sterling unless stated otherwise and may be subject to VAT where applicable. Prices quoted are based on the information available at the time of the estimate. If the scope of the work changes after booking, or if additional labour, machinery, traffic management, lifting equipment, or waste removal is required, we may adjust the price accordingly. Any revised charges will be discussed with you as soon as reasonably practicable.

Unless otherwise stated in writing, payment is due immediately upon completion of the work. For larger contracts, commercial projects, or higher-risk jobs, we may require a deposit, staged payments, or advance payment before mobilisation. Accepted methods of payment will be advised at the time of booking. Late or non-payment may result in debt recovery action, and you may be liable for reasonable costs incurred in recovering unpaid sums.

Where additional work is requested on site, the price for that extra work will be agreed before it is undertaken whenever reasonably possible. If urgent action is needed to make the site safe, protect property, or prevent further damage, we may carry out necessary emergency measures and charge a reasonable amount for the labour, equipment, and materials involved. In all cases, you agree to pay for work properly completed in accordance with the agreed specification.

Cancellations and Amendments

You may cancel or rearrange a booking by giving notice within a reasonable period before the scheduled work date. Cancellations made at short notice may incur a cancellation charge, particularly where staff, equipment, access arrangements, skip hire, traffic management, or specialist machinery has already been committed. The amount charged will reflect the actual loss or cost reasonably incurred by us as a result of the cancellation.

If you wish to amend the scope of the work, you should notify us as early as possible. We will confirm whether the amendment can be accommodated and whether it affects the price, timing, or method of delivery. Where a change materially alters the original quotation, we may issue a revised estimate or require the job to be rebooked.

We may cancel or postpone a booking where conditions beyond our control prevent safe or lawful performance of the work. Such circumstances may include severe weather, emergency call-outs, unexpected site hazards, equipment breakdown, or the discovery of protected nesting birds, dangerous decay, unstable ground, or hidden services. In these circumstances, we will aim to offer a new date, but we are not responsible for indirect losses caused by the delay.

Liability and Customer Responsibilities

We will carry out tree surgery services with reasonable skill and care, using appropriately trained operatives and suitable equipment. Our liability is limited to losses directly caused by our negligence or breach of contract, subject to the exclusions and limits set out in these Terms. We do not exclude liability for death or personal injury caused by our negligence, fraud, or any other liability that cannot lawfully be excluded under UK law.

You are responsible for giving accurate information about the site, including underground services, overhead lines, fragile structures, boundary issues, access restrictions, hidden obstructions, and any known infestations or diseases affecting the trees. You must ensure that pets, children, vehicles, ornaments, and other movable property are kept clear of the work area unless we have agreed otherwise. Where necessary, you should remove or protect items that may be damaged during the works.

Tree surgery can involve unavoidable risks, including falling timber, sawdust, woodchips, vibration, noise, dust, stump debris, and disturbance to surrounding surfaces or planting. While we take care to minimise disruption, minor scuffs, compaction, and surface marking may occur as a normal consequence of arboricultural work. We are not responsible for pre-existing defects, latent structural issues, or deterioration that becomes apparent after pruning, felling, or stump work has been completed.

Tree Surgeons Stratford shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, or consequential losses, including loss of profit, loss of use, loss of opportunity, or business interruption, except where such limitation is prohibited by law. Our total liability for any claim arising from the services supplied shall not exceed the amount paid or payable for the specific work giving rise to the claim, unless a higher limit is required by law.

Waste Removal and Environmental Compliance

All green waste, timber, branches, brash, arisings, and related debris generated by our work are handled in accordance with relevant UK waste management requirements. Unless otherwise agreed in writing, the quotation will state whether waste will be removed, chipped, retained on site, stacked for your use, or left in a designated area. Ownership of arisings may transfer only if expressly agreed; otherwise, waste remains subject to the arrangements set out in the quotation.

We aim to dispose of waste responsibly through lawful channels, and we may separate recyclable material where practical. Certain materials may require specific handling, including diseased timber, invasive species, contaminated arisings, soil, or items mixed with non-green waste. If such material is discovered, we may adjust the price to reflect the additional handling, disposal, or transport costs involved.

You must not request or require us to dispose of controlled or hazardous waste in a manner that is unlawful or inconsistent with applicable environmental obligations. If you ask for waste to be left on site, you accept responsibility for its storage, containment, and later removal, unless we have agreed in writing to manage it further. We are not liable for any penalties or claims arising from your later handling or disposal of waste once our contractual responsibility has ended.

Access, Safety, and Site Conditions

We may stop work immediately if site conditions change in a way that makes the task unsafe. This can include animal interference, hostile behaviour, insufficient clearance, unstable structures, or the discovery of hazards that were not reasonably foreseeable. In such circumstances, we may charge for the work already completed and for reasonable time spent mobilising, waiting, or securing the site.

You must ensure that we have reasonable access to the work area on the agreed date and during the agreed times. If access is delayed because of locked gates, parking restrictions, unavailable keys, restricted entry, or incomplete preparation by you or your agents, we may charge additional waiting or return visit fees. Where parking permits or loading arrangements are required, you are responsible for obtaining them unless we expressly agree to assist.

Any instructions given by you on site must not compromise safety, legal compliance, or professional standards. We may refuse to carry out any request that would be unsafe, unlawful, or inconsistent with good arboricultural practice. Our operatives have the final say on method and sequencing where required to protect people, property, and the trees being managed.

Guarantees, Complaints, and Force Majeure

We do not guarantee the future condition, growth, or structural response of trees following pruning, reduction, or felling-related works, as biological outcomes can vary according to species, age, season, weather, prior management, and inherent tree condition. Any advice provided is based on the information available at the time and should not be treated as a warranty of outcome unless expressly confirmed in writing.

If you have a complaint about our service, you should raise it as soon as reasonably possible so that we can investigate the matter promptly. We may ask for photographs, a description of the issue, and access to inspect the relevant work. We will use reasonable efforts to resolve disputes fairly and efficiently. However, nothing in these Terms limits your statutory rights where applicable.

We shall not be in breach of these Terms if performance is delayed or prevented by circumstances beyond our reasonable control, including but not limited to extreme weather, fire, flood, storm, accident, labour shortages, transport disruption, equipment failure, supply issues, civil disorder, or changes in law or official guidance. If such an event occurs, the affected obligations will be suspended for the duration of the event.

Data, Communications, and General Provisions

Any personal information provided in connection with a booking will be used for administering the service, preparing quotations, arranging attendance, invoicing, record-keeping, and related business purposes. We may retain job records for a reasonable period for compliance, accounting, insurance, and dispute resolution purposes. Communications relating to bookings, quotations, or changes should be treated as valid when sent by the agreed communication method.

If any provision of these Terms is found to be unlawful, invalid, or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue in full force and effect. No failure or delay by us in exercising any right or remedy shall operate as a waiver of that right or remedy. These Terms, together with any written quotation or agreed specification, form the entire agreement between the parties for the services described.

We may update these Terms from time to time to reflect changes in our operations, legal duties, or industry practice. The version in force at the time your booking is accepted will apply to that specific job unless a later written variation is agreed by both parties. By proceeding with a booking, you confirm that you have authority to enter into the agreement and that you accept these conditions.

Governing Law

These Terms and Conditions, and any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with them or the services provided by Tree Surgeons Stratford, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales. The courts of England and Wales shall have exclusive jurisdiction, subject to any mandatory rights available to consumers under applicable law.

Last updated: these terms are intended as a general UK service framework for arboricultural works and should be read alongside any written quotation or job specification issued for a particular project.

If you instruct us to proceed, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agreed to these Terms and Conditions in relation to the tree surgery services provided.