Terms and Conditions for Tree Surgeons Barbican
These Terms and Conditions set out the basis on which Tree Surgeons Barbican provides arboricultural services to customers in the UK. They apply to all quotations, bookings, site visits, tree work, stump-related services, waste removal arrangements, and any related activities unless otherwise agreed in writing. By requesting a quotation, confirming a booking, or allowing work to begin, the customer agrees to be bound by these terms. For clarity, references to we, us, and our mean the service provider, and references to you and your mean the customer, property owner, occupier, or authorised representative who arranges the work. These terms are intended to promote fair dealing, transparency, and safe working practices while reflecting the practical realities of tree surgery services.
1. Scope of Services. Our services may include crown reduction, crown thinning, crown lifting, pruning, deadwood removal, tree felling, stump grinding, hedge cutting, tree inspections, emergency tree works, and associated waste clearance. The exact scope of work will be described in the quotation, written estimate, or order confirmation. Any additional work requested on site, or required because of unforeseen conditions, may be treated as an extra chargeable item subject to agreement before the work proceeds. We reserve the right to decline work that is unsafe, unlawful, or beyond the agreed scope.
2. Formation of the Contract. A contract is formed when you accept our written quotation, provide written or verbal confirmation following a quotation, or otherwise instruct us to proceed after receiving our terms. If a site visit is required before we can quote, the visit may be chargeable unless stated otherwise. Quotations are based on the information available at the time and may be revised if access, tree condition, waste volume, ground conditions, or legal requirements differ from what was originally described. If a revised quotation is needed, we will explain the reasons clearly before work continues.
3. Booking Process. A booking will usually begin with an enquiry, followed by a site assessment where necessary, then a quotation and proposed date for attendance. You must ensure that the person confirming the booking has authority to do so. When you accept a date, you should make sure the site is accessible and that any permissions required from landlords, neighbours, management companies, or local authorities have been obtained before work starts. We may ask for photographs, tree location details, access information, or evidence of ownership or authority to proceed. Any failure to provide accurate information may lead to delays, re-pricing, or cancellation of the booking.
We aim to schedule work within a reasonable timeframe, but dates are estimates unless a fixed date is expressly agreed in writing. Weather, staffing, equipment issues, safety concerns, permit requirements, and traffic or access restrictions may affect timing. If we arrive and cannot carry out the work because the site is not ready, access is blocked, or information has been withheld, we may charge a wasted attendance fee or reschedule at our discretion. For larger or more complex tree surgery services, we may divide the works into phases and confirm each stage separately.
4. Customer Responsibilities. You are responsible for ensuring that the work area is safe and that children, pets, vehicles, and valuables are kept away from the operational zone. You must tell us about underground services, overhead lines, fragile structures, concealed hazards, protected wildlife, or any other relevant risks. If the trees are shared, jointly owned, or subject to boundary disputes, you must resolve authority issues before work begins. You are also responsible for obtaining any permissions or consents that are legally required unless we have expressly agreed in writing to assist with that process.
Payments, Charges and Invoicing
Our pricing may be fixed, estimated, or based on time and materials, depending on the nature of the work. Unless stated otherwise, quotations are valid for a limited period and may be withdrawn or amended after that period expires. Prices may change if the specification changes, if hidden defects are discovered, if waste volumes are greater than expected, or if access proves more difficult than described. Any variation to the original quotation must be agreed before the additional work is performed, except where immediate action is required for safety reasons.Unless otherwise stated, payment is due on completion of the work or within the period shown on the invoice. We may request a deposit to secure a booking, particularly for larger projects or where materials, machinery, or subcontractors need to be arranged in advance. Deposits are normally non-refundable except where cancellation rights apply under these terms or where we are unable to provide the service. Payment may be made by bank transfer or other method we have agreed in advance. Late payments may incur interest and recovery costs in accordance with applicable UK law. We reserve the right to suspend further work, withhold clearance of materials not yet scheduled for removal, or cancel future bookings where invoices remain unpaid.
5. Cancellations and Rescheduling. You may cancel or reschedule a booking by giving reasonable notice. If you cancel after we have committed resources, purchased materials, arranged equipment, or reserved labour, we may retain the deposit or charge a cancellation fee reflecting our reasonable losses. If cancellation occurs at short notice, including on the day of attendance, we may also charge for wasted time, travel, and any preparatory costs already incurred. If adverse weather or unsafe conditions make the work impracticable, we may postpone the appointment without liability and offer an alternative date. We will act reasonably and expect the same in return.
Where a cancellation is caused by your failure to secure permission, confirm access, or provide accurate instructions, the booking may be treated as a customer cancellation. If we must cancel because of illness, equipment failure, or circumstances beyond our control, we will use reasonable efforts to rearrange the service. We do not accept responsibility for indirect losses caused by a cancellation or rescheduling, such as time off work, transport costs, or third-party arrangements, unless required by law.
6. Liability and Limitations
We will carry out tree surgery services with reasonable care and skill, using competent operatives and appropriate equipment. However, tree work is inherently hazardous and can involve unpredictable natural conditions. Subject to the remainder of this clause, we accept liability for direct loss or damage caused by our negligence, breach of contract, or failure to comply with legal obligations. We do not exclude or limit liability where it would be unlawful to do so, including liability for death or personal injury caused by our negligence, fraud, or fraudulent misrepresentation.We are not liable for pre-existing defects, structural weakness, subsidence, hidden decay, root damage, unstable ground, or latent conditions that were not apparent on visual inspection. We are also not responsible for damage that results from information you failed to disclose, such as the location of underground utilities, shared structures, or buried services. Where our work is carried out close to walls, fences, buildings, roofs, glass, paving, or utilities, some minor disturbance may be unavoidable and does not necessarily amount to negligence. Any plants, turf, or features affected by access routes or machinery use are entered at your risk unless we specifically agree protective measures in writing.
Our total liability for any claim arising from the provision of services shall, to the extent permitted by law, be limited to the amount paid or payable for the specific service giving rise to the claim. We shall not be liable for indirect or consequential loss, loss of profit, loss of business, loss of use, or reputational damage. Nothing in these terms affects your statutory rights as a consumer where applicable. If you believe damage has occurred, you must notify us promptly and allow us a reasonable opportunity to inspect the issue and, where appropriate, remedy it.
7. Waste Handling, Recycling and Environmental Compliance Tree surgery services often create woodchip, branches, logs, foliage, stump arisings, and other green waste. Unless otherwise agreed, we will arrange removal and lawful disposal or recycling of waste generated by the agreed works. Waste may be processed into biomass, mulch, logs, compostable material, or other lawful recovery streams where suitable. We may also leave some timber, arisings, or woodchip on site if you request this in advance and if it is safe and practical to do so.
All waste handling will be carried out in accordance with applicable UK waste regulations, environmental duties, and duty-of-care requirements. We will use lawful carriers and authorised facilities where required. If you ask us to leave waste on site, you accept responsibility for its further management once the work has been completed and the area handed back. If waste is contaminated, contains treated wood, invasive species, or other restricted material, special handling charges may apply. We may refuse to remove any material that presents a legal or environmental risk unless appropriate arrangements are in place.
Where protected habitats, nesting birds, bats, or other wildlife may be present, the work may need to be delayed, modified, or stopped. We will not knowingly breach wildlife or conservation laws. You agree to inform us of any known ecological sensitivities, Tree Preservation Orders, conservation restrictions, or planning conditions that may affect disposal or working methods. If a legal restriction applies that was not disclosed before booking, additional time and costs may be charged, or the work may be suspended until proper authorisation is obtained.
8. Access, Site Conditions and Suspension of Work
We require safe and reasonable access to the property and the trees to be worked on. You must make sure gates, drives, shared paths, and parking arrangements are available at the agreed time. We may need access for vehicles, chippers, stump grinders, MEWPs, or other equipment. If access is restricted or unsafe, we may adapt the method, charge extra, or decline the work. We are entitled to stop work immediately if we consider conditions to be unsafe, illegal, or materially different from those described when the booking was made.Examples of grounds for suspension include severe weather, high winds, lightning, nearby pedestrians, unstable trees, vandalism, aggressive animals, hidden obstructions, or interference from third parties. If work is suspended for safety reasons, any completed part of the service remains chargeable. We will seek to complete the remaining work once conditions allow. Tree surgeons in Barbican and elsewhere must prioritise public safety, and you acknowledge that professional judgment on site may require changes to the plan.
9. Materials, Equipment and Property Protection. Where our work involves ropes, machinery, access platforms, timber stacks, protective boards, or barrier systems, we will use reasonable care to protect the site. However, you accept that some marks, compression, or minor surface disturbance may occur when heavy equipment is used, especially on lawns, soft ground, or narrow access points. We are not responsible for damage to fragile or poorly maintained surfaces unless we have expressly agreed to provide protective measures and have failed to do so.
10. Complaints and Rectification
If you are dissatisfied with any aspect of the work, you must notify us as soon as reasonably possible and provide enough detail for us to investigate. We may ask for photographs, a site visit, or further information. Where we have made an error, we may choose to rectify the issue, offer a reasonable price adjustment, or take another step that is fair in the circumstances. This process does not limit any rights you may have under law. Complaints will be handled proportionately and in good faith, but you must give us a fair chance to resolve concerns before instructing third parties to alter the work, unless immediate action is required for safety.11. Subcontractors and Personnel. We may use employees, subcontractors, or specialist trades where appropriate. If any part of the work is carried out by a subcontractor, these Terms and Conditions still apply. We remain responsible for coordinating the service unless we have expressly stated otherwise. You must not directly instruct our personnel to perform tasks outside the agreed specification without our consent, and any such instruction may create additional charges or safety risks.
12. Governing Law and Jurisdiction. These terms and any dispute or claim arising from them, whether contractual or non-contractual, shall be governed by the laws of England and Wales. The courts of England and Wales shall have exclusive jurisdiction, except where mandatory consumer law provides otherwise. If any provision of these terms is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect. No waiver of any breach shall be treated as a waiver of any later breach.
13. General Provisions
These terms form the entire agreement between you and us for the services described, subject to any written variation signed or confirmed by both parties. If we choose not to enforce a term on one occasion, that does not prevent us from enforcing it later. Any notice under these terms should be given in writing by an agreed communication method. We may update these terms from time to time, but the version applicable to your booking will be the version in force when the contract was formed, unless a later change is required by law or agreed by both parties.For avoidance of doubt, the wording tree surgeons Barbican, Barbican tree surgeons, tree surgery services, and arboricultural contractors may be used interchangeably in marketing or documents, but the same core service obligations apply. These terms are designed to support professional, lawful, and efficient working practices across residential, commercial, and managed sites. By proceeding with a booking, you confirm that you have read, understood, and accepted these Terms and Conditions in full.
The customer and the service provider both agree to cooperate in good faith, communicate promptly about any changes, and act reasonably throughout the project. This approach helps ensure that tree surgery works are delivered safely, legally, and with appropriate respect for property, people, and the environment.