Terms and Conditions for Tree Surgeons Millbank

These Terms and Conditions set out the basis on which tree surgery services are provided by Tree Surgeons Millbank. They are intended to create a clear understanding between the customer and the service provider before any work begins. By requesting a quotation, making a booking, or allowing work to commence, the customer agrees to these terms. For the avoidance of doubt, these terms apply to all domestic and commercial tree surgery services, including pruning, crown work, felling, sectional dismantling, stump-related work, and associated site clearance.

Throughout this document, references to “we”, “us” and “our” mean the tree surgery business providing the service, and references to “you” or “the customer” mean the individual, business, landlord, managing agent, or other person requesting the work. Where a third party commissions the work on behalf of a property owner or occupier, that person confirms they have authority to do so and that all necessary permissions have been obtained. These terms should be read carefully alongside any quotation, estimate, risk assessment, written schedule, or specification issued in relation to the work.

Any variation to these terms must be agreed in writing. Tree surgeons Millbank may update or replace these terms from time to time, but the version in force at the time of booking will apply to that instruction unless otherwise agreed in writing. If any term is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue in full force. Headings are for convenience only and do not affect interpretation.

Booking Process

A booking is normally made after an initial enquiry, during which the customer provides a description of the trees, the nature of the requested work, and any relevant site information. Depending on the complexity of the job, we may arrange a site visit, request photographs, or ask for additional details before issuing a quotation. A quote is usually based on the information available at the time and may be subject to revision if the scope of work, access conditions, tree condition, or legal requirements change.

Once a quotation is accepted, the customer may be asked to confirm the booking by email, message, written acceptance, or another recorded method. Acceptance of a quote does not always create a fixed appointment date unless explicitly stated. Where a date is agreed, the time may remain approximate due to the nature of outdoor work, weather conditions, traffic, emergency callouts, and operational factors. The customer accepts that tree surgery often depends on safe working conditions and that scheduling may need to be adjusted at short notice.

Before work begins, the customer must ensure that the site is accessible and safe for our team to carry out the agreed services. This includes providing suitable access to the property, identifying underground or overhead hazards where known, and informing us of any hidden risks, protected areas, boundary disputes, or tenancy restrictions. If machinery, climbing equipment, or vehicles are required, the customer must allow adequate space for safe operation and loading. If work cannot proceed due to access issues or inaccurate information, a call-out or abortive visit charge may apply.

Payments and Pricing

All prices are provided in good faith based on the information available at the time of the quotation. Unless expressly stated, quotations are valid for a limited period and may be withdrawn or amended if costs change significantly or if the scope of the service changes. Prices may be inclusive or exclusive of VAT depending on the business structure and the wording of the quotation; where VAT applies, this will be stated. The customer is responsible for reviewing the price, scope, and any exclusions before confirming the booking.

Payment terms will be confirmed in advance and may require a deposit, staged payment, or payment in full on completion. In many cases, payment is due immediately upon completion unless otherwise agreed in writing. We may require advance payment for larger projects, specialist equipment, waste disposal, or work involving substantial labour or subcontracted services. If a deposit is taken, it may be non-refundable where costs have already been incurred, subject always to applicable consumer law.

Late payment may result in administration charges, statutory interest, or suspension of further services, where permitted by law and where reasonable notice is given. Title to any goods supplied, where applicable, does not transfer until all sums due are paid in full. The customer must raise any genuine invoice query promptly. A query about an invoice does not remove the obligation to pay undisputed sums by the due date. Tree surgeons Millbank reserve the right to recover reasonable debt collection and legal costs where payment is not made in accordance with these terms.

Cancellations, Postponements and Access Issues

Cancellations should be made as early as possible. If the customer cancels after a booking has been confirmed, we may charge for costs already incurred, including labour allocation, hire equipment, travel, permits, or waste arrangements. Where a cancellation is made at short notice, a reasonable cancellation fee may apply to reflect lost time and unrecoverable expenses. The amount charged will depend on the stage of preparation and the specific circumstances of the booking.

If the customer wishes to reschedule, we will try to offer an alternative date, but availability cannot be guaranteed. Weather, storms, high winds, heavy rain, frozen ground, or other conditions may make tree work unsafe or impractical. In such cases, we may postpone the service without liability for delay and will seek a new suitable appointment. Likewise, if we attend a site and find that the work cannot safely proceed because access is blocked, permission is absent, or the tree is materially different from the description provided, we may charge a call-out fee or rebooking fee where reasonable.

Tree surgery Millbank services often involve practical coordination, and the customer agrees to cooperate fully in relation to parking, access arrangements, and any temporary restrictions necessary to complete the work. The customer must remove or secure items that could be damaged by falling timber, moving vehicles, stump grinders, or other equipment. We do not accept liability for delays or additional costs caused by the customer’s failure to prepare the site appropriately.

Liability and Insurance

We will carry out services with reasonable skill and care, using appropriately trained personnel and suitable equipment. However, tree surgery is inherently hazardous and may involve unpredictable natural conditions, hidden defects, decay, unstable limbs, root movement, subsidence concerns, or structural weaknesses in nearby property. The customer acknowledges that some risks cannot be eliminated entirely, even when good practice is followed. Our liability is therefore limited to the extent permitted by law.

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. Subject to that, we shall not be liable for indirect or consequential loss, loss of profit, loss of business, loss of opportunity, or damage arising from pre-existing defects, hidden conditions, or matters outside our reasonable control. We are not responsible for damage caused by defective structures, weak fences, concealed drains, underground services not marked or disclosed, or items left within the working zone.

The customer is responsible for informing us of known hazards, including but not limited to underground utilities, fragile roofs, sprinkler systems, cables, pipes, shared boundaries, tree preservation matters, and ecological constraints. If such information is not disclosed before work starts, the customer may be liable for resulting delays, abortive work, or third-party claims. Where we recommend precautions, exclusions, or specialist input, the customer should consider them carefully. Any work carried out against our advice is done at the customer’s risk to the extent permitted by law.

Waste Removal, Recycling and Environmental Requirements

Waste produced during tree surgeons Millbank operations may include timber, branches, foliage, roots, woodchip, soil, sawdust, and related green waste. Unless the quotation states otherwise, waste removal and disposal will only be included where specifically agreed. If the customer requests that waste be left on site, it will normally be placed in a tidy and reasonable manner, subject to access and site conditions. Any request for additional clearance, loading, hauling, or separate waste sorting may increase the price.

We will handle waste in accordance with applicable UK environmental and waste management requirements, including duties relating to the transfer, transport, and lawful disposal of waste. Waste may be recycled, reused, chipped, composted, or taken to an authorised facility depending on the type of material and the nature of the job. The customer must not instruct us to dispose of waste unlawfully, and we reserve the right to refuse any request that would breach environmental law, safety rules, or disposal regulations. If waste transfer documentation is required, the parties will cooperate to ensure compliance.

Where waste is left at the property by agreement, the customer is responsible for its storage, treatment, and onward disposal after handover unless otherwise stated. We do not accept responsibility for waste that is moved, burned, dumped, or altered by others after completion, unless the issue arises from our proven negligence. If the customer requires logs, woodchip, mulch, or other by-products for reuse, this must be agreed in advance because it may affect handling, time, and disposal costs.

Customer Responsibilities and Site Conditions

The customer must obtain, or confirm that the relevant person has obtained, all necessary permissions before work starts. This may include landlord consent, freeholder approval, management company approval, planning consent, tree preservation permission, conservation area considerations, and any other approvals required by law. We may ask for evidence of such permissions, but responsibility for securing them remains with the customer unless we have expressly agreed in writing to arrange them on the customer’s behalf.

The customer must also disclose any relevant site condition that could affect safety, pricing, or completion of the work. This includes asbestos, weak outbuildings, hidden ponds, electrified fencing, livestock, aggressive animals, unstable ground, contamination, and nearby public access. If the customer fails to disclose such matters and this results in extra work, delay, or risk, we may revise the quotation or suspend the service until the issue is resolved. We may refuse to proceed where the site presents unacceptable danger.

We may take photographs or other records before, during, and after the service for operational, legal, insurance, and quality control purposes. Such records may be used to document the condition of trees, work performed, site hazards, and waste handling. They will be processed in accordance with applicable data protection requirements, where relevant. Any personal data obtained in connection with the booking will be used only for legitimate business purposes connected with the service, invoicing, safety, and compliance.

Changes to Scope, Subcontracting and Force Majeure

If additional work becomes necessary because the tree is larger, more diseased, more dangerous, or more inaccessible than anticipated, we may revise the quote before proceeding. Where immediate action is required for safety reasons, we may carry out essential work without waiting for further written approval if delay would create unreasonable risk. Any material change in scope may result in an adjusted price. The customer will normally be informed before additional charges are incurred, where practicable.

We may engage qualified subcontractors or specialist contractors to assist with parts of the service, provided that overall responsibility for the agreed work remains with us unless otherwise stated. Any such subcontracting will not reduce the standards expected of the service. Where specialist equipment or traffic management is needed, the customer may be informed in advance if this affects timing or cost.

We will not be liable for failure or delay caused by events beyond our reasonable control, including severe weather, accidents, illness, strikes, road closures, acts of God, utility failures, material shortages, or legal restrictions. If such an event occurs, we may suspend, reschedule, or cancel the work without incurring liability for losses that arise solely from the delay. Any sums already paid for work not performed will be dealt with fairly in accordance with the circumstances and the law.

Complaints, Termination and Governing Law

If the customer has a concern about the service, they should raise it promptly and provide reasonable detail so that we can investigate. We may ask for photographs, notes, or access to the site to assess the issue. We will aim to resolve genuine complaints fairly, but the customer must give us a reasonable opportunity to inspect, remedy, or explain the matter before arranging third-party intervention. Where a complaint is upheld, any remedy will be proportionate to the issue and consistent with our legal obligations.

We may terminate or suspend a booking if the customer fails to pay, provides misleading information, behaves abusively, refuses reasonable safety instructions, or otherwise breaches these terms. In such circumstances, we may charge for work completed, costs incurred, or lost resources where lawful and reasonable. If the customer terminates the agreement without lawful reason after work has begun, they may remain responsible for the value of services already supplied and any agreed cancellation costs.

These terms and any dispute or claim arising from them 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, unless consumer law provides otherwise. If any provision is found unlawful or unenforceable, it shall be severed to the extent necessary, and the remainder of the terms shall continue to apply. By proceeding with a booking, the customer confirms that they have read, understood, and accepted these terms in relation to the tree surgery services provided.