Tree Surgeon Bromley Terms and Conditions

These Terms and Conditions set out the basis on which tree surgeon Bromley services are provided. By requesting a quotation, making a booking, or allowing work to commence, the customer agrees to these terms. They are designed to clarify the scope of the service, the booking process, payment obligations, cancellation rights, liability limits, and how waste is handled after tree work is completed. These terms apply to domestic and commercial customers unless otherwise agreed in writing.

For the purposes of these terms, references to tree surgery, tree maintenance, arboricultural services, and similar expressions include pruning, crown reduction, crown lifting, crown thinning, deadwood removal, felling, stump-related services where specified, site clearance, and the removal of branches, timber, and green waste. The exact work to be carried out will be described in the quotation or service agreement. Any work not expressly included is excluded unless the parties agree a variation.

The customer is responsible for ensuring that they have the right to instruct the work and that the property owner or managing party has approved the service where required. If permission from a landlord, managing agent, freeholder, neighbour, or local authority is needed, the customer must obtain it before the appointment unless the contractor has expressly agreed in writing to do so. The customer must also disclose any tree preservation order, conservation area restriction, boundary issue, shared access concern, underground services, overhead cables, or other relevant limitation that may affect the work.

Booking Process

A booking is normally made after a site assessment, remote quotation, or discussion of the required tree surgery work. Quotes are usually based on the information available at the time and may be revised if the site conditions, access, tree condition, or scope of work differ materially from the description provided. A quotation is not an obligation to proceed unless accepted by both parties. Acceptance may occur in writing, by email, by message, or by verbal confirmation followed by an agreed appointment.

Once a booking is confirmed, the contractor may allocate personnel, machinery, traffic management, climbing equipment, wood chippers, and disposal arrangements specifically for that appointment. The customer must ensure access to the site at the agreed time and must remove or secure obstacles, pets, vehicles, and valuable items that may interfere with the work. Where access is restricted, delayed, or unsafe, the contractor may reschedule the appointment or charge a reasonable call-out or waiting fee if time has been lost as a result of the customer’s failure to prepare the site.

It is the customer’s duty to provide accurate information when booking. This includes tree size, location, surrounding structures, power lines, ground conditions, and whether the area contains hidden hazards such as sinks, service covers, hard landscaping, buried cables, or unstable surfaces. If the customer withholds information or provides inaccurate details, the contractor may adjust the price, change the method of work, refuse to proceed, or suspend the service where continuing would be unsafe.

The contractor will use reasonable skill and care in carrying out tree surgeon services, but the customer acknowledges that arboricultural work often involves natural variation and professional judgment. Where the service includes pruning or reduction, the final shape and appearance may vary from any illustration, expectation, or previous state of the tree. The contractor may need to alter the method of work on the day if the tree’s condition, weather, or surrounding risks require a different approach.

Payments

Unless otherwise agreed, payment is due in full on completion of the work. In some cases, the contractor may request a deposit, especially for larger tree removal projects, scheduled work requiring plant hire, or jobs involving the disposal of substantial waste. Any deposit requested will be stated in the quotation or booking confirmation. Deposits are used to secure scheduling and may be non-refundable where the contractor has incurred costs or reserved labour and equipment for the appointment, subject always to applicable consumer law.

All prices are quoted in pounds sterling and may be inclusive or exclusive of VAT depending on the contractor’s tax status, which will be made clear in the quotation. If the work is varied, additional charges may apply for extra time, increased waste volume, difficult access, emergency work, stump grinding not previously included, crane assistance, or specialist machinery. The customer will be informed of any material increase where reasonably practicable before the additional work is undertaken.

Where payment is not made on time, the contractor may suspend further services, withhold waste removal, or charge reasonable interest and recovery costs permitted by law. Non-payment may also result in the matter being referred for debt recovery. The customer remains responsible for all agreed fees unless the contract is lawfully cancelled in accordance with these terms. If payment is made by bank transfer, card, cheque, or another accepted method, the customer must ensure that funds clear in full and that any payment reference is accurately provided.

Cancellations and Rescheduling

The customer may cancel or reschedule a booking by giving reasonable notice. If notice is given sufficiently in advance and the contractor has not yet incurred material costs, any deposit may be returned or held as a credit at the contractor’s discretion. If cancellation occurs after staff, vehicles, machinery, permits, or disposal arrangements have already been committed, the contractor may deduct reasonable costs from any deposit or charge a cancellation fee reflecting actual losses.

Where the contractor must cancel due to severe weather, unsafe site conditions, equipment failure, illness, road closures, or other events beyond reasonable control, the appointment will usually be rescheduled. The contractor will not be liable for indirect losses caused by such cancellation, though any prepaid amount for undelivered work will normally be refunded or credited, subject to costs already lawfully incurred. In the interests of safety, the contractor may refuse to work in high winds, lightning, icy conditions, or during periods where conditions make climbing, lifting, or vehicle movement unsafe.

Liability

The contractor will take reasonable care to avoid damage to property, landscaping, fences, structures, and adjoining areas. However, the customer acknowledges that tree work can involve unavoidable disturbance to lawns, borders, soil, bark, and surface finishes, especially where heavy timber or machinery is used. Minor scarring, compression of ground, or superficial marks may occur as a normal consequence of access and work. The contractor is not responsible for pre-existing defects, hidden weaknesses, or deterioration that becomes apparent during or after the service.

If the contractor identifies that a tree is unsafe, diseased, structurally compromised, or likely to fail, the customer accepts that the work may need to be altered or stopped to protect people and property. No guarantee is given that a tree will remain stable after surgery if the underlying issue is natural decay, root weakness, fungal infection, storm damage, or another condition outside the contractor’s control. Any advice provided is based on visual inspection only unless a separate formal report or diagnostic service has been agreed.

The contractor’s total liability for direct loss arising from the service, whether in contract, tort, negligence, or otherwise, shall be limited to the amount paid or payable for the specific work giving rise to the claim, except where such limitation is not permitted by law. Nothing in these terms excludes liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, fraud, or any other liability that cannot legally be excluded. The contractor is not liable for loss of profit, loss of business, loss of enjoyment, or any indirect or consequential loss.

The customer must notify the contractor of any issue as soon as reasonably possible after the work is completed. Allowing a third party to alter, remove, or interfere with the completed work may affect any claim. The contractor may inspect the relevant area before confirming responsibility. Any claim relating to apparent damage, poor finish, or incomplete work must be made within a reasonable time and supported by photographs or other evidence where available.

Waste Regulations

Tree surgery typically generates branches, logs, leaves, woodchip, sawdust, stump arisings, and other green waste. Unless otherwise agreed, the contractor will manage, transport, and dispose of waste in line with applicable waste legislation and duty-of-care requirements. Waste may be removed from site, processed into mulch or chip, or retained for lawful reuse where permitted. The customer must not assume that any waste will be left on site unless this has been expressly included in the agreed scope.

Waste transfer documentation may be used where required, and the contractor may engage licensed carriers, transfer facilities, or recycling routes to ensure lawful disposal. The customer agrees not to request disposal methods that would breach environmental law, local byelaws, or site restrictions. If the customer wishes to keep timber, logs, chip, or arisings, this must be agreed in advance. Once waste is removed by the contractor, title to that waste ordinarily passes in accordance with the agreed service arrangement and the contractor’s lawful disposal process.

The customer must ensure that waste placed for collection is clearly identified and separated from any non-green waste, hazardous materials, or household rubbish unless the parties have agreed a mixed-waste service. The contractor may refuse to handle contaminated, chemically treated, or otherwise unsuitable material. If prohibited materials are discovered among the waste stream, the contractor may apply an additional charge or require the customer to arrange lawful disposal separately.

Any timber, woodchip, or logs left behind are provided without warranty as to moisture content, burn suitability, or future condition. The contractor accepts no responsibility for deterioration, movement, insect activity, or staining after materials have been left on site at the customer’s request. Where the customer asks for arisings to be stacked, cut, or deposited in a specific location, that instruction is carried out at the customer’s risk unless otherwise agreed in writing.

Customer Responsibilities

The customer must provide a safe working environment and must tell the contractor about any known hazard affecting the site. This includes unstable trees, concealed structures, buried services, asbestos risk, contaminated ground, aggressive animals, and the presence of members of the public. The customer must keep children, visitors, and unauthorised persons away from the work area during operations. If the contractor considers the site unsafe, work may be paused until the hazard has been removed or controlled.

The customer is responsible for making sure that any requested tree surgery complies with planning, conservation, insurance, tenancy, and property rules that apply to the site. If consent is needed from another party, the customer must obtain it before work starts. The contractor may ask for written confirmation of such permissions and may decline to proceed where approval cannot be verified.

Variations, Subcontracting, and Force Majeure

The contractor may subcontract elements of the work, including waste transport, machinery support, or specialist services, provided that suitable care and competence are maintained. Any variation to the agreed service should be documented where possible. Verbal changes requested on site may be accepted where practical, but additional charges may apply. If the customer asks for a change that increases time, risk, or disposal volume, the contractor may revise the quotation accordingly.

The contractor is not liable for delay or failure caused by events outside reasonable control, including but not limited to extreme weather, road incidents, public authority restrictions, industrial action, pandemics, equipment shortage, or power disruption. If such an event occurs, performance may be postponed without breach of contract. Both parties will seek a reasonable alternative date where possible.

These terms may be updated from time to time to reflect changes in law, insurance requirements, operating procedures, or industry practice. The version in force at the time of booking will apply to the relevant appointment unless the parties expressly agree otherwise. If any part of these terms is found to be unlawful or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue to apply.

Governing Law

These Terms and Conditions, and any dispute or claim arising from them, shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the law of England and Wales. The courts of England and Wales shall have exclusive jurisdiction, except where consumer law provides otherwise. If any disagreement arises, both parties should first attempt to resolve it in good faith before commencing formal proceedings.

The customer confirms that they have read and understood these Terms and Conditions before confirming a booking for tree surgeon services. By proceeding with the appointment, the customer agrees that the contract reflects the agreed work, the expected payment terms, the cancellation rules, and the operational conditions set out above. These terms are intended to provide a clear framework for safe, lawful, and professional arboricultural work while recognising the practical realities of tree care, removal, and waste handling.