Terms and Conditions for Tree Surgeons Islington
These terms and conditions set out the basis on which tree surgery services are supplied by tree surgeons in Islington and the wider London area. By making a booking, accepting a quotation, or allowing work to begin, the customer agrees to be bound by these terms. The purpose of this page is to explain the service agreement clearly, fairly, and in plain language, while protecting both the customer and the contractor. These terms apply to domestic and commercial customers unless a separate written agreement states otherwise.
For the purposes of this document, references to “we”, “us”, and “our” mean the service provider carrying out tree surgery, pruning, removal, stump grinding, hedge work, site clearance, and related arboricultural services. References to “you” and “your” mean the person or organisation booking the work, including any agent acting on behalf of the property owner. Any variation to these terms must be agreed in writing. If any part of these terms is found to be unlawful or unenforceable, the remaining sections will continue to apply.
These terms should be read alongside any quotation, job specification, or written confirmation issued before the work starts. If there is any conflict between a quotation and these terms, the specific written quotation will take priority for the points it expressly covers. Nothing in these terms affects your statutory rights under UK consumer law, where applicable.
1. Booking Process
A booking with tree surgeons in Islington is not confirmed until we have accepted the enquiry and issued written confirmation, which may be by email or another agreed method. The booking process usually begins with an initial request for a site visit, photographs, or a description of the trees and the work required. In some cases, a quotation can be based on supplied information; however, we may still require a survey before accepting the job. Any estimate is provisional unless stated as fixed in writing.
During the booking stage, you must provide accurate information about access, parking restrictions, underground services, nearby structures, tree condition, and any known hazards. If the information provided is incomplete or inaccurate, the quotation and timing may need to be revised. Where permits, permissions, or third-party consent are needed, you are responsible for obtaining them unless we have agreed in writing to assist. This may include landlord approval, managing agent consent, or other necessary authorisations for the site.
Once a quotation is accepted, a date or estimated period for carrying out the work will be arranged. All dates are subject to weather, access, staff availability, and safe working conditions. We may need to reschedule if conditions are unsuitable for safe tree surgery, including severe wind, ice, heavy rain, or unforeseen site risks. Acceptance of a booking means you agree that reasonable changes to scheduling may be necessary to protect people, property, and the trees themselves.
2. Scope of Services
The services provided by Tree Surgeons Islington may include crown reduction, crown thinning, deadwood removal, formative pruning, pollarding, tree removal, stump grinding, hedge cutting, emergency tree work, and associated waste removal. The exact scope will be described in the quotation or job specification. Any additional work requested on the day, or any extra work discovered as necessary after commencement, may be charged separately following agreement wherever possible.
We will use reasonable skill and care in delivering the services, and we aim to carry out work in line with accepted arboricultural practice. However, trees are living organisms and may respond unpredictably to pruning, disease, stress, or environmental change. We do not guarantee specific future growth patterns, flowering results, fruiting levels, or long-term structural outcomes. Recommendations provided by us are based on the information visible at the time of inspection and the conditions present during the visit.
You agree to ensure that the work area is accessible and safe for our team. This includes removing vehicles if necessary, securing pets, informing neighbours where appropriate, and keeping children and unauthorised persons away from active work zones. If access is delayed or obstructed, waiting time may be charged. Where machinery is required, you must ensure there is adequate room for safe operation and loading.
3. Pricing and Payment
All prices are stated in pounds sterling unless otherwise noted. Quotations may be inclusive or exclusive of VAT depending on the nature of the service and the business structure in place at the time of booking. If VAT applies, it will be clearly indicated on the quotation or invoice. Unless a quotation specifically says otherwise, prices are based on the information available before work starts and may change if the scope, access, or waste volume differs materially from what was originally described.
Payment terms will be set out in the quotation or invoice. Unless agreed otherwise, payment is due immediately upon completion of the work or within the period stated on the invoice. We may request a deposit for larger jobs, planned site works, or work requiring specialist equipment. Deposits are normally used to secure the booking and offset preparatory costs. Failure to pay any required deposit may result in the booking being released to another customer.
We accept payment by the methods listed in the invoice or booking confirmation. Any bank charges, failed payment fees, or late-payment costs caused by your payment method may be passed on to you where lawful. If an invoice is not paid by the due date, we reserve the right to charge statutory interest and recovery costs under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts legislation where applicable, or to take reasonable steps to recover outstanding sums. Title to any materials supplied remains with us until full payment has been received.
4. Cancellations, Rescheduling, and Waiting Time
If you need to cancel or reschedule a booking, you should notify us as soon as possible. Where a cancellation is made shortly before the planned start date, reasonable charges may apply to cover lost time, planning, labour allocation, disposal booking, or equipment hire already committed to the job. The amount charged will depend on the notice given and the costs already incurred. This applies whether the service is for a small domestic task or a larger arboricultural project.
If we cancel or postpone the work for operational reasons, adverse weather, safety concerns, or events beyond our control, we will aim to rearrange the booking promptly. We will not be liable for losses caused by a delay that is reasonable and unavoidable. If you are not present at the agreed time and we are unable to proceed because access has not been provided, we may treat the appointment as a failed visit and charge accordingly. Any agreed waiting period on site may also be chargeable.
We may cancel the service immediately if site conditions are unsafe, if the information provided was materially misleading, if necessary permissions have not been obtained, or if we believe the work could cause unacceptable risk to people or property. In such cases, any deposit may be retained to cover costs already incurred, unless the law requires otherwise. Where possible, we will explain the reason for cancellation and discuss alternative arrangements.
5. Customer Responsibilities
You are responsible for confirming that you are entitled to authorise the work. If you do not own the property, you must ensure that the relevant owner, landlord, management company, or other responsible party has approved the work. You must also tell us about any tree preservation orders, conservation constraints, lease conditions, covenants, or planning restrictions that may apply. We may ask for documentary evidence before starting if there is any doubt about consent.
You must remove or secure any items that could be damaged by falling debris, sawdust, branches, or equipment movement. This includes garden furniture, ornaments, fragile fixtures, hanging items, and vehicles where relevant. Although we work carefully, some debris spread is unavoidable in tree surgery. You should also inform us of any underground services, hidden drains, irrigation pipes, septic tanks, shallow foundations, or other concealed features that could be affected by stump grinding, digging, or heavy machinery.
Any pets, livestock, or vulnerable persons should be kept well away from the work area for the duration of the job. If you ask us to work close to public areas, pathways, or neighbouring land, you accept responsibility for notifying any relevant third parties unless we agree to do so. You must not interfere with the work once it has started and should follow all safety instructions given by our operatives.
6. Liability and Limitations
We will take reasonable care to avoid damage and to complete the work to a professional standard. However, tree surgery involves inherent risks, especially where trees are unstable, diseased, storm-damaged, overgrown, or located close to structures. We will not be liable for pre-existing defects, hidden decay, latent structural weakness, or any failure of a tree, branch, stump, or root system that was not reasonably detectable at the time of inspection. Living trees can change quickly, and condition assessments are based on visible evidence only.
Our liability for loss or damage arising from our negligence is limited to the extent permitted by law. We do not exclude or limit liability where doing so would be unlawful, including liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, fraud, or fraudulent misrepresentation. Where we are responsible for direct damage, our liability will usually be limited to the reasonable cost of repair or replacement of the damaged item, subject to proof and subject to any applicable insurance process. We are not liable for indirect or consequential losses, loss of profit, loss of business, or loss of amenity.
To the fullest extent permitted by law, we are not responsible for damage caused by natural tree behaviour, weather events, subsidence linked to pre-existing conditions, third-party interference, or instructions given by you against our advice. If we recommend that a tree should be reduced further, removed, staked, monitored, or left untouched, and you choose an alternative course, any resulting risk is yours. We are not responsible for the failure of a healthy-looking tree where the failure results from hidden defects, external forces, or conditions beyond our control.
7. Waste Removal and Regulations
All green waste, wood, brash, and associated debris will be handled in accordance with applicable waste management requirements. Where waste removal is included in the quotation, we will take reasonable steps to collect, transport, and dispose of waste lawfully using authorised facilities or approved recycling routes. Material may be chipped, reused, composted, mulched, or otherwise processed where appropriate and lawful. Any retained timber or mulch will remain our property unless we agree otherwise in writing.
We operate in line with relevant UK waste regulations, including the duty of care relating to transfer, transport, and disposal of waste. If waste transfer documentation is required, it will be completed in accordance with legal obligations. You must not ask us to dispose of prohibited items, contaminated material, or waste unrelated to the contracted tree work unless we expressly agree to do so and the disposal is lawful. Any additional disposal requirement identified during the job may affect the final price.
If you wish to keep logs, branches, chips, or stump grindings, you must tell us before or during the booking process so that collection and disposal arrangements can be adjusted. Once waste has been removed from site, it cannot usually be recovered. We are not responsible for waste left on site at your request after the agreed work has been completed, provided it is safe and lawful to do so.
8. Access, Safety, and Site Conditions
The work may involve chainsaws, chippers, stump grinders, ladders, ropes, rigging systems, climbing equipment, and vehicles. You acknowledge that these activities carry risks and agree to cooperate fully with safety procedures. We may stop work at any time if we consider the site unsafe, if weather conditions change, or if unexpected hazards arise. In such circumstances, we will prioritise safety over speed or convenience, and any extra time or return visit may be charged if the issue arose from conditions outside our control.
We are entitled to refuse to carry out work that would breach health and safety standards, local restrictions, utility safety rules, or environmental requirements. If nearby structures, overhead lines, unstable ground, nests, protected wildlife, or hidden obstructions are discovered, the scope or method of work may need to change. We may also need to protect lawns, paving, or nearby surfaces with boards or other equipment, but no method can eliminate all risk of minor scuffing or compaction.
You agree not to request unsafe practices, such as standing under suspended loads, entering the exclusion zone, or keeping access open during active felling or rigging. If we ask for a cordoned area or temporary traffic management, you should assist with compliance where it is within your control. The final decision on safe working methods rests with our operatives, whose duty is to carry out the work responsibly and in line with applicable standards.
9. Complaints, Changes, and Records
If you believe there is an issue with the service, you should notify us within a reasonable time after completion of the work. We may ask for photographs, a description of the concern, and an opportunity to inspect the matter before any remedy is considered. We will review complaints fairly and in good faith. Where a genuine problem is identified, we may offer a correction, partial refund, or another reasonable resolution, depending on the circumstances and the nature of the work carried out.
Any change to the agreed specification should be confirmed in writing where possible. Verbal instructions given on site may still create a binding variation if acted upon, but written confirmation helps avoid misunderstandings. We may keep records of quotations, invoices, photographs, site notes, and communications relating to the job. These records help us demonstrate what was agreed and may be used for quality control, legal compliance, or insurance purposes.
We reserve the right to update these terms from time to time. The version that applies to your booking is the version in force when the quotation was accepted, unless a later written variation has been agreed. If a change in law requires an immediate update, the revised legal position will apply regardless of the previous wording. Any heading in these terms is for convenience only and does not affect interpretation.
10. Governing Law and General Provisions
These terms, and any dispute or claim arising from them, are governed by the laws of England and Wales. The courts of England and Wales shall have exclusive jurisdiction, unless mandatory consumer law provides otherwise. If any provision of these terms is found to be invalid, unlawful, or unenforceable, that provision shall be treated as severed and the rest of the terms will remain 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. Any waiver must be given in writing and signed by an authorised representative. Nothing in these terms creates a partnership, employment relationship, or agency relationship between us and you beyond the service contract itself. You may not assign your rights or obligations under these terms without our written consent, but we may transfer our rights where lawful, for example in connection with a business transfer or insurance claim.
By proceeding with a booking, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agreed to these tree surgery terms. We recommend that you keep a copy of the quotation and these conditions for your records. If any clarification is needed before the work begins, it should be addressed before acceptance of the quotation so that the job can proceed on a clear and fair basis.