House Clearance West Hampstead Terms and Conditions

These Terms and Conditions set out the basis on which we provide house clearance and waste collection services in West Hampstead and surrounding areas. By making a booking, you agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions. Please read them carefully before placing an order or confirming a visit.

1. Definitions

In these Terms and Conditions, the following expressions have the meanings set out below:

1.1 "Company", "we", "our" and "us" refer to the provider of the house clearance and waste collection services.

1.2 "Customer", "you" and "your" refer to the person, firm or organisation requesting our services.

1.3 "Services" means any house clearance, waste collection, bulky item removal, garden waste collection, or related activity provided by us.

1.4 "Premises" means the property or location where the Services are to be carried out.

1.5 "Booking" means a confirmed request for Services, whether made by telephone, email, online form or other agreed method.

2. Scope of Services

2.1 We provide house clearance and waste collection services, including the removal and transportation of household items, general waste, recyclable materials and, where agreed in advance, certain types of bulky or garden waste.

2.2 We reserve the right to refuse to remove any item that we reasonably believe may pose a risk to health and safety, is prohibited by law, or cannot lawfully be transported or disposed of under applicable waste regulations.

2.3 Unless explicitly agreed in writing, our Services do not include cleaning, disconnection of utilities, removal of fixtures or fittings that are part of the structure, or any building, repair or maintenance work.

2.4 We will exercise reasonable care and skill in providing the Services, but we do not guarantee that all items can be removed within a particular timeframe if access, volume or other conditions make this impracticable.

3. Booking Process

3.1 You may request a quotation and make a Booking by telephone, email or through our online enquiry process. We may ask you for information about the Premises, access arrangements, the nature and approximate volume or weight of items to be removed, and any special requirements.

3.2 Any quotation provided prior to an on-site visit is an estimate only and is subject to confirmation once our team has inspected the Premises and the items to be collected. We reserve the right to revise the price if the information originally provided was incomplete or inaccurate, or if the actual volume or nature of the waste differs from what was described.

3.3 A Booking is only confirmed when we have agreed the date, time window, scope of Services and price with you, and you have accepted these Terms and Conditions.

3.4 You are responsible for ensuring that all details in your Booking confirmation are accurate. Please notify us promptly of any errors or changes required.

4. Access and Customer Obligations

4.1 You must ensure that our team has safe and reasonable access to the Premises at the agreed time. This includes arranging for keys, entry codes, parking permits or other access rights as necessary.

4.2 You must ensure that any communal areas, stairways, corridors and lifts used for the removal of items are clear and safe to use.

4.3 You must inform us in advance of any access restrictions, parking limitations, loading restrictions or other conditions that may affect our ability to perform the Services. Additional charges may apply if we incur parking penalties, extended waiting times or extra labour as a result of access issues not disclosed in advance.

4.4 You must ensure that the items to be removed are clearly identified and separated where reasonably possible. We are not responsible for items removed in error where they were not clearly identified or where you, your representative or another third party failed to give clear instructions.

5. Booking Amendments and Cancellations

5.1 If you wish to amend your Booking, you must notify us as soon as possible. We will use reasonable efforts to accommodate your request but cannot guarantee that any change can be made.

5.2 You may cancel your Booking without charge by giving us at least 48 hours notice prior to the scheduled start time of the Services.

5.3 If you cancel your Booking with less than 48 hours notice, we reserve the right to charge a cancellation fee, which may be up to 50 percent of the agreed price, to reflect our administrative costs, allocation of resources and loss of opportunity.

5.4 If you are not present at the Premises at the agreed time and we are unable to gain access or proceed with the Services, this may be treated as a late cancellation and a call-out or cancellation charge may apply.

5.5 We reserve the right to cancel or reschedule a Booking due to circumstances beyond our reasonable control, such as extreme weather, vehicle breakdown, staff illness or safety concerns. In such cases, we will notify you as soon as reasonably practicable and rearrange the Booking without additional charge. We shall not be liable for any consequential loss or inconvenience arising from such cancellation or rescheduling.

6. Pricing and Payment

6.1 Our prices are generally based on factors such as the volume and type of waste, weight, accessibility, labour time required and any specific disposal charges for particular items.

6.2 All prices quoted are exclusive of any applicable taxes or charges that may be separately identified on your invoice, where relevant under applicable law.

6.3 Unless otherwise agreed in writing, payment is due in full upon completion of the Services on the day of collection. We may require a deposit for certain Bookings, including larger clearances or where specialist arrangements are required.

6.4 We accept payment by cash, credit or debit card, or other methods stated by us at the time of Booking. We reserve the right to refuse payments by cheque unless agreed in advance.

6.5 If payment is not made when due, we reserve the right to charge interest on the overdue amount at the statutory rate applicable in England and Wales, and to recover any reasonable costs incurred in pursuing the debt, including legal fees and collection costs.

7. Waste Handling and Environmental Compliance

7.1 We operate in accordance with applicable UK waste management laws and regulations. We hold, or operate under, the necessary waste carrier registration and comply with relevant duty of care obligations.

7.2 All waste collected will be transported to authorised facilities for reuse, recycling, recovery or disposal, as appropriate. We will use reasonable endeavours to minimise the amount of waste sent to landfill, subject to operational and regulatory constraints.

7.3 You confirm that you have the right to authorise the removal and disposal of the items collected. You must not instruct us to remove items that are stolen, unlawfully obtained or that you are not authorised to dispose of.

7.4 Certain items are classified as hazardous or require special handling, including but not limited to asbestos, gas bottles, chemicals, solvents, oils, medical or clinical waste, and some electrical items. You must inform us in advance if such items are present. We may refuse to remove such items or apply additional charges and conditions in line with regulatory requirements.

7.5 Once items have been removed from the Premises and loaded onto our vehicle, they become our property. We reserve the right to determine the most appropriate means of processing or disposing of such items, subject to applicable law.

8. Customer Property and Valuables

8.1 It is your responsibility to ensure that any valuable items, important documents, personal effects or items not intended for removal are removed or clearly separated before the Services commence.

8.2 We are not responsible for checking the contents of bags, boxes, drawers, cupboards or containers that you have presented for removal. You should inspect such items in advance to ensure you do not inadvertently dispose of anything you wish to keep.

8.3 We do not accept liability for loss of any item that you later claim was disposed of in error if it was not clearly identified as being excluded from the clearance at the time of the Services.

9. Liability and Limitations

9.1 We will exercise reasonable care in carrying out the Services to avoid damage to your property. Minor scuffs, marks or wear and tear that may occur as a result of moving bulky items through tight spaces will not be regarded as negligence where we have acted reasonably and with due care.

9.2 Our liability for damage to the Premises or your property caused by our negligence shall be limited to the reasonable cost of repair or replacement, taking account of age, condition and fair wear and tear.

9.3 We shall not be liable for any indirect or consequential loss, including loss of profits, loss of opportunity or loss of enjoyment, arising out of or in connection with the provision of the Services.

9.4 Nothing in these Terms and Conditions shall limit or exclude our liability for death or personal injury caused by our negligence, for fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation, or for any other liability that cannot legally be limited or excluded.

9.5 You agree to indemnify us against any claims, losses, damages, costs and expenses arising from your breach of these Terms and Conditions, including any breach of waste or environmental regulations attributable to information you provided that was false, misleading or incomplete.

10. Delays and Events Beyond Our Control

10.1 We shall not be responsible for any delay or failure to perform the Services due to events beyond our reasonable control, including but not limited to severe weather, traffic congestion, accidents, breakdowns, strikes, lockouts, public transport disruption, or acts of government or regulatory authorities.

10.2 Where such an event occurs, we will use reasonable efforts to notify you and to complete the Services as soon as reasonably practicable, or to reschedule the Booking at a mutually convenient time.

11. Insurance

11.1 We maintain public liability insurance and, where applicable, employer liability insurance at levels appropriate for the nature of our business.

11.2 Provision of insurance does not extend or increase our liability beyond the limitations set out in these Terms and Conditions.

12. Complaints

12.1 If you are dissatisfied with any aspect of our Services, you should raise the issue with our team as soon as possible, preferably on the day of service so we can attempt to resolve it immediately.

12.2 If the matter cannot be resolved on site, you should submit your complaint in writing within 7 days of the date of the Services, providing full details and any supporting information. We will investigate and respond within a reasonable timeframe.

13. Personal Data

13.1 We may collect and process personal data in connection with the provision of our Services, including your name, contact details, service address, and payment information.

13.2 We will use your personal data only for legitimate business purposes, such as managing your Booking, processing payments, providing customer service and complying with legal obligations. We will take reasonable steps to keep your information secure and will not sell your personal data to third parties.

14. Variations to These Terms

14.1 We may update or amend these Terms and Conditions from time to time. Any changes will take effect from the date they are published or otherwise notified to you and will apply to new Bookings made after that date.

14.2 The version of the Terms and Conditions that applies to your Booking is the version in force on the date your Booking is confirmed.

15. Severability

15.1 If any provision of these Terms and Conditions is found by a court or other competent authority to be invalid, unlawful or unenforceable, such provision shall be removed or limited to the minimum extent necessary, and the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.

16. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

16.1 These Terms and Conditions, and any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with them or the Services, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales.

16.2 You and we agree that the courts of England and Wales shall have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with these Terms and Conditions or their subject matter.

17. Entire Agreement

17.1 These Terms and Conditions, together with any written quotation or Booking confirmation provided to you, constitute the entire agreement between you and us in relation to the Services and supersede any prior discussions, correspondence or understandings.

17.2 You acknowledge that you have not relied on any statement, promise or representation that is not set out in these Terms and Conditions or in writing in the Booking confirmation.