House Clearance St. John's Wood Service Terms and Conditions

These Terms and Conditions set out the basis on which House Clearance St. John's Wood provides house clearance and waste collection services to you in the United Kingdom. By booking or using our services, you agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions. Please read them carefully before placing a booking.

1. Definitions

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

1.1 Service means any house clearance, waste collection, removal, loading, transportation, sorting, recycling or disposal service provided by us.

1.2 We, us or our means House Clearance St. John's Wood, operating as a waste collection and clearance service provider in the UK.

1.3 You or your means the customer, being any individual, company or other organisation who books or uses our services.

1.4 Premises means the property or location where the service is to be carried out.

1.5 Waste means any items, materials, furniture, appliances, or other goods that you ask us to remove and which we agree to collect.

2. Scope of Services

2.1 We provide house clearance and related waste collection services, which may include the removal of household items, furniture, appliances, garden waste and general non-hazardous waste from residential and, where agreed, commercial premises.

2.2 We are not obliged to remove any item that we reasonably believe to be hazardous, illegal, excessively heavy, unsafe to move, or otherwise unsuitable for collection or transportation.

2.3 We reserve the right to refuse or discontinue a service where site conditions, access issues, health and safety risks, or the nature of the items to be removed make it unsafe or unlawful to proceed.

2.4 Any timescales, arrival times or completion estimates are provided as an indication only and are not guaranteed. We will use reasonable efforts to perform services on the agreed date and within a reasonable time.

3. Booking Process

3.1 Bookings may be made by telephone, email or other communication methods we make available. A booking is only accepted when we confirm it to you and provide a date and, where applicable, a time window for attendance.

3.2 When making a booking, you must provide accurate information about:

a) The address and access details for the premises.

b) The type, volume and approximate weight of items to be collected.

c) Any special circumstances that may affect the service, such as restricted access, parking limitations, stair access only, or fragile structures.

3.3 Our quotation may be based on the information you provide. If on arrival we find that the actual volume, nature of the waste or access circumstances differ materially from what you described, we may adjust the price, amend the service, or decline to proceed.

3.4 You must ensure that you have the full right, title and authority to request the removal of all items you present to us. By making a booking, you confirm that you are the owner of the items or have the owner’s permission to dispose of them.

4. Quotations and Pricing

4.1 Quotations are usually provided based on estimated volume, weight, type of waste and the labour required. Unless stated otherwise, all prices are in pounds sterling and may be subject to VAT where applicable.

4.2 A quotation is not binding until confirmed by us. We reserve the right to revise our quotation upon arrival if the information you provided was incomplete or inaccurate, or if additional services are requested.

4.3 Any additional charges, such as congestion or parking fees, may be added to the final invoice where they are incurred in connection with the service.

5. Payments

5.1 Payment terms will be confirmed at the time of booking. Unless otherwise agreed in writing, payment is due immediately on completion of the service.

5.2 We may accept payment by cash, credit or debit card, bank transfer or other methods notified to you. We are not obliged to accept cheques.

5.3 For some bookings, particularly higher value or commercial services, we may require a deposit or prepayment. Any required deposit must be paid before the booking is confirmed.

5.4 If payment is not made when due, we reserve the right to charge interest on the outstanding sum at the statutory rate and to recover from you all reasonable costs incurred in enforcing payment.

5.5 Title to any items we agree to purchase or remove for resale will not pass to you until full payment of any agreed price has been received by us in cleared funds.

6. Cancellations and Changes

6.1 You may cancel or request to change your booking by contacting us as soon as reasonably possible.

6.2 If you cancel with more than 24 hours’ notice before the scheduled arrival time, any deposit paid may be refunded or credited at our discretion, less any non-recoverable costs already incurred.

6.3 If you cancel with less than 24 hours’ notice, fail to provide access at the agreed time, or are not present without prior agreement, we may retain any deposit paid and may charge a cancellation or call-out fee to cover our costs.

6.4 We may cancel or re-schedule the service if events beyond our reasonable control occur, including but not limited to severe weather, vehicle breakdowns, staff illness, road closures, or safety concerns. In such cases, we will use reasonable efforts to notify you and to agree a new date or time. We will not be liable for any consequential loss arising from such rescheduling or cancellation.

7. Access and Site Conditions

7.1 You are responsible for providing safe and reasonable access to the premises, including any parking arrangements or permits required. If access is restricted or unsafe, we may not be able to complete the service.

7.2 You must ensure that floors, staircases, and access routes are clear and structurally sound for the removal of items. If there are any known risks or defects, you must notify us before we commence work.

7.3 Where parking restrictions apply, you must either arrange necessary permits or reimburse any parking fees or penalties that we incur directly in relation to providing the service, unless caused by our own error.

8. Customer Obligations

8.1 You must remove any personal, confidential, or valuable items that you do not wish to be taken away before we start work. We are not responsible for checking items for personal or sensitive contents.

8.2 You must identify any items that require special handling or that are fragile, and notify us of any items that you wish to keep but that are located near waste to be removed.

8.3 You must not ask us to remove items that you know to be hazardous or unlawful to transport or dispose of under UK law.

9. Waste Regulations and Environmental Compliance

9.1 We operate in accordance with applicable UK waste management regulations and duty of care requirements. We will transport and dispose of waste using authorised facilities and channels.

9.2 By using our service, you acknowledge your duty of care in relation to waste and agree to cooperate with us in ensuring that all waste is handled lawfully.

9.3 We may issue or request waste transfer documentation as required by law. You must provide any information reasonably requested to complete such documentation accurately.

9.4 We will use reasonable efforts to recycle or reuse items where practical. However, we do not guarantee that any particular item will be recycled, reused, or donated, and some items may be sent for energy recovery or disposal.

9.5 Certain waste streams, such as hazardous or electrical items, may be subject to additional regulations and charges. We may decline to remove such items or may require a separate agreement covering their handling.

10. Liability and Limitations

10.1 We will exercise reasonable care and skill when providing the service. However, you acknowledge that the removal and transportation of items carries inherent risks of minor damage, particularly in confined spaces or older properties.

10.2 We will not be liable for:

a) Normal wear and tear, or superficial marks and scuffs that are reasonably incidental to carrying out the service.

b) Any pre-existing damage or defect to items or property, whether visible or not.

c) Loss or damage arising from inaccurate information you supplied, or from your failure to remove personal or valuable items in advance.

10.3 Our total liability to you for any loss or damage arising out of or in connection with the service, whether in contract, tort, or otherwise, shall be limited to the total price paid or payable by you for the service that gave rise to the claim.

10.4 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 matter where it would be unlawful to limit or exclude liability.

10.5 We shall not be liable for any indirect or consequential losses, loss of profit, loss of business, loss of opportunity, or loss of goodwill arising from or in connection with the service.

11. Insurance

11.1 We maintain insurance cover appropriate to the nature of our services. Details of our insurance policies are available on request.

11.2 You are responsible for arranging any additional insurance you consider necessary to cover items, fixtures, or your wider property during the course of the service.

12. Complaints and Claims

12.1 If you are dissatisfied with any aspect of the service, you should notify us as soon as possible, and in any event within 48 hours of completion, giving full details of your concerns.

12.2 We may request supporting evidence, such as photographs or written descriptions, to investigate your complaint. You must provide reasonable cooperation to enable us to assess and, where appropriate, address the issue.

12.3 Any claim for loss or damage must be made in writing within 7 days of the service date. Claims made outside this period may not be accepted unless you can show that it was not reasonably possible to notify us earlier.

13. Ownership of Items and Disposal

13.1 Once items have been removed by us as waste, you relinquish all ownership rights and we may dispose of or process such items as we see fit, in accordance with applicable law.

13.2 Where we agree to purchase certain items from you, ownership will pass to us upon payment of the agreed price or as otherwise agreed in writing.

13.3 We are not required to retrieve or return any item once it has been removed as waste, even if you later claim that it was taken in error.

14. Data Protection and Privacy

14.1 We will handle any personal information you provide in connection with bookings and service delivery in accordance with applicable UK data protection legislation.

14.2 We will use your personal information to manage your booking, provide the service, process payments, and, where you agree, to inform you about related services. We will not sell your personal data to third parties.

15. Force Majeure

15.1 We shall not be in breach of these Terms and Conditions nor liable for delay in performing, or failure to perform, any of our obligations if such delay or failure results from events, circumstances or causes beyond our reasonable control.

15.2 If a force majeure event continues for a prolonged period, we may cancel the affected services without liability, subject to refunding any payments received for services not provided.

16. Variations to Terms

16.1 We may amend these Terms and Conditions from time to time. The version in force at the time of your booking will apply to that booking.

16.2 Any changes that materially affect your rights will be brought to your attention where reasonable, for example, when making a new booking.

17. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

17.1 These Terms and Conditions, and any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with them or the services we provide, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of England and Wales.

17.2 You and we agree that the courts of England and Wales shall have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any dispute or claim arising from or related to these Terms and Conditions or the services.

18. General Provisions

18.1 If any provision of these Terms and Conditions is found to be invalid or unenforceable by a court or competent authority, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.

18.2 No failure or delay by us in exercising any right or remedy under these Terms and Conditions shall constitute a waiver of that right or remedy.

18.3 These Terms and Conditions constitute the entire agreement between you and us in relation to the services and supersede any previous agreements, understandings or arrangements, whether written or oral.

18.4 You may not assign or transfer your rights or obligations under these Terms and Conditions without our prior written consent. We may assign or subcontract our rights and obligations where this does not materially affect the service to you.