House Clearance Hammersmith Terms and Conditions

These Terms and Conditions set out the basis on which House Clearance Hammersmith provides house clearance and waste collection services. By making a booking, you agree that you have read, understood and accepted these Terms and Conditions on your own behalf or on behalf of the person, company or organisation for whom you are acting.

1. Definitions

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

Service means any house clearance, waste removal, rubbish collection, bulky item collection, recycling, loading, sorting or related service provided by us.

Booking means a request for Service that has been accepted by us verbally, in writing, by email, message or through any booking system we operate.

Customer means the person, firm or company who requests the Service and is responsible for payment.

Premises means the property, site or location where the Service is to be provided.

Waste means any items, materials, furnishings, appliances, personal effects or other goods that the Customer has requested us to remove, whether for disposal, reuse or recycling.

We, us or our means House Clearance Hammersmith.

2. Scope of Service

We provide house clearance and waste collection services, including the removal of general household items, furniture, white goods, garden waste, and other non-hazardous materials, subject to these Terms and Conditions.

The exact scope of the Service for each Booking, including the areas to be cleared, the type and approximate volume of Waste, and any access requirements, will be agreed with the Customer before the Service is carried out. Any estimates provided are based on the information supplied by the Customer and our visual assessment at the Premises, where applicable.

We reserve the right to decline or modify a Booking if, on attendance, the Premises or Waste differ significantly from the description provided, or if we consider the work unsafe, unlawful or beyond the agreed scope.

3. Booking Process

Bookings can be made by telephone, email or through any booking facility we make available. The Customer must provide accurate and complete information, including the address of the Premises, access details, contact information, a description of the Waste and any relevant time constraints.

A Booking is only confirmed when we accept it and provide a date and time window for the Service. Any time or date given is an estimate and not guaranteed, but we will make reasonable efforts to attend within the agreed time window and to notify the Customer of any substantial delay.

We may request photographs or further details of the Premises and Waste before confirming a Booking, particularly for larger clearances or where access is restricted.

The Customer, or a responsible adult authorised by the Customer, must be present at the Premises at the start of the Service, unless otherwise agreed in advance. If no one is present and access is not possible, this may be treated as a late cancellation and a charge may apply.

4. Estimates and Pricing

We may provide an initial estimate based on the description and information supplied by the Customer. This estimate is not binding and is subject to change upon our attendance and assessment of the actual Waste and work required.

Final pricing may be based on factors such as the volume and weight of Waste, the time required, access conditions, labour involved, any additional services requested on site and any disposal or recycling charges. We will explain any adjustments to the estimate before proceeding, where reasonably practicable.

All prices are quoted in pounds sterling and are exclusive or inclusive of VAT depending on our current VAT registration status, which will be stated in any invoice or receipt.

5. Payments

Payment is due on completion of the Service, unless otherwise agreed in writing prior to the Booking. We may require a deposit for larger jobs or where special arrangements are needed.

We accept payment by cash, bank transfer, debit or credit card, subject to the methods we make available at the time of Booking or service delivery. The Customer is responsible for ensuring that payment details are correct and that sufficient funds are available.

For account Customers or commercial Clients where credit terms have been agreed, invoices are payable within the period specified on the invoice. If no period is specified, payment is due within 14 days from the invoice date.

We reserve the right to charge interest on overdue amounts at the statutory rate permissible in the United Kingdom, together with any reasonable costs incurred in recovering the debt.

6. Cancellations and Amendments

The Customer may cancel or amend a Booking by contacting us within our stated operating hours. Cancellations or amendments should be made as early as possible.

If the Customer cancels more than 24 hours before the scheduled start time, no cancellation fee will normally apply, unless a non-refundable deposit or special arrangement has been agreed for that Booking.

If the Customer cancels less than 24 hours before the scheduled start time, or fails to provide access when we attend, we reserve the right to charge a reasonable cancellation fee or call-out charge to cover time and costs incurred.

Where we need to cancel or reschedule due to circumstances beyond our reasonable control, such as extreme weather, traffic disruption, staff illness, safety concerns or legal restrictions, we will notify the Customer as soon as reasonably practicable and offer an alternative date or a refund of any pre-paid amount for the affected Booking. We will not be liable for any consequential loss arising from such cancellation or rescheduling.

7. Access and Customer Obligations

The Customer must ensure that we have safe, reasonable and lawful access to the Premises at the agreed time. This includes providing keys, access codes, parking arrangements or any permissions necessary to enter the Premises and carry out the Service.

The Customer must ensure that the Premises are safe for our staff and contractors, free from significant health and safety hazards, and that any known risks are communicated to us in advance. This includes issues such as structural instability, aggressive animals, sharps, or suspected hazardous substances.

The Customer shall remove or secure any items that they do not wish us to take as Waste. We cannot accept responsibility for removing items which have not been clearly identified as to be retained, particularly in cluttered or hoarded environments.

If access is obstructed, unsafe or unlawful, we may refuse to perform the Service or adjust the scope, and a cancellation or additional charge may apply.

8. Items We Cannot Remove

We cannot remove certain items, including but not limited to asbestos, clinical or medical waste, certain chemicals and solvents, gas cylinders unless agreed, explosive or highly flammable materials, and any other substances classified as hazardous under relevant regulations unless we have specifically agreed and are licensed to do so.

If we encounter such items during the Service which were not disclosed at the time of Booking, we may refuse to remove them and may adjust the quoted price or scope accordingly.

9. Ownership and Title to Waste

By requesting the Service, the Customer confirms that they are the owner of the Waste or are authorised by the owner to arrange its removal and disposal.

Ownership of the Waste passes to us when it is loaded onto our vehicle or otherwise removed from the Premises, subject to our right to decline particular items and in accordance with waste regulations. Once removed, we may dispose of, recycle, reuse, donate, or sell items as we deem appropriate, subject to our legal obligations.

10. Waste Regulations and Environmental Compliance

We operate in accordance with applicable waste and environmental regulations in the United Kingdom. We will take reasonable steps to ensure that Waste is transported and disposed of at licensed facilities and that documentation required by law, such as waste transfer notes, is properly maintained.

The Customer agrees not to request that we dispose of Waste unlawfully or in a manner contrary to environmental regulations. We reserve the right to refuse to collect or transport any Waste that we reasonably believe would put us in breach of environmental or other legal requirements.

We seek to reuse and recycle Waste wherever reasonably practicable. However, we do not guarantee that any particular proportion of Waste will be reused or recycled, and final disposal methods may vary according to the type of Waste and available facilities.

11. Liability and Limitations

We will exercise reasonable care and skill in performing the Service. However, our liability is subject to the limitations set out in this clause.

We will not be liable for any pre-existing damage to the Premises or items remaining on site. The Customer should highlight any fragile areas, surfaces or fixtures before the Service begins.

We will not be liable for loss or damage arising from the removal of items which the Customer has failed to clearly identify as items to be retained. It is the Customer's responsibility to segregate or label such items before we start work.

Except in respect of death or personal injury caused by our negligence, fraud or any other liability that cannot be excluded by law, our total liability arising out of or in connection with any Booking shall be limited to the total price paid or payable for the Service under that Booking.

We shall not be liable for any indirect or consequential loss, including but not limited to loss of profits, loss of opportunity, or loss of enjoyment, whether arising in contract, tort or otherwise.

12. Insurance

We maintain insurance cover appropriate for the nature of our operations, including public liability insurance. Details of our insurance cover are available on request.

The Customer is responsible for ensuring that they have appropriate insurance in place for the Premises and any items remaining at the Premises.

13. Complaints and Disputes

If the Customer is dissatisfied with any aspect of the Service, they should notify us as soon as reasonably practicable, ideally within 48 hours of completion of the Service, providing full details and any supporting evidence.

We will investigate all complaints promptly and in good faith, and we may request to revisit the Premises or review photographs or other evidence. Where a complaint is upheld, we may, at our discretion, offer to rectify the issue, provide a partial refund or take other appropriate steps.

Nothing in this clause affects the Customer's statutory rights under UK consumer protection laws, where applicable.

14. Data Protection and Privacy

We will collect and process personal data required to manage Bookings, provide the Service, process payments and communicate with Customers. This may include names, contact details, addresses and payment information.

We will handle personal data in accordance with applicable data protection laws in the United Kingdom. We will not sell personal data to third parties. We may share limited data with third parties where necessary to provide the Service, process payments or comply with legal obligations.

15. Force Majeure

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 where such delay or failure results from events, circumstances or causes beyond our reasonable control. This may include extreme weather, traffic incidents, accidents, illness, strikes, civil unrest, or changes in law or regulation.

16. Amendments to These Terms

We may update or amend these Terms and Conditions from time to time. The version in force at the time of the Booking will apply to that Booking. A copy of the current Terms and Conditions is available on request.

17. Severability

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

18. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

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

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 any Booking, whether contractual or non-contractual.

By placing a Booking with House Clearance Hammersmith, the Customer acknowledges that they have read, understood and agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions.