House Clearance Swiss Cottage Terms and Conditions

These Terms and Conditions set out the basis on which House Clearance Swiss Cottage provides house clearance and associated waste collection services. By booking a service, 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 meanings indicated:

Customer means the individual, business or organisation that requests and/or pays for the services.

Services means house clearance, waste collection, removal, transportation, sorting, and lawful disposal or recycling carried out by House Clearance Swiss Cottage.

Site or Premises means the residential or commercial address where the services are to be carried out.

We, us, our means House Clearance Swiss Cottage, the service provider.

2. Scope of Services

We provide house clearance and waste collection services, including the removal of general household items, furniture, appliances and other non-hazardous waste as agreed at the time of booking. Any specific requests, restrictions or special conditions must be disclosed during the booking process.

We reserve the right to refuse to remove items that are hazardous, illegal, excessively heavy or unsafe to handle, or items that require specialist permits or licences unless expressly agreed in writing beforehand.

3. Booking Process

3.1 Bookings can be made by telephone, email or through any booking system we may make available from time to time. When you place a booking, you confirm that you have authority to do so and that the information you provide is accurate, complete and not misleading.

3.2 We may offer an estimate based on the information you give, including descriptions, photographs or lists of items and access details. Estimates are provided in good faith but do not constitute a final quotation until we have had the opportunity to inspect the Site and the items to be removed.

3.3 Your booking is accepted and a contract is formed only when we confirm the booking and, where applicable, receive any required deposit or prepayment. We reserve the right to decline any booking at our discretion.

3.4 You must ensure that suitable and safe access is available to the Premises at the agreed date and time. This includes arranging any parking permissions, entry codes or keys, and advising us of any access restrictions, stairs, lifts or other relevant details when booking.

4. Estimates, Quotations and Pricing

4.1 Prices are generally based on one or more of the following: volume of waste, type of items, weight, loading time, access conditions, need for additional labour, and any disposal or recycling charges.

4.2 Any price given prior to our arrival is an estimate only, based on the information you provide. If on arrival the volume, weight or nature of the items differs from your description, or if access is more difficult than advised, we may revise the price. We will explain any change before proceeding.

4.3 If you do not agree to the revised price, you may cancel the service at that point. In such circumstances, we reserve the right to charge a call-out fee to cover costs incurred in attending the Premises.

4.4 All prices are quoted in pounds sterling and may be subject to VAT or any other applicable tax, which will be added at the prevailing rate where relevant.

5. Payments and Invoicing

5.1 Unless otherwise agreed in writing, payment is due on completion of the service on the day of collection. We may require a deposit at the time of booking, particularly for larger clearances or commercial work.

5.2 We accept payment by cash, bank transfer, card or any other method we notify you of prior to or at the time of service. Where payment is made by bank transfer, funds must be received in our account within the agreed timeframe.

5.3 For business customers with approved credit arrangements, payment terms will be specified on the invoice. If no specific terms are stated, payment is due within 14 days of the invoice date.

5.4 If payment is not received by the due date, we reserve the right to charge interest on the overdue amount at the statutory rate, along with reasonable debt recovery costs, until full payment is made.

6. Cancellations and Amendments

6.1 You may cancel or amend a booking by contacting us as soon as possible. For standard residential bookings, cancellations or significant changes made at least 24 hours before the scheduled arrival time will not normally incur a charge.

6.2 If you cancel with less than 24 hours notice, fail to provide access to the Premises at the agreed time, or are otherwise not ready for the service to be carried out, we may charge a cancellation or missed appointment fee to cover our costs.

6.3 For larger clearances or commercial bookings where we have reserved a team, vehicles, or have incurred specific costs, a longer notice period for cancellations or amendments may be required. Any such arrangements will be communicated to you at the time of booking.

6.4 We may cancel or reschedule a booking if circumstances beyond our reasonable control arise, including severe weather, vehicle breakdown, staff illness, safety concerns or legal restrictions. In such cases, we will notify you as soon as reasonably possible and either rearrange the service or provide a refund of any deposit paid.

7. Customer Responsibilities

7.1 You must ensure that the items to be removed are clearly identified and that any items you wish to keep are separated from those to be cleared. We cannot accept liability for items taken in error where they were not clearly distinguished.

7.2 You must ensure that the Premises are in a reasonably safe condition for our staff to work, and you must disclose any known risks such as structural defects, sharp objects, contamination, infestations or hazardous materials.

7.3 You must provide access to electrical, gas or water supplies if required for the safe disconnection of appliances, unless otherwise agreed.

7.4 You warrant that you are the owner of the items to be removed or have full authority from the owner to authorise their removal and disposal. You agree to indemnify us against any claims by third parties relating to ownership or authorisation.

8. Excluded Items and Hazardous Waste

8.1 We do not normally remove or transport certain types of waste, including but not limited to: asbestos, clinical or medical waste, certain chemicals, pressurised containers, gas bottles, oil, fuel, explosives, corrosive substances, and other hazardous materials.

8.2 If during the service we discover items that we reasonably believe to be hazardous or to require specialised handling or permits, we may refuse to remove them and may adjust the service and price accordingly.

8.3 If you require removal of hazardous items, this must be discussed and agreed in advance. Such services may be subject to separate terms and pricing.

9. Performance of the Service

9.1 We will use reasonable care and skill in providing the services and will seek to carry out the work within the agreed time window. However, time is not of the essence and we are not responsible for delays caused by factors beyond our control.

9.2 Our team will load items from the Premises into our vehicle, subject to safe access and reasonable working conditions. We are not obliged to remove items from areas that present an unreasonable risk to health and safety.

9.3 We may take photographs of the items before and after clearance for the purposes of record-keeping, proof of service and waste compliance. Such images will not be used for marketing without your prior consent.

10. Waste Handling and Environmental Compliance

10.1 We operate in accordance with applicable UK waste management regulations and best practice. We will transport and dispose of waste only at authorised facilities and will use reasonable efforts to maximise reuse and recycling where possible.

10.2 Waste transferred to us becomes our responsibility and we will hold or operate under the appropriate authorisations required by law for carrying controlled waste.

10.3 We may at our discretion separate items suitable for donation, reuse, resale or recycling. Our pricing reflects the costs of lawful disposal, and you acknowledge that any residual value in items cleared is taken into account in our service pricing.

11. Liability and Limitations

11.1 Nothing in these Terms and Conditions limits or excludes our liability for death or personal injury caused by our negligence, fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation, or any other liability that cannot be limited or excluded under applicable law.

11.2 Subject to the above, we are not liable for any indirect or consequential loss, loss of profit, loss of business, loss of opportunity or loss of goodwill arising out of or in connection with the services.

11.3 Our total liability to you for any loss or damage arising in connection with the contract, whether in contract, tort or otherwise, shall not exceed the total amount paid or payable by you for the specific service giving rise to the claim.

11.4 While reasonable care is taken when handling items, minor cosmetic damage can occasionally occur during the moving of bulky or heavy objects, particularly in confined spaces. We are not liable for normal wear and tear or pre-existing defects.

11.5 You must notify us in writing of any claim for loss or damage as soon as reasonably possible and in any event within 7 days of the service being carried out, providing details and evidence where available.

12. Insurance

12.1 We shall maintain appropriate public liability insurance and, where applicable, employers liability insurance in accordance with UK law.

12.2 You are responsible for arranging any additional insurance you consider necessary to cover the value of items or the Premises.

13. Access, Parking and Charges

13.1 You are responsible for ensuring that suitable parking is available as close as reasonably practicable to the Premises. If parking restrictions apply, you must arrange permits or provide payment for parking fees unless otherwise agreed.

13.2 If we incur parking charges, fines, penalties or other costs as a direct result of instructions or omissions by you, we reserve the right to recharge these amounts to you.

14. Complaints

14.1 If you are dissatisfied with any aspect of the service, you should raise the issue with us as soon as possible so that we can attempt to resolve it promptly.

14.2 We will investigate complaints in good faith and may request further information or evidence from you. Our aim is to provide a fair and reasonable outcome based on the facts and these Terms and Conditions.

15. Data Protection and Privacy

15.1 We will handle personal information in accordance with applicable data protection laws. Information you provide will be used for managing bookings, providing services, processing payments, record-keeping and fulfilling legal obligations.

15.2 We will take reasonable steps to keep personal data secure and will not sell your data to third parties. We may share information with service providers or authorities where necessary for the performance of the contract or compliance with legal requirements.

16. Variations to These Terms

16.1 We may update or amend these Terms and Conditions from time to time. Any changes will not affect bookings already confirmed, unless required by law or regulatory action.

16.2 The version of the Terms and Conditions in force at the time of your booking will apply to that booking.

17. Severance

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

18. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

18.1 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.

18.2 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 the services provided.

By proceeding with a booking for house clearance or waste collection with House Clearance Swiss Cottage, you confirm that you have read, understood and agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions.