House Clearance Kingston Terms and Conditions

These Terms and Conditions set out the basis on which House Clearance Kingston provides waste collection, house clearance and related services. 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 meanings set out below:

1.1 "We", "us" and "our" means House Clearance Kingston, the provider of waste collection and clearance services.

1.2 "You" and "your" means the customer or client who requests or receives services from us.

1.3 "Services" means any waste collection, house clearance, rubbish removal, related loading, sorting, transportation, and associated services that we agree to provide.

1.4 "Site" means the property, premises or location at which the services are to be carried out.

1.5 "Waste" means any items, materials or goods that you ask us to remove, dispose of or recycle as part of the services.

2. Scope of Services

2.1 We provide house clearance, rubbish removal and waste collection services, including but not limited to removal of general household items, furniture, garden waste and light commercial waste, subject to these Terms and Conditions and applicable waste regulations.

2.2 We reserve the right to decline to remove any items that we reasonably consider to be hazardous, prohibited, unsafe to handle, or not in compliance with waste disposal regulations.

2.3 We will normally collect and remove waste from accessible areas of the Site agreed with you in advance. Unless stated otherwise, our services do not include specialist dismantling, plumbing, electrical work, structural work or cleaning.

2.4 Any timescales for completion of the services are estimates only and are not guaranteed, although we will make reasonable efforts to meet agreed dates and times.

3. Booking Process

3.1 You may request a quotation or make a booking by telephone, email or through any other contact method we make available.

3.2 When requesting a quotation, you should provide accurate and complete information about the type, volume and location of waste, the access arrangements at the Site and any special requirements.

3.3 Quotations may be given based on information provided by you remotely or following a Site visit. Quotations are normally estimates and may be subject to adjustment if the actual volume, weight or nature of waste differs from the information provided, or if access is more difficult than stated.

3.4 A booking is only confirmed when we have accepted your request and provided a booking confirmation by telephone, email or other written communication. We reserve the right to decline any booking at our discretion.

3.5 You must ensure that you, or a responsible adult authorised by you, are present at the Site at the agreed date and time of service, unless we agree otherwise in writing.

4. Access and Site Requirements

4.1 You are responsible for providing safe, reasonable and lawful access to the Site and to the waste to be removed. This includes arranging any necessary permissions, parking, permits or entry codes.

4.2 You must inform us in advance of any access restrictions, parking limitations, loading bays, height restrictions, steps, narrow passages or other conditions that may affect our ability to carry out the services.

4.3 If we are unable to carry out the services, or if additional work or time is required, due to inaccurate information about access or the Site, we may charge for wasted time, waiting time, additional labour or extra journeys.

4.4 You must ensure that the Site is reasonably safe for our personnel. We may suspend or cancel services if we consider that working conditions present an undue health and safety risk.

5. Customer Responsibilities

5.1 You confirm that you are the owner of the items to be removed or that you have full authority from the owner to request their removal and disposal.

5.2 You must identify clearly which items are to be taken and which are to be left. We will not be responsible for the removal of items that were not intended to be disposed of if they were not clearly identified.

5.3 You are responsible for removing from the waste any personal or confidential items you wish to retain, such as documents, money, jewellery or other valuables, before we start work.

5.4 You agree not to include in the waste any items that are hazardous, explosive, flammable, pressurised or otherwise prohibited by law, unless we have expressly agreed in writing to handle such items and the necessary arrangements and fees are in place.

6. Pricing and Quotations

6.1 Our charges are typically based on the volume and type of waste collected, the labour required and any additional services requested.

6.2 Any quotation provided is an estimate only unless explicitly described as a fixed price. Where the actual volume, weight, type of waste or time on Site exceeds what was initially quoted, we may adjust the charge accordingly, and we will inform you before proceeding where reasonably possible.

6.3 Prices may also take into account disposal and recycling costs, congestion or clean air charges, parking charges and any other fees reasonably incurred in providing the services.

6.4 All prices are quoted in pounds sterling and may be subject to VAT where applicable.

7. Payments

7.1 Unless otherwise agreed in writing, payment is due in full on completion of the services on the day of collection.

7.2 We accept payment by cash, card or bank transfer, subject to the methods we make available at the time of booking or service.

7.3 For certain larger or commercial clearances, we may require a deposit or advance payment before the booking is confirmed or before work commences. Any such requirement will be notified to you at the time of booking.

7.4 If payment is not received when due, we reserve the right to charge interest on the overdue amount at the statutory rate and to recover all reasonable costs incurred in pursuing payment.

8. Cancellations and Amendments

8.1 You may cancel or amend your booking by giving us notice by telephone or email.

8.2 Where you cancel a booking more than 24 hours before the scheduled start time, no cancellation fee will normally be charged, unless specific costs have already been incurred by us on your behalf.

8.3 Where you cancel within 24 hours of the scheduled start time, or where we are unable to carry out the services because you or your representative are not present at the Site at the agreed time, we reserve the right to charge a reasonable cancellation or call-out fee to cover our costs.

8.4 We may cancel or reschedule a booking due to circumstances beyond our reasonable control, including but not limited to severe weather, vehicle breakdown, staff illness, accidents, or changes in law or regulations. In such cases, we will seek to notify you as soon as reasonably practicable and offer an alternative appointment.

9. Waste Handling and Regulations

9.1 We operate in accordance with applicable UK waste management and environmental regulations. We aim to dispose of or recycle waste at licensed facilities and to minimise landfill wherever reasonably practicable.

9.2 By using our services, you authorise us to remove, transport, process, recycle and dispose of waste from the Site as we consider appropriate and lawful.

9.3 We will not accept or transport waste that is prohibited under relevant legislation or that we reasonably believe may pose an unacceptable risk to health, safety or the environment.

9.4 We may, at our discretion, request information or declarations from you regarding the nature and source of the waste to ensure compliance with waste regulations. You agree to provide accurate information to the best of your knowledge.

9.5 Title to the waste normally transfers to us once it is loaded onto our vehicle, unless otherwise agreed in writing. At that point, we become responsible for its lawful disposal.

10. Liability and Limitations

10.1 We will exercise reasonable care and skill in providing the services. However, you acknowledge that the nature of house clearance and waste collection work can involve movement of bulky items and working in confined or cluttered spaces.

10.2 We will not be liable for any loss or damage to items that you intended to be removed as waste, nor for any loss of personal or valuable items left within the waste or in items presented for disposal.

10.3 You must notify us of any alleged loss or damage to property at the Site as soon as reasonably possible and, in any event, within 48 hours of completion of the services. We may inspect the Site and investigate the circumstances before any liability is accepted.

10.4 Our total liability to you in respect of any claim arising out of or in connection with the services, whether in contract, tort, negligence or otherwise, shall be limited to the total amount paid or payable by you for the relevant services, except where liability cannot lawfully be limited.

10.5 Nothing in these Terms and Conditions excludes or limits our liability for death or personal injury caused by our negligence, for fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation, or for any other matter for which it would be unlawful to exclude or limit liability.

11. Insurance

11.1 We maintain insurance policies appropriate to the nature of our business, which may include public liability insurance and, where applicable, employers liability insurance.

11.2 You are responsible for maintaining adequate insurance for your own property and possessions at the Site. We recommend that you check your household or business insurance cover in relation to clearance and removal activities.

12. Complaints

12.1 If you are dissatisfied with any aspect of our services, you should notify us as soon as possible, providing full details of your concerns.

12.2 We will aim to investigate and respond to complaints promptly and to resolve issues, where appropriate, through discussion and reasonable remedial action.

12.3 Making a complaint does not affect your statutory rights as a consumer, where applicable.

13. Data Protection and Privacy

13.1 We may collect and process personal information about you, such as your name, contact details and Site address, for the purposes of arranging and providing the services, handling payments and managing our relationship with you.

13.2 We will handle your personal information in accordance with applicable data protection laws and only share it where necessary to provide the services, comply with legal obligations or with your consent.

13.3 You are responsible for removing or destroying any personal or confidential information contained in items that you ask us to dispose of. We will not be responsible for data contained on devices, documents or media presented for disposal.

14. Force Majeure

14.1 We shall not be liable for any delay in performing or failure to perform our obligations under these Terms and Conditions if such delay or failure results from events, circumstances or causes beyond our reasonable control.

14.2 In such circumstances, we will use reasonable endeavours to mitigate the effects and to resume normal service as soon as reasonably practicable.

15. Variations to Terms

15.1 We may update or amend these Terms and Conditions from time to time. Any changes will normally apply to bookings made after the date on which the revised terms are issued.

15.2 The version of the Terms and Conditions applicable to your booking will be the version in force at the time your booking is confirmed, unless a change is required by law or regulation.

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 the services.

17. General Provisions

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

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

17.3 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 reasonably necessary for the provision of the services.

17.4 These Terms and Conditions, together with any written quotation or booking confirmation, constitute the entire agreement between you and us in relation to the services and supersede any previous understandings or agreements.