Commercial Survey

Terms and Conditions

Contract Acceptance
Acceptance of our quotation or instruction to proceed confirms that the client (a business entity) enters into a binding contract with Finch Arboriculture Ltd ("Finch") for the provision of arboricultural surveys and/or reports at the agreed price and scope under these terms and conditions. This contract is governed by English law and applies to commercial business relationships only.

  • Quotations are valid for 30 days unless otherwise agreed in writing.

  • All quotations are provided without obligation. Prices are exclusive of VAT, which will be charged at the prevailing rate.

  • Any additional work or re-surveys not included in the original quotation will incur extra charges, subject to prior written agreement.

Scheduling of work

Unless specific timeframes are agreed in writing prior to quotation, all works will be scheduled at Finch’s discretion to fit within our operational availability. We will make reasonable efforts to accommodate client preferences where possible.

Cancellations and rescheduling:

  • 48+ hours’ notice: No charge

  • Less than 48 hours: 50% of quote charged

  • Less than 24 hours: Full quoted price charged

Finch reserves the right to reschedule works due to adverse weather conditions or other safety concerns. This decision will be based on professional judgement and risk assessments.

Payment Terms
An invoice will be raised upon completion of works. Payment is due within 30 days of the invoice date by bank transfer unless otherwise agreed. Cash payments are not accepted. Late payments will incur statutory interest at 8% above the Bank of England base rate under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998, plus a fixed recovery charge of £40, £70, or £100 depending on the value of the invoice. Finch reserves the right to suspend further works or services until outstanding balances are settled.

Insurance
Finch is fully insured and covered with £10M any one occurrence Public Liability, £10M any one occurrence Contractors Combined Liability and £1M any one claim Public Indemnity.

Scope of Service and limitations
Surveys are conducted from ground level using Visual Tree Assessment (VTA) techniques unless otherwise agreed. No climbing, invasive procedures or use of specialist decay detection equipment are undertaken unless explicitly stated. Measurements provided are estimations unless otherwise specified.

The survey represents a snapshot of the tree(s) condition at the time of inspection. Trees are dynamic organisms, and their condition can change rapidly due to various factors. Therefore, the report is valid for 12 months from the date of inspection, unless significant site changes occur, such as construction activities, soil alterations or extreme weather events, which may necessitate an earlier reassessment.

While every effort is made to detect visible defects, some conditions may be obscured or undetectable due to foliage, ivy, obstructions or limited access and findings reflect conditions at the time of the site visit. Finch accepts no liability for changes in tree condition after the report date unless under an ongoing monitoring agreement.

Legal and Planning Constraints
The client is responsible for ensuring that all legal permissions and planning consents are obtained prior to the implementation of any recommended works arising from the report. This includes, but is not limited to, Tree Preservation Orders, Conservation Area consent and felling licences. Where Finch is requested to manage such applications, an administrative fee will apply. Finch cannot be held liable for any enforcement action, delays or penalties arising from failure to obtain necessary permissions, unless expressly contracted to manage the process.

Client Responsibilities and Safe Access
Where the Client is not present at the site (e.g. rental properties), it is their responsibility to arrange access.

If access is not available, full charges may still apply. Clients are responsible for providing safe, clear access to the site and must inform Finch of any known hazards, underground services or site restrictions prior to the survey. In cases where access is not possible or significantly obstructed, Finch reserves the right to charge the full quoted fee. The client is also responsible for informing neighbouring landowners or adjacent property holders if access or boundary-related observations may affect them.

Re-Survey Requirements
It is recommended that surveyed sites be reassessed within twelve to eighteen months of the original survey date unless otherwise stated in the report. Re-inspection may be required sooner if there has been recent development activity, changes to the land or target usage or extreme weather events. It is the client's responsibility to arrange follow-up inspections when needed.

Implementation of Recommendations
Where the survey includes recommendations for tree works, those works must be carried out by qualified and competent arborists within suggested timeframes and in accordance with BS3998:2010 and relevant health and safety legislation. It is strongly recommended that clients engage Arboricultural Association Approved Contractors for this purpose to ensure quality and reduce liability. Finch accepts no responsibility for works carried out by third parties, even when based on our recommendations, unless Finch has been separately contracted to complete those works.

Data Protection and Confidentiality
All client data is stored securely and used solely for operational purposes in accordance with data protection legislation. Photographs may be taken during the survey for record-keeping purposes. These images are for internal use unless otherwise authorised or required by law

Report Use, Amendments and Liabilities
The contents of the report are intended for the client's use and for the specific purpose stated. Finch does not accept liability for any loss or damage arising from the use of the report for purposes other than those originally intended. Should amendments to the report be necessary due to the provision of incomplete or inaccurate information by the client, additional charges may apply. Finch will inform the client of any such charges prior to proceeding with amendments. 

Finch shall not be held liable for any losses, damages, or third-party claims arising from actions taken on the basis of the report, beyond the limits of the instructed scope and purpose. Where professional negligence or substandard service by Finch is proven, liability is limited to the value of the service provided. Finch accepts no liability for damage to underground services, structures or third-party property unless previously made aware of such risks in writing and those risks are included in the report.

The client is responsible for ensuring that all necessary permissions, consents, and licences (e.g., Tree Preservation Orders, conservation area consents) are obtained prior to the commencement of the survey. Finch will not be held liable for delays or penalties resulting from insufficient permissions unless previously agreed in writing that Finch will manage the application process. 

If you have any questions or would like to discuss any aspect of your survey, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. We’re here to help and look forward to working with you.