House Clearance Merton Terms and Conditions

These Terms and Conditions set out the basis on which House Clearance Merton provides house clearance and waste collection services. By making a booking, you agree to be bound by these terms. Please read them carefully before confirming any service.

Definitions

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

Client means the person, company or organisation requesting and paying for the services.

We, Us, Our means House Clearance Merton, the provider of the clearance and related services.

Services means any house clearance, rubbish removal, waste collection, loading, packing, sorting, transportation, or associated work provided by us.

Property means the premises or location at which the services are to be carried out.

Waste means any goods, materials, rubbish, furniture, white goods, or other items to be removed as part of the services.

Scope of Services

We provide house clearance and waste collection services, including the removal, loading, and lawful disposal or recycling of unwanted items and waste. The exact scope of the services will be agreed at the time of booking and confirmed in writing, usually by email or text message.

Unless expressly agreed otherwise, our services do not include cleaning, disconnection of gas or electrical appliances, specialist dismantling, or any building or repair work. If such services are required, they must be discussed and agreed prior to booking and may incur additional charges.

Booking Process

Bookings can be made by telephone, email, or through our online enquiry or booking system where available. A booking is only confirmed once we have accepted your request and issued a confirmation, which may include the date, time window, description of services, and estimated price.

You are responsible for providing accurate information regarding the Property, access conditions, parking availability, size of the clearance, type and volume of waste, and any special requirements. Our quotation and the feasibility of the service may depend on the information you provide. If the information supplied is incomplete or inaccurate, we reserve the right to adjust the price, reschedule, or cancel the service.

We may conduct a site visit or request photographs or descriptions of the waste and Property before confirming a final quotation. Any quotation given without a site visit is an estimate only and may be adjusted on arrival if the actual volume, weight, or nature of the waste differs from that initially described.

Quotations and Pricing

All quotations are provided in good faith based on the information supplied at the time of enquiry and are usually based on the volume and type of waste, labour required, access conditions, and disposal costs. Unless otherwise stated, prices are exclusive of any applicable VAT, which will be charged at the prevailing rate where applicable.

We reserve the right to revise our quotation on arrival if:

The volume or weight of waste is greater than indicated.

The waste includes items that are hazardous or require special handling.

Access to the Property is more restricted than described or involves additional labour, time, or risk.

Additional services are requested by the Client that were not included in the original quotation.

If the revised price is not acceptable to you, you may cancel the booking on the spot; however, we may charge a call-out or cancellation fee to cover our costs as set out in these terms.

Payments and Charges

Unless otherwise agreed in writing, payment is due in full on completion of the services on the day of the clearance. We may accept payment by cash, bank transfer, or card payment, subject to availability of facilities. We may request a deposit or full prepayment for certain bookings, particularly for larger clearances or commercial work.

Where payment terms have been agreed for business Clients, invoices are due for payment within the period specified on the invoice. If no period is stated, payment is due within 7 days of the invoice date.

We reserve the right to charge interest on overdue amounts at the statutory rate applicable in the United Kingdom, accruing daily from the date payment falls due until the date payment is received in full. We may also recover any reasonable costs incurred in collecting overdue payments, including legal and administrative costs.

We retain title to any waste or materials collected until payment in full has been received. In the event of non-payment, we may seek legal remedies including but not limited to debt recovery proceedings.

Cancellations and Amendments

You may cancel or amend a booking by contacting us as soon as possible. Cancellations or significant amendments should be made by email, text, or telephone. The following provisions apply:

If you cancel more than 24 hours before the scheduled arrival time, no cancellation fee will usually be charged.

If you cancel within 24 hours of the scheduled arrival time, we may charge a cancellation fee to cover our time and any costs incurred, which will be discussed at the time of cancellation.

If our team arrives on site at the agreed time and is unable to carry out the work due to reasons within your control, such as lack of access, absence of an authorised person, or refusal of the revised price where the original information was inaccurate, we may charge a call-out fee and any associated costs.

Any request to change the date, time, or scale of the services is subject to our availability and may affect the price. We will make reasonable efforts to accommodate your requirements but cannot guarantee that changes can be made.

Client Responsibilities

You are responsible for ensuring that:

There is adequate and safe access to the Property, including for our vehicle and staff.

Any necessary permissions, permits, or consents from landlords, managing agents, or local authorities have been obtained where required.

Parking is available or any parking restrictions, permits, or charges are communicated to us in advance. Any parking fees, fines, or penalties arising from inaccurate information or failure to arrange appropriate parking may be charged to you.

Items intended to be removed are clearly identified and separated, where practicable, from items you wish to keep.

You or an authorised representative is present during the service to give instructions, if required, unless otherwise agreed.

You must inform us in advance if any items to be removed are hazardous, contain sharp or dangerous components, or require special handling.

Access and Attendance

We will attend the Property at the agreed date and time window, subject to delays caused by traffic, weather conditions, or circumstances beyond our reasonable control. If we are delayed, we will make reasonable efforts to inform you and provide an updated arrival time.

If we cannot gain access to the Property at the agreed time due to your act or omission, we may charge a waiting time fee, reschedule the booking, or treat the appointment as cancelled and apply a cancellation fee.

We reserve the right to refuse to carry out any part of the services if our staff consider the conditions to be unsafe, unsanitary beyond what was described, or in breach of health and safety requirements. In such cases, we may cancel or modify the service and, where appropriate, charge a reduced fee or call-out charge.

Waste Handling and Regulations

We operate in accordance with applicable UK waste regulations and carry or use appropriate licences or registrations for the collection and transport of controlled waste. All waste collected will be handled, transported, and disposed of or recycled through authorised facilities in compliance with relevant law.

You confirm that you are the owner of the items and waste to be removed or are authorised by the owner to arrange their removal. By instructing us to remove items from the Property, you transfer ownership of those items and waste to us, unless otherwise agreed in writing.

We do not accept certain types of hazardous or prohibited waste unless expressly agreed in advance and legally permissible. This may include asbestos, clinical waste, certain chemicals, oils, gas bottles, and other regulated materials. If such items are discovered at the Property and have not been disclosed, we may refuse to handle them, adjust the price to cover special disposal, or cancel the service.

Our services may include separation of materials for recycling where practical and lawful. We will make reasonable efforts to divert waste from landfill in line with regulations and best practice.

Liability and Limitations

We will exercise reasonable care and skill in the provision of our services. Our liability to you is limited as follows:

We are not liable for any loss or damage arising from inaccurate, incomplete, or misleading information you provide.

We are not liable for items that you intended to keep but which were not clearly separated or identified and which were removed during the clearance where reasonable care has been taken by our staff.

We are not responsible for pre-existing damage to the Property or items, or for wear and tear, inherent defects, or fair deterioration.

Where damage to the Property or its contents is caused directly by our negligence, you must notify us as soon as reasonably possible and in any event within 48 hours of completion of the services. Our liability will be limited to the reasonable cost of repair or, at our option, replacement, subject to any applicable insurance and statutory limitations.

To the fullest extent permitted by law, we are not liable for indirect, consequential, or purely economic losses, including loss of profit, loss of opportunity, or loss of enjoyment.

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

Insurance

We maintain insurance cover appropriate for the nature of our business, which may include public liability insurance. Details of our cover can be provided upon reasonable request. Our liability to you will in any event be limited to the level of cover provided under our relevant insurance policies, subject to statutory rights.

Complaints and Disputes

If you are dissatisfied with any aspect of our services, you should contact us as soon as possible so that we can attempt to resolve the matter promptly. Complaints should ideally be made in writing, setting out the details of the issue, the date of the service, and any supporting information.

We will acknowledge receipt of your complaint and investigate it in good faith. Where appropriate, we may offer to revisit the Property, rectify any identified issues, provide a partial refund, or propose another reasonable solution. Our aim is to resolve disputes amicably wherever possible.

Force Majeure

We will not be liable for any delay in performing, or failure to perform, our obligations under these Terms and Conditions where such delay or failure results from events, circumstances, or causes beyond our reasonable control. This may include adverse weather, traffic incidents, accidents, illness, strikes, or regulatory events. In such circumstances, we may suspend the services and arrange a new date, or cancel the booking with a refund of any sums paid for services not delivered.

Privacy and Data Protection

We collect and process personal data required to manage bookings, deliver services, process payments, and communicate with Clients. We will handle your personal information in accordance with applicable UK data protection laws and only retain it for as long as reasonably necessary for these purposes or as required by law.

We will not sell your personal data to third parties. We may share your information with service providers strictly where necessary to perform our obligations, such as payment processors or waste facilities, and as required by law or regulation.

Amendments to These Terms

We may update or amend these Terms and Conditions from time to time to reflect changes in our services, legal requirements, or business practices. The version in force at the time you make a booking will apply to that service. Updated terms may be made available on request or through our usual communication channels.

Severability

If any provision of these Terms and Conditions is held by a court or competent authority to be invalid, unlawful, or unenforceable, that provision will be deemed severed from the remaining terms, which will continue to be valid and enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law.

Governing Law and Jurisdiction

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

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 provision of our house clearance and waste collection services.