House Clearance Earls Court Service Terms and Conditions

These Terms and Conditions set out the basis on which House Clearance Earls Court provides house clearance and associated waste collection services in the United Kingdom. By making a booking or otherwise instructing us to carry out any work, you agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions. Please read them carefully before confirming any booking.

1. Definitions

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

Client means the individual, company, or organisation that books or receives the services.

Services means any house clearance, waste collection, bulky item removal, or related services provided by us, including loading, transport, and disposal or recycling of items.

Premises means the property, land, building, room, or area where the services are to be carried out.

Waste means any items, materials, furniture, appliances, or belongings that the client asks us to remove, whether for disposal, reuse, or recycling, but excluding any prohibited or hazardous materials as outlined in these terms.

We, us, our means House Clearance Earls Court, operating as a waste collection and clearance service provider within the UK.

2. Scope of Services

We provide house clearance and waste collection services, which may include removal of general household items, furniture, white goods, garden waste, and non-hazardous commercial items, subject to availability and any agreed scope detailed during booking.

The scope of the services for each booking will be based on the information you provide in advance. Our quotation or estimated price is given according to the description, volume, weight, and type of waste or items to be collected, as well as access conditions at the premises.

We reserve the right to refuse to collect certain items that we reasonably consider unsafe, prohibited, or not covered by our waste carrier licence or insurance, such as certain hazardous, toxic, or specialist waste streams.

3. Booking Process

Bookings for our services may be made by telephone, email, or through any other communication method we make available. When making a booking, you must provide accurate and complete information, including:

1. The full address of the premises.

2. Contact details for access on the day of service.

3. A description of the items and approximate volume or number of loads.

4. Any relevant access restrictions such as parking limitations, stairs, narrow corridors, or limited lift availability.

All bookings are subject to our confirmation. We may provide an estimate or final price at the time of booking. In some cases, the final price may be subject to a site assessment upon arrival, particularly where the information supplied at the time of booking is incomplete or inaccurate.

By confirming a booking, you warrant that you are either the owner of the premises or have full authority from the owner or occupier to instruct us to carry out the services and to remove items from the premises.

4. Estimates and Pricing

Any price discussed prior to inspection of the premises is generally an estimate based on the information you provide. We make reasonable efforts to ensure our estimates are fair and accurate but they do not constitute a fixed price until we confirm after inspection.

The final price may vary from the initial estimate where:

1. The volume or type of waste is substantially different from that described.

2. There are unforeseen access issues causing additional labour or time.

3. Additional services are requested on the day, such as dismantling items or clearing additional areas.

We will inform you of any change in price before commencing work. If you do not agree to the revised price, you may cancel the service in accordance with the cancellation terms set out in these conditions.

5. Payments and Charges

Payment is due in full on completion of the services, unless otherwise agreed in writing in advance. We may require a deposit or full pre-payment for certain bookings or large clearances, which will be communicated at the time of booking.

We typically accept payment by cash, bank transfer, or card, subject to any methods we make available. All charges are quoted in pounds sterling and are inclusive or exclusive of VAT as specified in our quote or invoice.

If payment is not received when due, we reserve the right to:

1. Charge interest on outstanding amounts at the statutory rate until payment is made in full.

2. Withhold completion of services or removal of items.

3. Take reasonable steps to recover any unpaid sums, including engaging debt collection agencies or pursuing legal action, and to recover from you any costs reasonably incurred in that process.

6. Cancellations and Rescheduling

You may cancel or reschedule your booking by contacting us as soon as possible. Because we reserve staff, vehicles, and disposal capacity for each booking, the following terms apply unless we agree otherwise in writing:

If you cancel more than 48 hours before the scheduled service time, we will generally not charge a cancellation fee, and any deposit paid may be refunded or credited at our discretion.

If you cancel within 24 to 48 hours of the scheduled service time, we may charge a reasonable cancellation fee to cover administrative and scheduling costs.

If you cancel less than 24 hours before the scheduled service time or fail to provide access to the premises at the agreed time, we reserve the right to charge up to the full quoted price to cover wasted time, travel, and booking slot allocation.

We will make reasonable efforts to arrive at the agreed time, but timing is not guaranteed. In the event of severe traffic, vehicle breakdown, extreme weather, or other circumstances beyond our reasonable control, we may have to reschedule. In such cases, our liability is limited to rescheduling at a mutually convenient time; we will not be liable for any indirect or consequential losses arising from delay or rescheduling.

7. Access and Client Obligations

You are responsible for providing safe and reasonable access to the premises at the agreed time. This includes ensuring:

1. Suitable parking is available or appropriate arrangements have been made.

2. The premises are accessible, and any necessary keys, codes, or permissions are provided.

3. Areas to be cleared are free from significant health and safety hazards wherever reasonably possible.

If we are unable to access the premises or carry out the services safely due to conditions beyond our control, we may treat the booking as cancelled by you and apply the relevant cancellation terms.

You must also remove or clearly separate any items that you wish to keep. Unless instructed otherwise, our team will assume that items left in the agreed clearance areas are to be removed as waste or for reuse.

8. Items We Cannot Remove

There are certain items that we cannot remove or dispose of as part of our standard house clearance and waste collection services. These may include:

1. Asbestos or materials containing asbestos.

2. Clinical or medical waste, including sharps and contaminated items.

3. Hazardous chemicals, solvents, oils, or flammable substances.

4. Gas bottles, fuel containers, or pressurised cylinders.

5. Large quantities of tyres, specialist electrical equipment, or other controlled waste not covered by our licence.

If such items are present at the premises, you must inform us in advance. We may be able to recommend specialist contractors where appropriate, but we do not accept responsibility for arranging their services unless expressly agreed.

9. Waste Handling and Regulatory Compliance

We operate in compliance with applicable UK waste management legislation and regulations, including any requirements to hold a waste carrier registration, adhere to duty of care obligations, and dispose of or recycle waste only at authorised facilities.

By using our services, you authorise us to remove and transport waste from the premises and to decide, in our discretion, how such waste is sorted, reused, recycled, or disposed of in accordance with legal and environmental requirements.

Where required, a waste transfer note or similar documentation may be created to record the transfer of waste. You agree to provide any information reasonably necessary to complete such documentation accurately.

10. Liability and Limitations

We will exercise reasonable care and skill while performing the services. However, our liability to you is subject to the limitations set out below:

1. We will not be liable for any loss or damage arising from inaccurate information provided by you or from any failure to identify items that you wish to keep where these have not been clearly separated or communicated.

2. We will not be liable for normal wear and tear, or for minor cosmetic damage arising from the removal of large or heavy items where reasonable care has been taken, such as small scuffs to walls or floors.

3. Our total liability for any direct loss or damage arising from any one event or series of connected events shall not exceed the total fees paid or payable for the services in question, unless otherwise required by law.

4. We will not be liable for any indirect, consequential, or economic loss, including loss of profits, loss of business, or loss of opportunity.

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 liability that cannot lawfully be excluded or limited under UK law.

11. Insurance

We maintain appropriate insurance cover for our operations, including public liability insurance to a level commensurate with the nature of our services. Details of our insurance cover can be provided upon reasonable request.

12. Client Property and Valuables

It is your responsibility to ensure that all valuables, important documents, personal items, and belongings that you do not wish to be disposed of are removed from the clearance areas before the services commence.

We will not be responsible for any items mistakenly cleared where they were not clearly identified as items to be retained or were left in areas designated for clearance. Once items have been removed and disposed of, they cannot normally be retrieved.

13. Complaints and Disputes

If you have any concerns about our services, you should notify us as soon as possible, ideally on the day of service or within a reasonable period afterwards. We will investigate your complaint and aim to resolve it promptly and fairly.

Where a dispute cannot be resolved between us through our internal complaints process, either party may consider using alternative dispute resolution methods or pursue legal remedies as available under UK law.

14. Events Beyond Our Control

We will not be in breach of these Terms and Conditions or liable for any 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. These may include severe weather conditions, traffic incidents, strikes, vehicle breakdowns, or acts of government or regulatory authorities.

15. Data Protection and Privacy

We may collect and process personal data relating to you for the purposes of handling your booking, providing services, raising invoices, and managing our relationship with you. We will handle any personal data in accordance with applicable UK data protection laws and use it only for legitimate business purposes or as required by law.

16. Amendments to These Terms

We reserve the right to update or amend these Terms and Conditions from time to time to reflect changes in our services, legal requirements, or operational needs. The version in force at the time of your booking will apply to that particular service. Any updated terms may be made available upon 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, such provision shall be deemed deleted to the minimum extent necessary, 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 the services we provide, 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 their subject matter.

By proceeding with a booking or allowing our team to commence work, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions for the provision of house clearance and waste collection services.