House Clearance Elephant and Castle Terms and Conditions

These Terms and Conditions set out the basis on which House Clearance Elephant and Castle provides house clearance and associated waste collection services within the United Kingdom. By booking or using our services you agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions. Please read them carefully before placing a booking.

Definitions

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

Customer means the individual or business who requests and purchases the services.

Company means House Clearance Elephant and Castle, the provider of the services.

Services means any house clearance, rubbish removal, waste collection, loading, transportation, sorting, recycling or lawful disposal services provided by the Company.

Waste means any items, furniture, appliances, materials, general rubbish or other goods which the Customer asks the Company to collect and remove.

Contract means the agreement between the Customer and the Company for the provision of the Services, incorporating these Terms and Conditions and any written confirmation issued by the Company.

Scope of Services

The Company provides house clearance and waste collection services for domestic and, where agreed, commercial Customers. Services may include the clearing of household items, bulky waste, garden waste, and other non-hazardous materials, as well as the sorting, transport, recycling and lawful disposal of such waste.

The Company does not routinely remove hazardous or specialist waste, including but not limited to asbestos, clinical or medical waste, chemicals, solvents, oils, gas cylinders, explosives, ammunition and any materials classified as hazardous under applicable legislation. Any request to handle such waste is subject to prior written agreement and may require additional charges and specialist arrangements.

Booking Process

Bookings can be made by telephone, email or other communication methods made available by the Company. At the time of booking, the Customer must provide accurate information about the property, access, parking, the approximate volume and type of waste, and any items that may require special handling.

Where possible, the Company may provide an estimated quote based on the information supplied by the Customer. This quote may be subject to change if the actual volume, type of waste or site conditions differ from those described during the booking. In some cases the Company may carry out an on-site assessment and provide a fixed price prior to commencing the Services.

A booking is only confirmed when the Company issues a confirmation by email, text message or other written medium. The Company reserves the right to refuse any booking at its sole discretion.

Access, Parking and Site Conditions

The Customer is responsible for ensuring that the Company has safe and reasonable access to the property and to the waste to be collected. This includes arranging suitable parking or permits where required, clearing any obstacles, and informing the Company of restricted access, stairs, narrow hallways or other potential difficulties.

If adequate access or parking is not available on arrival, the Company may, at its discretion, either charge additional time and labour to complete the work or cancel the booking and charge a reasonable call-out fee to cover the Companys costs.

The Customer must ensure that the site is safe and complies with health and safety requirements. The Company reserves the right to refuse to carry out any or all of the Services if, in the reasonable opinion of its staff, the conditions are unsafe or pose unacceptable risk. In such circumstances, cancellation charges may apply.

Customer Responsibilities

The Customer must:

Provide accurate, complete and up-to-date information at the time of booking.

Ensure that the waste to be removed is clearly identified and accessible.

Separate out any items that the Customer does not wish the Company to remove.

Inform the Company in advance of any items that may be fragile, heavy, awkward, or require dismantling.

Disclose any hazardous materials or sharp objects and safely package them where appropriate.

Ensure that no valuable or personal items are left within waste intended for disposal.

The Company will not be liable for loss or damage to items that the Customer has not clearly separated from waste or has mistakenly left for disposal.

Pricing and Quotations

Prices are generally based on volume, weight, labour time, access conditions and type of waste. Any prices quoted in advance are estimates only, unless expressly stated as a fixed price. All prices are exclusive of any applicable taxes or charges unless stated otherwise.

If on arrival the quantity or type of waste differs materially from the description given at the time of booking, or if access or site conditions are more difficult than anticipated, the Company may revise the price accordingly. The Customer will be informed of any change to the price before work is carried out or continued.

Where a fixed price has been agreed following an on-site assessment, this price will not normally change unless the Customer adds additional items, requests extra Services, or there is a significant change in site conditions between the assessment and the date of clearance.

Payments and Invoicing

Payment is due in full on completion of the Services, unless alternative terms have been agreed in writing in advance. The Company may accept payment by cash, debit card, credit card or bank transfer, subject to any methods made available at the time.

For certain bookings, including large clearances or commercial jobs, the Company may require a deposit or pre-payment as a condition of confirming the booking. Any deposit amount and payment schedule will be notified to the Customer in advance.

Where the Customer is a business and credit terms have been agreed in writing, payment is due within the period specified on the invoice. If payment is not received by the due date, the Company reserves the right to charge interest, administrative fees for debt recovery, and any additional costs incurred in pursuing late payment.

The Company may suspend or refuse further Services to any Customer who has outstanding overdue balances.

Cancellations and Amendments

The Customer may cancel or amend a booking by notifying the Company as soon as reasonably practicable. Cancellation terms are as follows, unless otherwise stated in writing:

If the Customer cancels more than 48 hours before the scheduled arrival time, any deposit may be refunded or transferred to a new booking at the Companys discretion.

If the Customer cancels within 24 to 48 hours of the scheduled arrival time, the Company may retain all or part of any deposit or charge a reasonable cancellation fee to cover lost time and administrative costs.

If the Customer cancels within 24 hours of the scheduled arrival time or fails to provide access when the Company arrives, the Company may charge up to the full quoted amount or a significant portion thereof, depending on the work and resources allocated.

Any request to change the date or time of a booking is subject to availability. The Company will use reasonable efforts to accommodate changes but is under no obligation to do so. Amendments made at short notice may incur additional charges.

Delays and Service Times

The Company will use reasonable endeavours to attend the Customers property at the agreed time or within an agreed time window. However, times are approximate and may be affected by traffic, weather, previous jobs taking longer than anticipated, or other factors beyond the Companys control.

The Company will not be liable for any loss, damage, costs or expenses suffered by the Customer as a result of any delay or failure to attend at a particular time, provided that the Company uses reasonable care and skill to deliver the Services.

Waste Handling and Regulations

The Company operates in accordance with applicable UK waste management and environmental regulations. All waste collected will be transported and disposed of only at licensed facilities or through authorised channels, with a focus on reuse and recycling where reasonably practicable.

The Customer confirms that they have the right to authorise the removal of the waste and that the waste does not include any prohibited or illegal items. The Customer must not request the Company to dispose of waste unlawfully or in breach of environmental regulations.

The Company reserves the right to refuse to remove any items which it reasonably believes to be hazardous, unlawful to transport or dispose of, or outside the agreed scope of the Services. If such items are discovered after work has begun, the Company may suspend the Services and charge for work completed to that point.

Title and Risk in Waste

Once waste has been loaded onto the Companys vehicle, title and risk in that waste will normally pass to the Company, and the Company will assume responsibility for its transport and lawful disposal. Until waste is loaded, it remains the property and responsibility of the Customer.

If the Company agrees to segregate or retain certain items for reuse, donation or resale, the ownership of such items may transfer to the Company at the point of removal, unless otherwise agreed in writing.

Damage and Liability

The Company will exercise reasonable care and skill when carrying out the Services. However, minor scuffs, marks or wear and tear can sometimes occur during the removal of bulky items, especially in tight spaces or where access is restricted. The Customer is responsible for protecting floors, walls, staircases and fixtures where necessary, and for identifying any particularly delicate surfaces or areas.

The Company will not be liable for:

Any pre-existing damage, wear, defect or weakness at the property or in any item.

Minor cosmetic damage that is reasonably incidental to the performance of the Services in difficult access conditions.

Any loss or damage arising from inaccurate information provided by the Customer.

Any indirect or consequential loss, including loss of profit, loss of income, loss of business or loss of opportunity.

Where the Company is found liable for any loss or damage, its total liability to the Customer shall be limited to the amount paid or payable for the Services under the relevant Contract, except in cases where such limitation is not permitted by law.

Insurance

The Company maintains appropriate insurance cover in respect of its operations. Details of cover can be provided upon reasonable request. The existence of insurance does not extend or increase the Companys obligations or liability beyond those set out in these Terms and Conditions or required by law.

Complaints

If the Customer is dissatisfied with any aspect of the Services, they should notify the Company as soon as possible and, in any event, within a reasonable time after the issue arises. The Company will investigate complaints promptly and aim to reach a fair resolution.

Where a complaint relates to alleged damage or loss, the Customer must provide relevant evidence and allow the Company a reasonable opportunity to inspect the property or items concerned.

Events Beyond Our Control

The Company will not be liable for any failure or delay in performing its obligations under the Contract where such failure or delay results from events, circumstances or causes beyond its reasonable control. These may include, but are not limited to, severe weather, accidents, traffic disruption, strikes, lockouts, war, terrorism, civil unrest, pandemics, or failure of third-party networks or utilities.

Data Protection and Privacy

The Company may collect and process personal data relating to the Customer for the purposes of administering bookings, providing the Services, processing payments, and maintaining business records. The Company will handle such data in accordance with applicable data protection laws and will take reasonable steps to keep it secure.

By using the Services, the Customer consents to the use of their personal data for these purposes. The Customer may request details of any personal information held about them and may ask for inaccuracies to be corrected.

Variation of Terms

The Company reserves the right to update or amend these Terms and Conditions from time to time. Any changes will take effect when posted or otherwise communicated to Customers and will apply to all Contracts entered into after that date. The version in force at the time of booking will apply to that Contract.

Severability

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

Governing Law and Jurisdiction

These Terms and Conditions, and any Contract between the Customer and the Company, are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales. The parties 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, the Services, or any Contract, including any non-contractual disputes or claims.

Entire Agreement

These Terms and Conditions, together with any written quotation or confirmation, constitute the entire agreement between the Customer and the Company in relation to the Services and supersede any prior discussions, correspondence or understandings. The Customer acknowledges that they have not relied on any statement or representation not expressly set out in these Terms and Conditions.