How to choose a tree surgeon 10 checks before you book
Tree work is dangerous, and a bad job can kill a tree, damage your house or leave you with a fine. These are the checks to make before anyone picks up a saw in your garden.
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Choosing a tree surgeon in short
Before you book a tree surgeon, check that they hold NPTC certificates for the work, carry public liability insurance (ideally £5 million), are registered as a waste carrier, give a clear written quote, work to British Standard BS3998, check for Tree Preservation Orders and conservation areas, and work as a team rather than alone. Be wary of cold callers, cash-only prices and anyone recommending "topping" a tree.
- Qualifications
- NPTC certificates for chainsaws, felling and climbing
- Insurance
- Public liability, ideally £5 million
- Waste
- Registered waste carrier, so your waste isn't fly-tipped
- Quote
- Written, itemised, no pressure
- Standards
- Work to BS3998, never "topping"
The ten checks
- 1
Qualifications
Ask to see NPTC certificates for chainsaw use, felling and climbing. City & Guilds and Lantra qualifications show further training.
- 2
Insurance
Public liability insurance is a must; £5 million is the usual level for tree work. Ask to see the certificate.
- 3
Waste carrier licence
Anyone taking your waste away must be registered with the Environment Agency. If it's fly-tipped, you can be fined.
- 4
A written quote
Exactly what will be done, to which trees, what happens to the waste, and the total price.
- 5
British Standard BS3998
Good tree surgeons work to the British Standard for tree work. Avoid anyone offering to "top" a tree.
- 6
TPO and conservation area checks
A good tree surgeon checks for protected trees and makes the application. You're liable if work is done without consent.
- 7
Teams, not lone workers
Climbing work needs a second person trained in aerial rescue on the ground.
- 8
Proper kit
Chippers, rigging, platforms or a stump grinder where the job needs it, and signs and cones near roads.
- 9
Reviews and photos
Recent reviews from real customers, and photos of their own work.
- 10
No pressure
Cold callers, "we're in the area today" and cash-only deals are red flags.
How Clearcut measures up
We're happy to be checked against every one of these.
Our team holds NPTC, City & Guilds and Lantra qualifications, we carry £5 million public liability insurance, and we are a registered waste carrier (CBDU489751). Every job gets a free visit and a clear written quote, every cut is made to BS3998, and we check and apply for TPO and conservation area consent before work starts.
We always work as a team, with the right kit for the job, and every bit of waste is recycled. You can see our team and equipment, photos of our work, and our reviews on Google.
Choosing a tree surgeon questions
Anything not covered here? Ask us and we'll give you a straight answer.
What qualifications should a tree surgeon have?
How much insurance should a tree surgeon have?
Is topping a tree ever acceptable?
Should I pay a deposit?
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- You pick a timeOnline, in about a minute. Visits run Monday to Thursday and Saturdays.
- We visit and look properlyA qualified arborist checks the trees, the access and whether any consent is needed.
- You get a written quoteA clear, fixed price with no hidden costs. The price quoted is the price you pay.
- NPTC
- City & Guilds
- Lantra
- £5M insured
- BS3998
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