Terms and Conditions

Swiss Cottage Removals Service Terms and Conditions

These Terms and Conditions set out the basis on which Swiss Cottage Removals provides residential and commercial removals, packing, storage coordination and related 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 confirming any booking.

1. Definitions

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

Company means Swiss Cottage Removals, the provider of the removal services.

Customer means the person, firm or organisation requesting and paying for the services.

Services means any removal, packing, loading, unloading, transport, storage coordination, furniture dismantling and reassembly, or related services provided by the Company.

Service Area means the locations in which the Company routinely provides services, generally within the UK, with a focus on London and surrounding regions.

Goods means the items, belongings and property which are the subject of the Services.

Contract means the agreement between the Customer and the Company for the provision of Services, incorporating these Terms and Conditions.

2. Scope of Services

The Company provides domestic and commercial removal services, including local moves, longer-distance moves within the UK, packing and unpacking, furniture dismantling and reassembly where specified, and coordination of storage with third-party storage providers where required.

The exact scope, including addresses, dates, times, volume of Goods, and any additional services, will be confirmed in writing by the Company in a quotation or booking confirmation. The Company is not obliged to provide any services that are not expressly included in the confirmed quotation or booking confirmation.

3. Quotations

All quotations are based on the information supplied by the Customer at the time of enquiry. Quotations are given subject to a site access assessment and may be revised if the information provided by the Customer is inaccurate or incomplete.

Unless otherwise stated, quotations do not include insurance, customs duties, parking fees, tolls, congestion charges, waste disposal charges, or charges for handling special or hazardous items.

Quotations are ordinarily valid for a limited period from the date of issue, as specified in the quotation. After this period, the Company reserves the right to revise or withdraw the quotation.

4. Booking Process

A booking is considered provisional until the Customer has accepted the quotation and complied with any deposit or prepayment requirements specified by the Company. The Contract is formed only when the Company issues a written booking confirmation.

The Customer is responsible for ensuring that all details in the booking confirmation are accurate, including collection and delivery addresses, dates, access details, and any additional services required. Any discrepancies must be notified to the Company as soon as possible and may result in an adjustment to the quotation or schedule.

The Company may decline or cancel a booking where it reasonably considers that the job is unsafe, unlawful, impracticable within the timescale or resources available, or outside its service capabilities.

5. Customer Responsibilities

The Customer agrees to:

Ensure that the Goods are properly packed and prepared for transport, unless packing services have been ordered from the Company.

Provide the Company with accurate information regarding the number, size and nature of the Goods, the property layout, and any access restrictions such as narrow doorways, staircases, lifts, parking limitations, or time restrictions.

Obtain and pay for any necessary permits, parking arrangements, permissions or consents required at collection and delivery addresses, unless expressly agreed otherwise in writing.

Ensure that there is reasonable access to the premises and that floors, walls and fittings are appropriately protected where needed.

Ensure that the Customer or an authorised representative is present at the collection and delivery addresses to direct the work and sign any relevant paperwork. If no such person is present, the Company will use its reasonable judgement and the Customer agrees to be bound by that judgement.

6. Items Excluded from Transport

Unless expressly agreed in writing and subject to any additional conditions and charges, the Company will not transport:

Hazardous, flammable, explosive or toxic materials.

Perishable goods or items requiring temperature control.

Animals, plants or any living organisms.

Cash, jewellery, precious stones, fine art or antiques of high value, important documents, or other items of exceptional or sentimental value.

Illegal goods or items the possession, transport or storage of which is unlawful in the UK.

The Customer is responsible for removing any excluded items prior to the commencement of the Services. The Company accepts no liability for loss, damage or deterioration of any such excluded items that are transported without its knowledge.

7. Payments and Charges

Unless otherwise agreed in writing, payment terms are as follows.

A deposit or full prepayment may be required to secure the booking. The amount and due date will be specified in the quotation or booking confirmation.

Any balance, where applicable, is payable on or before completion of the Services on the agreed service date.

Additional charges may apply for waiting time, extended labour time beyond that agreed, additional items not included in the original quotation, access difficulties, re-delivery, parking penalties attributable to the Customer, waste disposal, or services requested on the day.

If payment is not made when due, the Company reserves the right to charge interest on the overdue amount at the statutory rate, to withhold delivery of Goods, or to suspend or cancel further services until payment is received.

8. Cancellations and Amendments

The Customer may cancel or amend a booking by providing written notice to the Company. The following cancellation charges may apply, unless otherwise specified in the quotation.

If cancellation is made with more than seven days notice before the scheduled service date, any deposit paid may be refunded or applied to a future booking, less any reasonable administrative costs.

If cancellation is made within seven days but more than 48 hours before the scheduled service date, the Company may retain a proportion of the agreed price or deposit to cover allocated resources and lost opportunity.

If cancellation is made within 48 hours of the scheduled service date, the full quoted price may become payable.

Where the Customer requests a change of date, address or scope of work, the Company will endeavour to accommodate the change but cannot guarantee availability. Changes may result in an adjustment to the quotation and may be treated as a cancellation of the original booking with new charges applying.

The Company may cancel a booking by giving reasonable notice where it is unable to perform the Services due to circumstances outside its control, including but not limited to severe weather, road closures, accidents, illness, vehicle breakdown, strike action or other unforeseen events. In such cases, the Company will refund any prepayments made for services not provided but will not be liable for any indirect or consequential losses suffered by the Customer.

9. Access, Parking and Delays

The Customer is responsible for ensuring that adequate parking is available for the Companys vehicles at both collection and delivery addresses. Any parking permits, vouchers, suspensions or permissions required must be arranged and paid for by the Customer unless agreed otherwise.

Where the Company incurs parking charges or fines as a direct result of the Customers failure to make suitable arrangements or to provide accurate information, the Customer will be liable for those costs.

The Customer must provide accurate information about access, including stairs, lifts, long carry distances, and any restrictions that may cause delay. The Company reserves the right to charge additional fees where delays or extended carrying distances occur due to circumstances not disclosed at the time of quotation.

10. Liability and Limitations

The Company will take reasonable care of the Goods while they are in its custody and control. However, liability is subject to the following limitations.

The Company will not be liable for loss or damage arising from:

Inherent defects, natural deterioration or pre-existing damage.

Poor or inadequate packing by the Customer where the Company has not provided the packing service.

Items which are fragile or have no obvious structural strength, including but not limited to glass, china, mirrors, lamps, and certain flat-pack furniture, unless the Company has fully packed and protected such items.

Electrical or mechanical derangement of appliances or equipment, unless there is obvious external damage caused by the Companys negligence.

Loss of data, digital content or other intangible assets.

Losses caused by acts or omissions of the Customer or third parties.

The Companys total liability for loss of or damage to Goods, whether arising in contract, tort or otherwise, shall not exceed a reasonable replacement value of the item or items lost or damaged, subject to any specific limits set out in the quotation or insurance policy where applicable.

The Company strongly recommends that the Customer arranges adequate insurance for the Goods during the move, either through the Company where available or via a third-party insurer. Any insurance offered by the Company will be subject to its own terms and conditions.

Nothing in these Terms and Conditions shall limit or exclude the Companys liability for death or personal injury caused by its negligence, for fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation, or for any other matter which cannot be lawfully limited or excluded under UK law.

11. Claims and Complaints

Any visible damage or issues must be reported to the Company as soon as reasonably possible and in any event within a reasonable time after completion of the Services. The Customer must allow the Company a reasonable opportunity to inspect any alleged damage.

Claims for loss or damage should be made in writing and be supported by appropriate evidence, such as photographs, receipts or valuations. Failure to notify the Company promptly may affect the ability to investigate and may prejudice any claim.

The Company will handle all complaints in a fair and timely manner, seeking to resolve issues through dialogue and, where appropriate, practical remedies or reasonable compensation within the agreed liability limits.

12. Waste and Disposal Regulations

The Company operates in accordance with relevant UK waste and environmental regulations. The Company is not a general waste contractor and will not remove or dispose of mixed household rubbish, construction debris, hazardous waste, or items requiring specialist disposal, unless an additional waste removal service has been expressly agreed.

Where the Company agrees to remove unwanted items, these will be treated as waste or recyclable materials, and additional charges may apply to cover labour, transport, and disposal or recycling fees in compliance with applicable regulations.

The Customer is responsible for ensuring that any items presented for disposal may lawfully be removed and disposed of and that no hazardous or prohibited materials are included. The Company may refuse to remove any items it reasonably believes to be unsafe, unlawful or unsuitable for standard disposal.

13. Storage and Third-Party Services

Where the Company arranges storage with a third-party provider on behalf of the Customer, the storage services will be subject to that providers terms and conditions. The Customer may be required to enter into a separate agreement directly with the storage provider.

The Companys responsibility for the Goods ends when they are handed over to the third-party storage provider and resumes only when they are collected by the Company for onward delivery, if such service is part of the Contract.

14. Force Majeure

The Company shall not be liable for any failure or delay in performing its obligations under the Contract where such failure or delay results from events or circumstances beyond its reasonable control, including but not limited to extreme weather, natural disasters, accidents, road closures, traffic disruption, acts of terrorism, war, strikes, industrial disputes, or interruption of utilities.

15. Data Protection and Privacy

The Company will process personal data provided by the Customer for the purpose of administering bookings, providing Services, handling payments, and for related administrative and legal purposes. Personal data will be handled in accordance with applicable UK data protection legislation.

The Company will take reasonable steps to keep personal information secure and will not share it with third parties except as necessary to provide the Services, comply with legal obligations, or with the Customers consent.

16. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

These Terms and Conditions, the Contract, and any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with them shall be 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 or the Contract.

17. Changes to Terms and Conditions

The Company may update or amend these Terms and Conditions from time to time to reflect changes in law, regulation, industry practice or its own operational requirements. The version of the Terms and Conditions in force at the time of booking will apply to that Contract.

A copy of the current Terms and Conditions will be made available on request. Continued use of the Services after any changes have been made will constitute acceptance of the updated Terms and Conditions.

18. Severability

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

19. Entire Agreement

These Terms and Conditions, together with the quotation and booking confirmation, constitute the entire agreement between the Company and the Customer in relation to the Services and supersede any prior understandings, agreements, or representations, whether oral or written.

No variation of the Contract or these Terms and Conditions shall be effective unless agreed in writing by an authorised representative of the Company.