How to Choose a Commercial Tree Surgery Contractor (A Buyer's Checklist)

Procuring tree work for a school, holiday park, housing association or estate is not like hiring someone for a garden conifer. When it goes wrong on a commercial site, it goes wrong for the duty holder, you. Here's the checklist we'd use if we were on your side of the table.

The non-negotiables

• £10m public liability insurance, and ask for the certificate, not a verbal assurance. Many corporate clients and councils specify £10m as a floor for arb work.
• NPTC/LANTRA certificates for every operator, matched to the work, climbing, chainsaw use, MEWP operation, rigging.
• RAMS before boots on site. A contractor who can't produce a site-specific risk assessment and method statement before starting isn't running a safe system of work.
• Waste carrier registration. Arisings are controlled waste; you need the transfer notes on file for your own duty of care.
• Employer's liability and evidence of training records if their team works on your land regularly.

The professionalism signals

Beyond paper: do they check TPO and conservation area constraints without being asked? Do they plan work around nesting season? Do they turn up to the site visit on time, and does the quote arrive when promised? A contractor's pre-contract behaviour is the best predictor of their on-contract behaviour.

What to put in the contract

For term maintenance, specify: response times for emergency call-outs, a named contact, photographic completion records, and an annual review of the tree stock. Good contractors welcome all four, they're how we prefer to work.

Heartwood delivers commercial tree surgery and term contracts across Dorset and the South West, with every item on this checklist available on request, plus a one-page capability statement for your tender file. Call 01929 480 995.