Terms and conditions

1. Scope

These terms govern household and commercial removals, packing, dismantling, storage and international movements carried out by Removals Limited in the United Kingdom and abroad. They become part of our agreement once a written quotation is accepted.

2. What this website is, and is not

The guidance on this website describes how removals contracts and removals insurance generally work. It is general information and it is not legal, insurance, tax or financial advice, and it should not be relied on as any.

Where the content of this website and your written quotation, storage agreement or insurance documentation differ, those documents govern. We are not solicitors, insurance brokers or loss assessors, and where a matter needs advice of that kind we will say so and decline to advise.

3. Our liability, and its limits

We are liable for loss of or damage to goods arising from our handling, to the levels your written quotation and our goods-in-transit cover state, subject to the exclusions written there. The quotation states the limit per individual item and the excess.

Items of unusual value must be declared before the move so that appropriate cover can be arranged. Undeclared items of exceptional value are a standard exclusion and we will not be able to meet a claim for them in full.

4. Goods packed by you

Cartons and containers packed by you are covered for loss or damage arising from our handling — dropped, crushed by the load, or lost. They are not covered for damage attributable to the packing itself, including insufficient protection of contents, voids within a carton, overloading, or a carton that is not properly closed.

Where in our judgement an item packed by you is unfit to travel, we may decline to carry it as packed and will say so at the time.

5. Dismantling and reassembly

Where an item is dismantled by us, fixings are bagged, labelled and kept with the item, and it is reassembled at the destination by the same crew.

Flat-pack and similar furniture which has previously been assembled may not survive further dismantling in a usable condition. Where we consider that likely we will tell you before starting and record it; where you ask us to proceed, we do so at your risk.

6. Matters outside our control

We give no guarantee in respect of, and accept no liability for, matters outside our reasonable control. These include the availability or failure of a goods lift or loading bay; permission granted or withdrawn by a freeholder, managing agent or facilities manager; a parking suspension not being respected; traffic, weather and road closures; a chain not completing or keys not being released; and sailing schedules, port congestion and customs processing.

Where any of these bears on your job we will tell you at once and agree the best remaining option with you. Waiting time arising is chargeable as the written quotation states.

7. Access and the information you give us

Describing access at both ends is your responsibility: floors, lifts and lift door openings, staircases and their turns, doorway widths, loading bay heights, parking restrictions and approach roads.

Where access differs materially from what was described and additional work is required as a result, that work is chargeable. Where we identified a problem in advance and told you, no charge arises for work not attempted.

8. Booking and payment

A booking becomes firm once the written quotation is accepted and any deposit stated on it is paid. A deposit is returned in full on cancellation more than seven days ahead of the booked date; inside that window some or all may be retained against costs already committed.

The balance falls due as the written quotation states, and in any event within fourteen days of the invoice date unless agreed otherwise in writing.

9. Goods we will not carry

Hazardous and prohibited items: fuel, gas cylinders, fireworks, solvents, open paint, corrosives, ammunition and similar. Nothing perishable and nothing living; plants travel at your own risk. Money, jewellery, deeds, passports and medication should stay with you.

Destination countries apply their own prohibited and controlled lists, several of which cover items that are unremarkable in the United Kingdom. Those lists are reviewed at survey and compliance with them is a shared responsibility.

10. Storage

Goods placed into storage are governed by a separate storage agreement, not by this document or by the move quotation. That agreement sets out the cover that applies in store, the periods charging runs in, the notice required for access, and our rights in respect of unpaid charges.

Where storage charges go unpaid and written notice allowing not less than thirty days has been given, we may exercise a lien over the goods and ultimately sell them to recover the debt, accounting to you for any surplus.

11. Waste

We do not hold a waste carrier licence and do not undertake waste disposal. We will move goods to a purchaser, a charity, a storage facility or another address; anything requiring licensed disposal must be arranged separately.

12. International movements

On a sea or air movement, goods are handled by carriers, port operators, consolidators and destination agents who are not our employees. The written quotation states the point at which our goods-in-transit cover ends and marine or transit cover applies.

Customs clearance is handled by us or our appointed agent against the inventory taken before departure. You are responsible for obtaining the documents identified as yours, for the accuracy of what you tell us, and for the timing of your own arrival where a relief depends on it. Where a shipment cannot clear because a document attached to you personally is not in place, storage and demurrage at the receiving end are payable by you.

13. Claims

Tell us as soon as you notice loss or damage, and in writing within seven days of delivery or of goods leaving store. Keep the item and its packaging so both can be examined. A late report, or the disposal of packaging before examination, may limit what the cover will meet.

14. Cancellation by us

Work that would be unsafe, unlawful or impossible for reasons beyond our control may be cancelled or postponed, with sums paid for work not carried out refunded.

15. Law

The law of England and Wales governs these terms, and its courts have jurisdiction over any dispute arising under them.

Anything unclear?

Ask before you book, on the contact page. That is the whole point of publishing it this way round.