Storage Sydenham Hill Service Terms and Conditions
These Terms and Conditions set out the basis on which Storage Sydenham Hill provides storage, removals and related services to private and business customers. By placing a booking, using our services or allowing us to collect, handle or store your goods, you agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions.
These terms are intended to be fair and transparent. If you have any questions about how they apply to your circumstances, you should seek independent advice before confirming a booking. Your statutory rights are not affected.
1. Definitions
In these Terms and Conditions, the following expressions have the meanings set out below:
1.1 Customer means the person or business who requests or pays for the services, or on whose behalf the services are provided.
1.2 Services means any storage, removal, packing, loading, unloading, transport, handling, ancillary labour or related services supplied by Storage Sydenham Hill.
1.3 Goods means the items, furniture, equipment, personal belongings or other property that we move, handle, transport or store for you.
1.4 Contract means the agreement between Storage Sydenham Hill and the Customer comprising these Terms and Conditions and the specific details confirmed in writing in your booking confirmation.
1.5 Working Day means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday in England.
2. Scope of Services
2.1 Storage Sydenham Hill provides domestic and commercial storage, removals and related services in its service area and to other locations as agreed in writing. The exact services to be supplied will be set out in your booking confirmation.
2.2 We are not common carriers and may refuse to transport or store any goods at our discretion, particularly where they present health, safety, legal or environmental risks.
2.3 Any quotations or service descriptions issued by us are based on the information you provide. If that information is incomplete, inaccurate or changes, additional charges may apply and we may vary, suspend or cancel the services.
3. Booking Process
3.1 Enquiries may be made in person, by post or via our online forms. A booking is not confirmed until we have issued a written booking confirmation specifying the date, time, services and applicable charges.
3.2 To provide an accurate quotation we may ask for details of access, parking, floor levels, lifts, staircases, volume of goods, special items and any time restrictions. You must provide full and accurate information and notify us promptly of any changes.
3.3 We reserve the right to request photographs, inventories or a pre-move survey prior to confirming a quotation, particularly for larger removals or longer-term storage arrangements.
3.4 Your booking is personal to you and may not be assigned or transferred without our prior written consent.
4. Quotations and Charges
4.1 Unless stated otherwise, all quotations are estimates only based on the information supplied at the time. If the actual work differs from what was quoted, we may adjust the charges reasonably to reflect the additional time, labour, vehicles, materials or storage required.
4.2 Quotations normally include labour, use of standard moving equipment, transport within the agreed locations and standard storage charges where applicable. They do not usually include packing materials for you to keep, disassembly or reassembly of complex items, specialist lifting equipment, parking costs, tolls or congestion charges unless specifically stated.
4.3 All prices are exclusive of any applicable taxes or levies unless expressly stated. If such charges apply, they will be added to your invoice at the prevailing rate.
4.4 We may revise our rates and storage fees from time to time. For ongoing storage, we will give at least 30 days written notice of any change in the periodic storage charge.
5. Payments
5.1 For removals and related one-off services, payment is due in full in cleared funds no later than the working day before the scheduled service date, unless we have agreed an alternative arrangement in writing.
5.2 For storage, the first storage period is payable in advance before or on the date you move your goods into storage. Subsequent periods must be paid in advance on or before the due date specified in your invoice.
5.3 We accept the forms of payment stated in our current payment policy. We are not obliged to accept cash payments above any limits we may apply for security or regulatory reasons.
5.4 If you fail to pay any amount by the due date, we may charge interest on the overdue sum at a reasonable rate above the base lending rate of a major UK bank from the due date until payment is received in full. We may also suspend or withhold services, deny access to stored goods and exercise a lien over your goods as set out in clause 10.
6. Cancellations and Changes
6.1 You may cancel or postpone a booked service by giving us written notice. Any cancellation or postponement may be subject to charges, calculated according to the amount of notice given before the scheduled service date.
6.2 As a guide, we may apply the following cancellation charges for removals and related services:
a If you cancel more than seven Working Days before the scheduled service date, no cancellation fee will usually apply.
b If you cancel between two and seven Working Days before the scheduled service date, we may charge up to 50 percent of the quoted price.
c If you cancel less than two Working Days before the scheduled service date, or on the day of the service, we may charge up to 100 percent of the quoted price.
6.3 For storage, if you cancel before moving your goods into storage, we may retain an amount to cover any reasonable administrative and planning costs incurred.
6.4 We may cancel or postpone the services if you fail to comply with these Terms and Conditions, fail to pay when due, do not provide safe and suitable access, or if performance is affected by events beyond our reasonable control such as severe weather, traffic disruption, industrial action, safety risks, or legal restrictions. In such cases we will seek to rearrange where possible, but are not liable for any resulting losses unless caused by our negligence.
7. Customer Responsibilities
7.1 You are responsible for:
a Providing safe and suitable access at all collection, loading and delivery points, including vehicle access, parking permissions and any necessary permits.
b Ensuring that goods are adequately packed, protected and prepared for removal and storage unless you have specifically booked a packing service with us.
c Declaring any items that are fragile, high-value or unusually heavy or bulky, and any items that require special handling or positioning.
d Complying with all applicable laws and regulations relating to your goods, including import and export rules where relevant.
7.2 You must not submit for removal or storage any goods that are prohibited, unsafe or unsuitable, including but not limited to:
a Explosives, firearms, weapons, ammunition or similar items.
b Flammable, hazardous, toxic or corrosive materials, including gas cylinders, fuels, paints, solvents and chemicals.
c Perishable or living items such as food, plants or animals.
d Waste, rubbish, clinical or medical waste, illegal items, stolen goods or anything that may encourage vermin, pests or infections.
7.3 If you submit any such prohibited goods without our knowledge or consent, you will be responsible for all resulting loss, damage, legal liability, penalties or expenses and we may deal with the goods as we see fit, including disposal, without compensation to you.
8. Waste and Disposal Regulations
8.1 Storage Sydenham Hill is not a general waste carrier. We do not accept ordinary household waste, construction debris or regulated waste for storage or standard removal unless we have expressly agreed a separate waste removal service in writing.
8.2 Where we do agree to remove unwanted items, this will be treated as a separate service and may be subject to waste transfer rules. We reserve the right to refuse any items that we reasonably believe may be unlawful to transport or dispose of, or which are not properly declared.
8.3 You are responsible for ensuring that any waste or items for disposal that you ask us to handle are lawfully yours to dispose of and are not subject to any restrictions. You will indemnify us against any claims, penalties or costs arising from unlawful or improper disposal requests.
8.4 We will handle any waste or unwanted items in accordance with applicable environmental and waste management regulations. This may include segregation, recycling, reuse or disposal via authorised facilities. Additional charges may apply for specific treatment, hazardous items, bulky waste or items requiring specialist disposal.
9. Storage Terms
9.1 When we store your goods, we will allocate space within our facilities or at another suitable premises. We are not required to provide a specific unit or fixed location and may move your goods within our facilities as reasonably necessary.
9.2 You must not store goods that are prohibited under clause 7.2. We may inspect, open or remove any item if we have reasonable grounds to suspect that it may be prohibited, present a risk, or be required by law enforcement or regulatory authorities.
9.3 Unless otherwise agreed, the storage period is ongoing and continues until either party terminates it in accordance with these Terms and Conditions. You must give us reasonable notice if you wish to remove your goods from storage, so that we can schedule access or delivery.
9.4 Access to stored goods is by prior arrangement only and may be limited to specified hours. We may charge an access fee or handling charge for locating, moving or supervising access to your goods.
10. Lien and Right to Sell
10.1 We have a legal right to retain possession of some or all of your goods until all sums due to us under any contract have been paid in full, including storage fees, transport charges, interest and costs.
10.2 If any sums remain unpaid for a period of 90 days or more, we may, after giving you reasonable notice, sell or dispose of some or all of your goods to recover the outstanding amounts. Any sale will be conducted in a commercially reasonable manner.
10.3 We will apply the proceeds of any sale first to the costs of sale and reasonable expenses, then to the outstanding sums you owe us. Any remaining balance will be held for you for a reasonable period. If you cannot be located within that period, we may retain the balance.
11. Liability and Limitations
11.1 We will exercise reasonable care and skill in providing the services. However, our liability for loss of or damage to your goods is subject to the limitations in this clause.
11.2 We are not liable for:
a Loss or damage arising from your failure to properly pack, secure or protect goods, unless we have undertaken the packing.
b Loss or damage to goods that are fragile, inherently defective or unsuitable for transport or storage.
c Loss or damage resulting from normal wear and tear, gradual deterioration, atmospheric or climatic conditions, vermin, pests or inherent vice.
d Loss of or damage to prohibited items or items that you failed to declare as fragile, high-value or requiring special handling.
11.3 We are not liable for any indirect or consequential losses, including loss of profit, loss of business, loss of data, emotional distress or similar, even if we were advised of their possibility.
11.4 Our total liability for loss of or damage to your goods, whether arising in contract, tort or otherwise, is limited to a reasonable sum per consignment or storage lot, subject to any higher figure that we have specifically agreed in writing where you have requested enhanced cover and paid any associated additional charges.
11.5 Nothing in these Terms and Conditions excludes or limits liability for death or personal injury caused by our negligence, fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation, or any other liability that cannot be excluded or limited by law.
12. Claims and Time Limits
12.1 You must inspect your goods as soon as reasonably practicable upon delivery or access. Any apparent loss or damage must be reported to us in writing as soon as possible and in any event within seven days of delivery or access.
12.2 For goods in storage, if you discover loss or damage, you must notify us in writing within seven days of the earlier of the date you remove your goods from storage or the date on which you first reasonably became aware of the issue.
12.3 If you do not notify us within these time limits, we may not be liable for the loss or damage, unless you show that it was not reasonably possible for you to comply with the time limit and that the delay has not prejudiced our ability to investigate the claim.
13. Data Protection and Privacy
13.1 We will collect and process personal data about you for the purposes of providing the services, managing your account, taking payment, fulfilling our legal obligations and, where permitted, informing you of related services.
13.2 We will take reasonable steps to keep your personal information secure and to use it only for legitimate purposes. Further details are contained in our privacy information, available on request.
14. Force Majeure
14.1 We are not responsible for any delay or failure to perform our obligations where such delay or failure results from events beyond our reasonable control, including but not limited to severe weather, natural disasters, accidents, road closures, traffic congestion, industrial disputes, equipment failure, acts of government, or restrictions related to public health or safety.
14.2 If a force majeure event occurs, we will notify you as soon as reasonably practicable and will take reasonable steps to minimise disruption. Our obligations will be suspended for the duration of the event, and we may reschedule the services where possible.
15. General Provisions
15.1 If any provision of these Terms and Conditions is held to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.
15.2 No failure or delay by either party in exercising any right or remedy under these Terms and Conditions shall constitute a waiver of that or any other right or remedy.
15.3 This Contract is between you and Storage Sydenham Hill. No other person shall have any rights to enforce any of its terms.
15.4 Any notices given under these Terms and Conditions must be in writing and delivered by hand or sent by post to the last address notified by the recipient. Notices are deemed received two Working Days after posting, or on delivery if delivered by hand.
16. Governing Law and Jurisdiction
16.1 These Terms and Conditions, and any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with them or their subject matter or formation, are governed by and shall be construed in accordance with the law of England and Wales.
16.2 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 Contract or the services provided, including non-contractual disputes or claims.
