Terms & Conditions

1.

Payment is required in full within 14 days of your invoice date.  A 30% deposit must be received in full before works can commence – deposit invoice will be sent to the client following receipt of this acceptance form.

2.

Our technicians aim to arrive on site at 8am (traffic allowing) unless otherwise agreed and will need unrestricted access to the works area – if this is not possible, inform our office staff as soon as possible or include details in the form above to avoid delays.

3.

Our team requires a parking space for a medium size van for the duration of the works.  This space needs to be close to the property due to heavy tools/materials required.  If there is no free parking, client to arrange for a space or parking permit prior to our arrival.  If paid parking is the only option, all costs incurred will be added to clients’ final bill; parking receipts will be provided.

4.

Please remove all furniture/personal possessions/items in the work zone, before work commences.
Dampworks Ltd operatives will do their best to protect fixed features of the works zone which cannot be removed: i.e. floors, windows, doors/door frames etc. but are not responsible for damage to any items left in the work zone on commencement of the works; any items left in the work zone are at the client's own risk.  Dampworks Ltd are only liable if the work has been done negligently or for any avoidable damage.

We strongly recommend removing any delicate or breakable items (e.g. televisions, tablets, Sky receivers, lamps, vases etc) prior to our arrival onsite.  Dampworks Ltd technicians will not be able to move delicate or breakable items on your behalf and our technicians may be unable to commence if furniture and/or personal items are blocking access to the treatment areas.

Unless the removal of client’s personal items, fitted/free-standing furniture or floor coverings has been specifically included and quoted for in the report, prior removal of such items is the responsibility of the client.  If our operatives are delayed in commencing works on the agreed date due to obstructions by such items, this may result in an additional cost; delays will be charged at an hourly rate: £65 (inc VAT) per hour. 

5.

Please note: should you wish to cancel these works, please do so at least 7 days prior to the works start date.  Cancellation within 7 days of start date will incur a cancellation fee of 10% of the total quoted job costs.

6.

As members of the PCA, Dampworks Ltd are able to offer the protection of the PCA promise: this covers deposits and treatment work progress for damp proofing, dry rot, wet rot, woodworm and structural waterproofing in domestic premises/homes where the contract price is more than £250 and up to £50,000.  For more info, see this link: https://www.property-care.org/homeowners/pca-promise

WORK ZONE REQUIREMENTS

Whilst upmost care will be taken by our technicians, due to the nature of the work, some dust and debris is unavoidable. Client/Client’s own agent/Tenant to remove ALL furniture/possessions/items from the work zone before work commences.
Dampworks Ltd operatives will do their best to protect floors etc but are not responsible for damage to any items left in the work zone on commencement of the works; any items left in the work zone are at the client's own risk.
Dampworks Ltd are only liable if the work has been done negligently or for any avoidable damage. We strongly recommend the removal of all items, electrical or otherwise, from the rooms to be treated into a safe place in another room away from dust and risk of accidental damage.

The below are some examples of items we strongly recommend removing (please note: this is not an exhaustive list of items):

Items we would strongly recommend removing include: House Alarms or Sensors, Internet HUBS, SKY or cable TV receiver boxes, telephone points, televisions, DVD/bluray players, gaming stations, computers, laptops, tablets, phones and any other items, electrical or otherwise, which may be sensitive to dust or movement.  Care will be taken to minimise dust, but some dust in the work zone is simply unavoidable and Dampworks Ltd are responsible for damage to any items left in the work zone on commencement of the works; any items left in the work zone are at the client's own risk.
 

• If any delicate/sensitive/valuable items are not removed prior to our arrival, we shall politely ask the occupant to remove these items without delay.  If no-one is present to remove such items and they are impeding the work, permission will be sought of the client (via phone/email) for Dampworks Ltd operatives to remove them.  If permission is given, Dampworks Ltd staff will unplug/unscrew these items as carefully as possible and move to a safe location where possible and leave for the client to re-fix after completion of our works.  Whilst every care will be taken, Dampworks Ltd takes no responsibility for damage that may occur whilst disconnecting/moving such items which should have been removed by the client/occupant’s own engineer/specialist prior to our arrival.  Dampworks Ltd operatives can and may refuse to move delicate or breakable items on behalf of the client/occupant.

• Where Dampworks Ltd operatives are asked to leave internet connection devices, telephones and/or internet or telecoms cables, sky boxes etc. plugged in and functioning in the work area during the works, this is done so at the client sole risk.  Works will be paused and the client will be contacted by email and expected to accept responsibility for leaving any such delicate/ at risk items in the work zone.  Dampworks Ltd are only liable if the work has been done negligently or for any avoidable damage.

• If the occupant of the property requires additional assistance due to disability etc, then we kindly ask that you contact our office 7 days prior to the start date to inform us.  This will enable us to make specific supporting arrangements, for example, extra staff/extra time to assist in clearance of the work zone and in some cases re-instate relocated items on completion of our works (this may be subject to additional charge depending on the amount of items/ease of removal).

• Dampworks Ltd will use detector equipment to check for buried pipes and cables, where possible, prior to commencement of works.  To prevent accidental damage, the client must inform our operatives of any buried or concealed service pipes, wires or cables which may be at risk during the works.

• Where surface mounted cables are present in the work zone (e.g. telephone lines, internet, alarm cables etc.) these must be eased off the walls or skirting boards by the client/client’s own technician prior to our arrival.  If not and where safe to do so, our operatives will remove any cables restricting access to the work zone as carefully as possible from the surface and leave them rolled up for re-fixing by the client.  Dampworks Ltd takes no responsibility damage occurring to any such item during its removal which should have been removed prior by the client/client’s own technician - Dampworks Ltd are only liable if the work has been done negligently or for any avoidable damage.  Any cables left secured to the wall/skirting/coving etc. are left in the work zone at the Clients own risk.

• We strongly recommend that carpets/rugs are rolled up and removed prior to our arrival. Our staff will use standard dust sheet protection to the areas we are working in and access routes only.  If you have flooring that may be easily damaged (polished hardwood, laminate, tiles or carpets etc), you may wish to request extra dust sheet protection or addition floor protection boards at cost (£12 inc. VAT per square meter to be added to final invoice). Please contact the office 2 days prior to works as our vans have a limited supply on-board.

• Where our operatives need to cover areas with dust sheets or other protective coverings, the use of light tack adhesive tape is sometimes required.  Although upmost care will be taken, occasionally the removal of this adhesive tape may cause minor damage to paintwork which can be touched up by the client after the works – please inform us if you do not wish us to use low tack adhesive tape on specific surfaces in your property.

• It is particularly important for Timber Treatment works (Dry Rot/Wet Rot/Woodworm) for the client to arrange removal of carpets/laminate flooring/hardwood flooring prior our arrival where such removals have not been specifically detailed and quoted for in your report. 

• If you have any items that require specialist removal (e.g. a stair lift, fish tank etc.), these MUST be removed by your own specialist contractor prior to our arrival, unless their removal has been specifically detailed and quoted for in your report.  Failure to remove such items prior to our arrival may result in delays to the works.

Delays: Our teams should arrive from 8:00 to 8:30am, depending on traffic.  Once onsite, it is expected that they should be able to access the work zone to commence works without delay.  Delayed starts can result in delayed finish times and over-runs.  If, upon arrival, our staff are delayed by more than 30 minutes due to the works area not being cleared and ready for treatment, Dampworks Ltd reserve the right to charge a fee of £65 (inc VAT) per hour lost.  If commencement of works is completely prevented for the duration of the agreed works start date due to lack of power or access to the work zone etc, an abortive visit charge of £375 (inc VAT) per day will be charged.

Ventilation and Condensation Control Works

(if included in your works)

Where extraction units are to be fitted at your property:

Discrete surface mounted mini trunking is used for the majority of our installations.  This trunking can be chased in at a later stage by the customer’s own decorator if desired or by Dampworks Ltd operatives at the client’s request, subject to an additional charge.  Unless specifically priced and itemised separately in your works quotation, we have not allowed for any chasing in of cables.

When fitting or replacing fans/ventilation units, our install engineer will do all they can to prevent damage to the walls or ceilings at the install site.  However, a certain degree of damage or scarring to the surrounding surfaces (tiles, paint, wall coverings etc) may be unavoidable, particularly where the property’s existing ventilation systems, which may be larger/differently shaped to any replacement units and/or have been glued, screwed or painted, require removal before the installation of the new units.  Our quote does not allow for re-decorations or repairs with regard to such damage or for re-decoration where cables need to be chased into a wall – a quote for any such re-decoration can be provided on request.

The ventilations systems we install have been tried and tested to determine the most reliable models for condensation control.  Units installed by Dampworks Ltd are expected to function for the life of their manufacturer’s warranty and beyond but, as with any mechanical device, there are rare occasions where a fault can occur. 

If fault should occur with your unit/s within the first 30 days after install, Dampworks Ltd will return to your property free of charge to repair or replace the unit.  If a fault should occur after this period, Dampworks Ltd can assist you in actioning repair or replacement of your unit by your unit’s manufacturer according to the manufacturer’s warranty.  Please note: these units are designed to be constant running – attempts to disable them or block their air flow may be classified as tampering by the manufacturer and could affect your warranty.

Units which experience a fault (NOT CAUSED BY TAMPERING) and are still under manufacturer’s warranty will be removed by Dampworks Ltd and returned to the manufacturer to be repaired or replaced as per terms of the manufactures warranty.  Any delay following an action of replacement or repair of such units are the responsibility of the manufacturer.  Dampworks Ltd are unable to install temporary measures such as dehumidifiers/alternative units whilst the unit fault is being investigated by the manufacturer.  We recommend following our condensation control guidelines to help minimise condensation during the investigation period until the fault can be rectified. condensation (Dampworks Ltd.com)

If you unit fails due to damage/tampering or fails outside of its warranty period, we have several solutions available to ensure your home is vented reducing the risk of health.  Please contact the office for more information or to arrange a quotation.

Complaints Policy   

Dampworks Ltd always endevours to provide the best service.  However, on rare occasions there may be times where a customer may not be completely satisfied.

To ensure Dampworks Ltd can put things right for you, as soon as possible after the completion of the works, please isnpect the work to ensure everything has been carried out based on the contract terms and to the high standards Dampworks Ltd aims to achieve.

Please contact Dampworks Ltd straight away with any concerns either by phone, email or write to us.  If writing, get proof of posting.

On receipt of your complaint, Dampworks Ltd aims to respond within 5 days.

Dampworks Ltd will arrange a convenient date to come and view and/or remedy the situation within 28 days.  In the unlikely even Dampworks Ltd is unable to resolve your complaint, or cannot resolve the complaint to your satisfaction and/or agree the final resolution requests and both parties agree a 'deadlock' has been reached, you can then escalate your complaint.  Dampworks Ltd has access to an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Service for our domestic installation, service, repair and maintenance contracts as part of the Which? Trusted Traders Endorsement.  If you choose to, you can refer your complaint to Which? Trusted Traders Dispute Resolution.  You will need to contact Which? Trusted Traders on 02922 670 040 who can explain if you are eligible to use their Alternative Dispute Resolution.