Whether it’s a tall oak leaning towards the house in Reigate, a row of conifers that has outgrown a Dorking garden, or a storm-damaged limb hanging over a lane near Newdigate, there comes a point when a tree needs professional attention. The hard part for most homeowners isn’t deciding that the work needs doing. It’s deciding who to trust with it.
Tree surgery isn’t a regulated trade in the way that gas or electrical work is. Anyone can buy a chainsaw and call themselves a tree surgeon, so the quality, safety and price of the work you get can vary enormously. This guide brings together everything we’d want a friend or neighbour to know before hiring a tree surgeon in Surrey: what to look for, the questions to ask, the warning signs to watch out for, and what a good quote should include.
Why it matters who you choose
Tree work is one of the more dangerous jobs anyone can carry out on your property. It involves climbing, cutting at height, lowering heavy timber and working with chainsaws and chippers, often within a few metres of houses, garages, fences, power lines and roads. When it’s done well, you barely notice it has happened. When it’s done badly, the results can include:
- Damage to buildings, cars, fences, paving or neighbouring property.
- Injury to the people doing the work, or to you and your family.
- Poor pruning cuts that leave a tree misshapen, weakened or open to decay.
- Heavy “topping” that causes a mass of weak regrowth and a bigger problem in a few years’ time.
- Work on a protected tree without permission, which can leave the owner facing a fine.
- Waste dumped or left behind, and a second bill to put things right.
A good tree surgeon will protect the long-term health of your trees as well as getting the immediate job done, whether that’s tree pruning, crown reduction and lifting, tree removal and felling or stump grinding.
What to look for in a tree surgeon
Proper training and qualifications
Ask what training the team holds. In the UK, tree surgeons usually hold recognised certificates (such as NPTC / City & Guilds or Lantra) covering chainsaw use, tree climbing, aerial rescue and, for larger jobs, rigging and dismantling. A climber working in a tree should always be backed up by someone on the ground trained in aerial rescue.
It’s also worth asking whether they work to British Standard BS 3998:2010 (Tree work – Recommendations). This is the industry standard for how pruning and other tree work should be carried out, and a reputable firm will be happy to talk you through what it means for your trees.
The right insurance
This is the single most important check. Any tree surgeon you hire should hold public liability insurance, which covers damage to your property or injury to third parties. If they employ staff, they must also have employers’ liability insurance. Ask to see the certificates rather than taking it on trust. If something goes wrong and the contractor isn’t insured, the cost could fall on you.
Relevant experience
Ask whether they have carried out similar work before. Removing a large tree close to a house, reducing a mature oak or working in a garden with no vehicle access all need different skills and equipment from tidying a hedge. An experienced tree surgeon will explain how they’d approach your particular job, not just give you a price.
Evidence of previous work and reviews
Look at reviews on Google and other platforms, and ask to see photos of past jobs. A reliable company will have testimonials and references available on request, and won’t mind you asking. When reading reviews, look for consistent themes: did they turn up when they said they would, leave the site tidy and stick to the price? You can see examples of our own work in our project gallery.
Local knowledge
A local tree surgeon will know the common species in your area, the local soils and, importantly, the local planning rules. Reigate and Banstead and Mole Valley councils both have many trees covered by Tree Preservation Orders, and parts of Reigate and Dorking sit within conservation areas. A local firm is also better placed to respond quickly if a tree comes down in a storm.
The right equipment and a safe way of working
Ask what equipment they’ll use and how they’ll protect your property. Good tree surgeons will assess the site before they start, plan how branches and timber will be lowered, set up exclusion zones and think about neighbours, roads and footpaths. If access is tight, they should be able to explain how the work will be done without damaging lawns, borders or driveways.
A sensible approach to waste
Find out what happens to the brash, timber and stump once the work is finished. Most professional firms chip the branches on site and take the waste away, but some leave logs for you to keep, and stump grinding may or may not be included. Ask how waste is disposed of; responsible firms will recycle wood chip and timber rather than dumping it.
Questions to ask before hiring a tree surgeon
When you invite a tree surgeon round to quote, it’s worth having a short list of questions ready. The answers will tell you a lot about how they work.
- What qualifications and training do you and your team hold?
- Do you have public liability insurance, and employers’ liability if you have staff? Can I see the certificates?
- Have you carried out similar work before, and can I see photos or speak to a previous customer?
- Do you work to BS 3998?
- Is the tree protected by a Tree Preservation Order, or in a conservation area? If so, will you handle the application?
- How will you protect my house, garden and neighbouring properties while you work?
- What’s included in the price: waste removal, stump grinding, logs, VAT?
- When can you do the work, and how long will it take?
- Is this the right time of year for this work, and are there any nesting birds to consider?
- Do you offer emergency call-outs if a tree becomes dangerous?
Tree Preservation Orders and conservation areas
Before any work is carried out, check whether the tree is protected. If a tree is covered by a Tree Preservation Order (TPO), you’ll normally need consent from the council before it is pruned or felled. If your property is in a conservation area, you’ll usually need to give the council six weeks’ notice before carrying out most work on trees there, even if they don’t have a TPO.
Carrying out work on a protected tree without permission is a criminal offence, and the responsibility sits with the tree owner as well as the contractor. A knowledgeable tree surgeon will check this for you and can help with the paperwork. If the work is linked to building plans, our planning application support can help.
It’s also worth remembering that nesting birds are protected by law. Most tree surgeons will check for active nests before work starts, particularly between March and August, and may advise waiting until the young have fledged.
What a good quote should include
Always get the quote in writing, and ideally get two or three quotes so you can compare them properly. A clear quote should set out:
- Exactly which trees are being worked on, and what will be done to each one.
- How much will be removed, for example the amount of a crown reduction.
- Whether waste removal is included, and whether logs or wood chip will be left for you.
- Whether stump grinding is included.
- Any access issues or extra equipment needed.
- When the work will be done and how long it should take.
- The total cost, and whether VAT is included.
Price is important, but it shouldn’t be the only factor. When you compare quotes, compare what is actually included as well as the bottom line. An unusually cheap quote can mean the firm has no insurance, is cutting corners on safety or equipment, or is planning to dispose of the waste irresponsibly.
Warning signs of a cowboy tree surgeon
Unfortunately, rogue traders are common in tree work, especially after storms. Be cautious of anyone who:
- Knocks on your door uninvited saying your trees are dangerous and need cutting today.
- Can’t or won’t show proof of insurance or qualifications.
- Gives a vague verbal price rather than a written quote.
- Asks for cash only, or a large payment up front.
- Pressures you into deciding quickly.
- Suggests felling or heavily “topping” a tree without a clear reason.
- Has no reviews, no business address and no landline.
- Leaves debris behind or offers to “burn the waste” on site.
If something doesn’t feel right, trust your instincts. You don’t need to become friends with your tree surgeon, but you should feel comfortable with them working on your property.
Why choose a local Surrey tree surgeon
South East Tree Surgeons is based near Reigate and works across a 20-mile radius of Newdigate, including Reigate, Dorking and the surrounding villages. As well as everyday tree surgery, we provide tree risk assessments, hedge management and forestry and woodland management, so we can look after everything from a single garden tree to a woodland.
If you’d like advice on a tree, or a written quote for work, get in touch and we’ll arrange a visit.
Frequently asked questions
What qualifications should a tree surgeon have?
A tree surgeon should hold recognised training in the work they carry out, such as NPTC / City & Guilds or Lantra certificates covering chainsaw use, tree climbing and aerial rescue. Ask whether they work to British Standard BS 3998, the industry standard for tree work.
What insurance should a tree surgeon have?
Any tree surgeon you hire should have public liability insurance, which covers damage to your property or injury to others. If they employ staff, they must also have employers’ liability insurance. Ask to see the certificates before work starts.
What questions should I ask before hiring a tree surgeon?
Ask about their qualifications and insurance, whether they have done similar work before, how they will protect your property, whether the tree is protected by a Tree Preservation Order, and exactly what is included in the price, such as waste removal and stump grinding.
Should I get more than one quote for tree work?
Yes. Getting two or three written quotes lets you compare price, experience and exactly what is included. Be wary of a quote that is much cheaper than the others, as it can mean corners are being cut on insurance, safety or waste disposal.
What should a tree surgery quote include?
A good quote should set out which trees are being worked on and what will be done to each, whether waste removal and stump grinding are included, any access issues, when the work will be done, and the total cost including VAT.
Do I need permission to cut down a tree in Surrey?
You will usually need permission from the council if the tree is covered by a Tree Preservation Order, and you will usually need to give six weeks’ notice for work on trees in a conservation area. An experienced tree surgeon can check this for you and help with any application.