Tree work looks straightforward from the ground. A chainsaw, a ladder, a few hours, job done. In reality it’s one of the most hazardous trades in the country, and the gap between a properly qualified contractor and someone with a van and a chainsaw can be the difference between a tidy garden and a serious accident, an uninsured claim, or a council prosecution landing on your doorstep instead of theirs.
This guide sets out what to actually check before hiring a tree surgeon, the questions worth asking, and the warning signs that suggest you should keep looking.
Why credentials matter more than they seem to
Tree surgery is not currently subject to a single mandatory licensing scheme in the UK, which means almost anyone can call themselves a tree surgeon and take on work. That makes the burden of checking fall on the homeowner, at exactly the point where the risks are highest. The Health and Safety Executive has stated plainly that tree work has a major injury incidence rate higher than that of the construction industry, which says a great deal given how dangerous construction work is already considered to be. The same HSE data records dozens of tree work fatalities over the past decade and many more serious injuries, the majority of which involve operators with no relevant training carrying out work beyond their competence.
Most of the serious incidents in this trade come down to chainsaw use, falls from height, or being struck by falling timber, the exact tasks a competent, trained operator is taught to manage and an untrained one often isn’t. When something goes wrong on an unqualified job, it’s rarely just the contractor who pays the price. Damage to a neighbour’s fence, a car, or worse, can leave you exposed if the person doing the work has no insurance to fall back on.
NPTC and City and Guilds qualifications
The industry standard for chainsaw and climbing work in the UK is the NPTC certificate, also issued under the City and Guilds banner. These cover specific tasks individually, ground-level cross-cutting, aerial chainsaw use, climbing and rigging, rather than one blanket qualification. A properly trained surgeon should hold the specific units relevant to the job you’re asking them to do, and should be able to show proof of this without hesitation if asked.
The Arboricultural Association's Approved Contractor scheme
The Arboricultural Association runs an Approved Contractor scheme that independently assesses businesses on safety standards, insurance and working practices. It’s not the only mark of a good contractor, but it’s a useful shortcut. A company that’s gone through that assessment has had its practices checked by someone other than itself, which counts for something in a trade where self-certification is otherwise the norm.
Questions worth asking before you book
A handful of direct questions, asked before any work is agreed, will tell you most of what you need to know about a contractor.
Can I see proof of public liability insurance?
Public liability cover isn’t a legal requirement in the same way employers’ liability is, but any contractor working near a house, a boundary fence, or a neighbour’s garden should carry it as standard. Ask for the policy schedule, not just a verbal assurance, and check the cover level is appropriate for the scale of the job. A reputable tree surgeon will have this ready to send over without being asked twice.
What qualifications do your climbers and chainsaw operators hold?
This is the question that separates trained professionals from people who’ve picked up a chainsaw and learned as they went. Ask which NPTC units the team holds and for which specific tasks, particularly if the job involves climbing or working near power lines, where the margin for error is smallest.
Will you check for Tree Preservation Orders and nesting birds before starting?
A contractor who knows their legal obligations should raise this themselves, not wait to be asked. We’ve covered both of these in detail elsewhere, including what happens if you cut down a protected tree without permission and the legal restrictions that apply during bird nesting season. If a quote arrives with no mention of either, it’s worth asking directly before any work is booked.
What happens to the waste and debris?
Reputable contractors clear the site fully and dispose of waste through licensed routes. Ask whether this is included in the quoted price, since some lower quotes exclude it entirely and add the cost back in once the job’s underway.
Red flags worth taking seriously
A quote that’s significantly lower than everyone else’s is the most common warning sign, since corners are usually cut somewhere to hit that price, whether that’s insurance, qualifications, or proper waste disposal. Door-to-door cold callers offering same-day work, particularly after a storm, are another pattern worth being wary of. Genuine, established contractors rarely need to knock on doors to find business.
A contractor who can’t or won’t provide written quotes, references, or proof of insurance has given you the answer you need, even if they haven’t said so directly. Trust your instincts here. A genuine professional expects these questions and welcomes them, since it’s how they win work against the cheaper, less scrupulous end of the trade.
What to expect from a qualified team
A proper job starts with an assessment, not a chainsaw. Expect a site visit, a clear written quote, confirmation of insurance and qualifications without having to chase for it, and a contractor who’s upfront about anything that might affect timing or cost, such as protected status or nesting birds. Our tree survey service is often the right starting point for exactly this reason, since it gives you a clear picture of what’s involved before any cutting takes place.
If you’re in Lewisham or anywhere else across London and you’d like a second opinion on a quote, or simply want to talk through what a job should involve, visit our tree surgeon services page or get in touch directly. A few honest questions before you hire someone is the cheapest insurance policy you’ll ever take out.