Terms & Conditions.

Part A — Website terms of use

This website, handbelectrical.co.uk, is operated by H&B Electrical Services Ltd, registered in England and Wales under company number 08784676, registered office 49a London Road, Chesterton, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, ST5 7EL. By using the site you agree to these terms.

• Information only. Content on this site describes our services in general terms. It is not an offer, a quotation or technical advice for any particular building or installation. Every project is priced and specified on its own merits after a survey.
• Accuracy. We take care to keep the site accurate and up to date but do not guarantee that it is free of errors or omissions. Photographs are illustrative of the type of work we carry out and do not necessarily show H&B projects unless stated.
• Intellectual property. The text, design, logos and images on this site belong to H&B Electrical Services Ltd or our licensors. You may view and print pages for your own reference but may not copy, reproduce or reuse content for commercial purposes without our written permission.
• Links. Links to third-party websites (for example certification bodies) are provided for convenience. We are not responsible for their content or privacy practices.
• Availability. We may change, suspend or withdraw any part of the site without notice and are not liable if it is unavailable at any time.
• Privacy. Personal data submitted through the site is handled in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
• Law. These website terms are governed by the law of England and Wales.

Part B — Terms of business

1. Definitions

• "Company" means H&B Electrical Services Ltd.
• "Client" means the person, company or organisation that accepts a Quotation or places an Order with the Company.
• "Works" means the electrical installation, maintenance, testing, fire alarm, emergency lighting or other services and any goods described in the Quotation.
• "Quotation" means the Company's written quotation, estimate or tender for the Works.
• "Order" means the Client's acceptance of a Quotation, whether by signed acceptance, purchase order, email instruction or by allowing the Works to start.
• "Site" means the premises at which the Works are to be carried out.

2. General

2.1 These terms apply to all Quotations and Orders and to all Works carried out by the Company, and take precedence over any terms the Client seeks to impose unless the Company has agreed otherwise in writing.

2.2 Where the Company and the Client enter into a formal written contract or sub-contract for a project (for example a JCT, NEC or bespoke sub-contract agreement), the terms of that contract govern the Works to the extent they conflict with these terms.

2.3 Placing an Order constitutes acceptance of these terms. The Company's written record of an Order given verbally or by email is conclusive unless the Client objects in writing within two working days.

3. Quotations and orders

3.1 Quotations are valid for 30 days from their date unless stated otherwise, after which they may be withdrawn or revised.

3.2 Quotations are based on the information, drawings and specifications available to the Company at the time and on the Site conditions observed during survey. Where no survey has been possible, the Quotation is provisional and subject to confirmation on inspection.

3.3 Prices quoted exclude VAT unless stated. Where the Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) or the VAT domestic reverse charge applies, the Client must notify the Company of its status before the Works begin and provide the relevant documentation.

3.4 The Company reserves the right to decline any Order.

4. Scope of work and exclusions

4.1 The Works comprise only what is described in the Quotation. Unless expressly included, the following are excluded and are the responsibility of the Client or others: builders' work, chasing, drilling of structural elements, fire-stopping, making good and decoration; provision of ducts, risers and access routes; scaffolding and specialist access equipment; removal of asbestos or other hazardous materials; provision of a suitable incoming electricity supply, including any works by the Distribution Network Operator; and design responsibility beyond that expressly stated.

4.2 Where the Client supplies materials or equipment, they must be fit for purpose, compliant with relevant standards and delivered with appropriate certification. The Company is not responsible for defects in Client-supplied materials, and delay or additional work arising from them may be charged.

4.3 The Company will carry out the Works in accordance with BS 7671 (the IET Wiring Regulations), BS 5839 and BS 5266 where applicable, and other relevant standards and regulations in force at the date of the Quotation.

5. Variations and additional work

5.1 Any change to the Works requested by the Client, or made necessary by conditions that could not reasonably have been foreseen (including concealed services, non-compliant existing installations or changes in design by others), is a variation.

5.2 Wherever practicable, the Company will notify the Client of the cost and programme effect of a variation before the additional work is carried out and will seek the Client's written instruction. Where urgent work is needed to maintain safety or avoid delay, the Company may proceed and will notify the Client as soon as possible.

5.3 Variations are charged at the rates in the Quotation or, where none apply, at the Company's standard rates current at the time.

6. Programme and delay

6.1 Start and completion dates are given in good faith but are estimates unless the Company has agreed a fixed programme in writing. The Company will use reasonable endeavours to meet them.

6.2 Where the Works are delayed by the Client, by other contractors, by late instructions, information or access, by Site conditions, by variations or by events outside the Company's reasonable control, the completion date will be extended accordingly and the Company may recover the reasonable additional costs incurred, including abortive visits, standing time and remobilisation.

6.3 Overtime, weekend, night or out-of-hours working requested by the Client is charged at the Company's enhanced rates unless already included in the Quotation.

7. Site access and client obligations

The Client will, at no cost to the Company: provide safe and adequate access to the Site at the agreed times; provide welfare facilities, power, lighting, water and secure storage where reasonably required; ensure the Site complies with the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 and other health and safety legislation, including providing any pre-construction information, asbestos survey and permits to work; obtain any landlord, planning or statutory consents needed for the Works; and promptly give decisions, instructions and information the Company requires. The Company's operatives will comply with the Client's reasonable Site rules.

8. Materials and retention of title

8.1 Materials supplied by the Company remain the Company's property until the Company has received payment in full for them and for all other sums due from the Client. Until then the Client holds them as bailee for the Company, and the Company may enter the Site to recover materials that have not been incorporated into the Works.

8.2 Risk in materials passes to the Client on delivery to Site, and the Client must insure them to their full replacement value from that point.

8.3 Materials removed from Site in the course of the Works become the Company's property for disposal unless the Client has asked in writing for them to be retained.

9. Price and payment

9.1 Unless the Quotation states otherwise: for Works lasting more than four weeks the Company will issue monthly applications or invoices for the value of work completed and materials delivered; for shorter Works the Company will invoice on completion. A deposit may be required before materials are ordered for larger projects.

9.2 Invoices are payable within 30 days of the invoice date for approved account customers, and on receipt for all others. Where the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996 (as amended) applies, the payment and notice provisions required by that Act apply and these terms are to be read accordingly.

9.3 No retention may be deducted unless agreed in the Quotation. The Client may not withhold or set off any sum without giving a valid written notice in accordance with the Act.

9.4 The Company may charge interest on overdue sums under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998 at 8% per annum above the Bank of England base rate, together with the fixed compensation and reasonable recovery costs allowed by that Act, and may suspend the Works and withhold certification and documentation until overdue sums are paid.

9.5 Where the Client is acting for a third party, the Client remains liable for payment unless the third party was identified in the Order and the Company agreed in writing to contract with them.

10. Workmanship guarantee and defects

10.1 The Company guarantees its workmanship for 12 months from practical completion of the Works (or such longer period as the Quotation states). Materials and equipment carry the manufacturer's warranty, which the Company will assign or pass on to the Client where possible.

10.2 The Client must notify the Company in writing of any alleged defect within 10 working days of discovering it and allow the Company reasonable access to inspect and, where the defect is the Company's responsibility, to remedy it. Remedying the defect is the Client's sole remedy under this guarantee.

10.3 The guarantee does not cover: fair wear and tear; damage caused by misuse, neglect, accident, alteration or repair by others; failure to maintain the installation in accordance with the Company's or manufacturers' recommendations; defects in Client-supplied materials or in existing installations not forming part of the Works; or work carried out against the Company's written advice.

10.4 Electrical installation certificates, fire alarm and emergency lighting certificates and other documentation will be issued on completion of the relevant Works and receipt of payment due.

11. Liability and insurance

11.1 Nothing in these terms limits or excludes the Company's liability for death or personal injury caused by its negligence, for fraud, or for any liability that cannot be limited or excluded by law.

11.2 Subject to 11.1, the Company is not liable for loss of profit, loss of business, loss of production, loss of use, business interruption or any indirect or consequential loss, however arising.

11.3 Subject to 11.1, the Company's total liability in connection with the Works, whether in contract, tort (including negligence) or otherwise, is limited to the price payable for the Works under the relevant Order or the amount recoverable under the Company's insurance, whichever is greater.

11.4 The Company maintains public liability, employer's liability and, where design is undertaken, professional indemnity insurance. Details are available on request.

12. Suspension and cancellation

12.1 If the Client cancels an Order after acceptance, the Client will pay for all Works carried out, materials ordered or delivered that cannot reasonably be returned, and any other costs reasonably incurred by the Company as a result of the cancellation.

12.2 The Company may suspend or terminate the Works on written notice if the Client fails to pay sums due, fails to provide access or information so that the Works cannot proceed, becomes insolvent, or is in material breach of these terms, and may recover payment for Works carried out and costs incurred up to that date.

12.3 Where the Client is a consumer acting outside their trade or business, the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013 may give a 14-day right to cancel, which will be explained in the Quotation.

13. Complaints

We want every client to be satisfied with our work. If you have a concern, please contact us in writing at sales@handbelectrical.co.uk or at the address below. We will acknowledge your complaint within three working days, investigate it and, where remedial work is appropriate, propose a date for it. Nothing in this clause affects your legal rights.

14. Legal

14.1 Confidentiality. Each party will keep confidential any drawings, specifications, pricing or commercial information received from the other and use it only for the purposes of the Works.

14.2 Force majeure. Neither party is liable for failure or delay caused by events beyond its reasonable control, including severe weather, strikes, supply chain failure, epidemic or action by public authorities.

14.3 Severability. If any provision of these terms is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the remainder continues in full effect. A failure by the Company to enforce any term is not a waiver of it.

14.4 Third parties. No one other than the Client and the Company has any right to enforce these terms under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999.

14.5 Governing law. These terms and any dispute arising from them are governed by the law of England and Wales, and the courts of England and Wales have exclusive jurisdiction, without prejudice to either party's right to refer a dispute to adjudication where the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996 applies.