How to check a tree surgeon is qualified and insured

Published 2 November 2026

Tree work is one of the few jobs around the house where a bad choice of contractor can hurt someone, damage your property or land you in trouble with the council. Most tree surgeons working around Stockport and Cheshire East are careful professionals, but anyone can buy a chainsaw and print a leaflet. These are the checks worth making before you let anyone climb a tree in your garden. They take ten minutes, and a good firm will be happy for you to make them.

1. Ask what each person on site is qualified to do

Tree surgery qualifications belong to people, not companies. The Arboricultural Association, the UK’s professional body for tree work, says the people doing the job should hold qualifications that cover the type of work being done, mainly chainsaw use and tree climbing, usually from NPTC (City & Guilds) or LANTRA. Kirklees Council’s guidance makes the same point: “it is the individuals who hold the qualification”, so ask to see the certificates or photo ID cards for the people who will actually be climbing and cutting, not just the owner’s.

If the job is advice rather than cutting, for example a report on whether a tree is safe or what’s causing cracks near your house, look for someone with a formal arboricultural qualification and professional indemnity insurance, as well as public liability cover.

2. See the insurance certificate, not just the claim

Every firm should be able to show you a current certificate for public liability insurance, and employer’s liability insurance if they have staff. The National Tree Safety Group’s advice to tree owners is short: “always ask to see public liability insurance certificate.” The Arboricultural Association suggests public liability cover of at least £5 million.

Check the name on the certificate matches the business you’re dealing with and that the dates haven’t run out. If a branch comes down through a neighbour’s conservatory, that certificate is what stands between the claim and you.

3. Ask whether they work to BS 3998

BS 3998 is the British Standard for tree work. It sets out how pruning cuts and reductions should be done so the tree recovers well. The Arboricultural Association says a good contractor should be able to answer this question “concisely and confidently”. Some councils make BS 3998 a condition when they give consent for work on a protected tree, so it matters even more if your tree has a Tree Preservation Order (TPO).

Be wary of anyone who offers to “top” a tree or talks about cutting it back to a stump as a matter of routine. That’s rarely what the standard recommends.

4. Check any approval or membership claims

Some firms say they’re “ARB Approved”. The Arboricultural Association’s Approved Contractor scheme assesses firms on health and safety, office procedures, customer care and the quality of their work, and you can search its online directory by name or postcode. The Association warns that some firms claim the status when they don’t have it, so check.

Membership of a trade body on its own is a good sign that a firm keeps up to date, but as Kirklees Council puts it, membership “does not necessarily guarantee a contractor’s level of competency”. And be sceptical of anyone who says they’re “council approved”: councils generally don’t approve private tree surgeons.

5. Get a written quote that says exactly what’s included

Get at least three quotes. The Arboricultural Association recommends three, and reminds homeowners that “cheapest is not always best”. Each quote should be in writing and should say:

• exactly what work will be done to which trees (for example, a 2m crown reduction, not just “tidy up”)
• whether the branches, logs and other waste are being taken away, and if so that it’s included
• how high any stumps will be left, or whether stump grinding is included
• who is responsible for any council permission needed
• whether a deposit is needed

Site visits to quote are normally free.

6. Make sure the waste goes somewhere legal

In England, householders have a legal duty of care for their own waste, and that includes the branches and logs from a tree job. If the firm takes your green waste away and it ends up fly-tipped down a lane, you can be fined up to £600. The Environment Agency’s advice is to check the business on the public register of waste carriers (search “find a registered waste carrier” on GOV.UK), ask where the waste is going, avoid paying cash and get a receipt.

7. Sort out permission before the work, not after

Around Stockport, plenty of mature garden trees are covered by TPOs or sit in conservation areas: Stockport Council alone has 37 conservation areas. Under the national guidance, the offence of unauthorised work on a protected tree covers anyone who carries out the work and anyone who “causes or permits” it, so “the tree surgeon said it was fine” won’t help you if the council takes action. A good firm will ask whether your tree is protected and help with the application. Our guide to whether you need permission to cut down a tree in Stockport explains how to check with Stockport, Cheshire East, Trafford and Tameside councils.

Wildlife law still applies too. A good firm will look for nesting birds before cutting in spring and summer; see our bird nesting season guide.

Watch out for doorstep tree surgeons

Trading Standards teams regularly warn about callers who knock uninvited, say a tree is diseased or dangerous and push for a decision on the spot. Never agree to tree work on the doorstep. If a trader calls at your home and offers work costing more than £42, they must give you a written contract and a 14-day right to cancel. If you’re worried about a tree, get it looked at properly; our guide to the signs a tree could be dangerous is a good place to start. Report suspicious callers to the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 0808 223 1133, or call 999 if you feel threatened.

How our teams help

You should ask us the same questions you’d ask anyone else. Our About page sets out how our teams work and what they work to, and we’re happy to send insurance certificates with your quote. Every quote is written, says what’s being done and what’s being taken away, and flags if the tree is likely to need council permission. Whether it’s a tree removal in Bramhall or a crown reduction on a protected tree in Wilmslow, get a free quote and we’ll come back to you the same working day.