Owlcotes Plant & Operator Hire · Pudsey [email protected]

Hire terms

Before you hire

Worth a read before you book, so there's no falling out when the machine comes back. The main points come first, then our standard hire terms in full.

Fuel
Machines go out full. Bring them back full, or we'll fill them up and add the diesel to your bill at cost.
Damage & insurance
While it's on hire the machine is your responsibility, theft included. You can cover it on your own plant insurance (we'll need to see the schedule) or take our damage waiver. The waiver is 10% of the hire charge and limits what you pay for accidental damage to an excess, which we'll confirm with your quote. It doesn't cover theft, misuse, tyres or tracks, or running the machine without oil or water.
Deposit & ID
Self-drive hires need a refundable deposit, which depends on the machine and is confirmed with your quote. You get it back once the equipment is returned and checked. If it's your first self-drive hire with us, we'll also need photo ID and proof of address.
Delivery & collection
We bring it on our trailer and charge by distance. You can pick it up yourself for nothing if you're able to tow it legally, so check your licence and your noseweight first.
Access
Tell us how wide the narrowest bit is and what the ground's like. Send a photo if you can. If we turn up and it won't fit, we still have to charge for the trip.
Off-hire
Email us to off-hire. You stop paying the day you tell us, not the day we pick it up.
Breakdowns
Let us know straight away. If it's a genuine breakdown, that's on us and we'll swap the machine or knock the time off. Damage, misuse and running it out of diesel aren't covered.
Payment
New customers pay in full before the equipment goes out. Trade account customers pay within 30 days of the invoice date. Trade accounts are available, just ask.
Safety
We'll walk you round the machine when we drop it off, and the manual stays in the cab. Only let people on it who know what they're doing, and keep everyone well clear of the swing.

Standard hire terms

These apply to every hire, self-drive or operated, unless we've agreed something different with you in writing.

  1. 1. Who's who

    "We" and "us" means Owlcotes Plant Hire. "You" means the person or business hiring the equipment. "Equipment" means anything we hire to you, including attachments and accessories.

  2. 2. Hire period

    Hire starts when the equipment is delivered to you or collected from us. It ends on the day you tell us to off-hire it, as long as it's ready and accessible for us to collect. The minimum hire is one day.

  3. 3. Prices and payment

    Prices are on application and confirmed in writing before the hire starts. All prices are plus VAT. Payment is due on the terms shown on your confirmation. We may charge interest on late payment where the law allows.

  4. 4. Deposit and ID

    We may ask for a deposit, photo ID and proof of address before the equipment goes out. Deposits are returned once the equipment is back and checked, less anything you owe us.

  5. 5. Using the equipment

    Only use it for the job it's designed for, and only let competent people operate it. Follow the manual, do the daily checks (fuel, oil, water and grease) and keep it secure when it's not being used. Don't move it to another site, lend it out or hire it on without our written agreement.

  6. 6. Buried services

    Before any digging, you must find and mark any underground pipes, cables and services and tell us where they are. We aren't responsible for damage to services you haven't told us about.

  7. 7. Operated hire

    Our operator works under your direction on site. You're responsible for site safety, a safe place to work and the instructions you give them. Our operator can refuse to do anything they think is unsafe.

  8. 8. Loss and damage

    From delivery until we collect it, you're responsible for the equipment, including loss, theft and any damage beyond fair wear and tear. Report damage to us straight away. Thefts must also be reported to the police, and we'll need the crime reference number.

  9. 9. Insurance

    You must either insure the equipment for its full replacement value for the whole hire, and show us the policy if we ask, or take our damage waiver. The waiver doesn't cover theft, misuse or deliberate damage.

  10. 10. Breakdowns

    Tell us as soon as anything goes wrong and stop using the equipment. Don't repair it yourself unless we say so. If the fault isn't down to you, we'll repair or replace the equipment and you won't pay for the time it was out of action after you told us.

  11. 11. Delivery and collection

    You need to give us safe access and suitable ground to unload and load. If we can't deliver or collect because of access, or because nobody is there when agreed, the wasted trip will be charged.

  12. 12. Returning the equipment

    It should come back clean, fuelled and in the condition it went out in, apart from fair wear and tear. We can charge for cleaning, fuel and repairs if it doesn't.

  13. 13. Cancelling

    Let us know as soon as you can if you need to cancel. If the equipment has already left us, delivery and collection are still payable.

  14. 14. Ending a hire early

    We can end the hire and take the equipment back if you break these terms, don't pay what's due, or your business becomes insolvent. You'll still owe the hire up to that point and any other charges.

  15. 15. Our liability

    Nothing here limits our liability for death or personal injury caused by our negligence, or anything else the law doesn't let us limit. Otherwise, we're not liable for indirect losses such as lost profit or delays to your job. If you're hiring as a consumer, your statutory rights aren't affected.

  16. 16. Law

    These terms are governed by the law of England and Wales.