1. INTERPRETATION
1.1 Definitions. In these Conditions, the following definitions apply:
“HOC” means House of Canopies Limited incorporated and registered in England and Wales with company number 8405564 and whose registered office is at Unit 86, Marston Moor Business Park, Tockwith, North Yorkshire YO26 7QF.
“Business Day” means a day (other than a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday) when banks in London are open for business.
“Conditions” means the terms and conditions set out in this document as amended from time to time in accordance with clause 12.6.
“Contract” means the contract between HOC and the Customer for the sale and purchase of the Goods in accordance with these Conditions.
“Customer” means the person or firm who purchases the Goods from the HOC.
“Force Majeure Event” has the meaning given in clause 11.
“Goods” means the goods (or any part of them) set out in the Order and any applicable Specification.
“Intellectual Property” means copyright and neighbouring and related rights, trademarks and service marks, business names and domain names and rights to claim priority from, such rights and all similar or equivalent rights or forms of protection which subsist or will subsist now or in the future in any part of the world.
“Order” means the Customer’s order for the Goods, as set out in the Customer’s purchase order form.
“Specification” means any specification for the Goods, including any related plans and drawings, that are agreed in writing by the Customer and HOC.
1.2 Construction. In these Conditions, the following rules apply:
1.2.1 A reference to a statute or statutory provision is a reference to such statute or provision as amended or re-enacted. A reference to a statute or statutory provision includes any subordinate legislation made under that statute or statutory provision, as amended or re-enacted.
1.2.2 Any phrase introduced by the terms including, include, in particular or any similar expression shall be construed as illustrative and shall not limit the sense of the words preceding those terms.
1.2.3 A reference to writing or written includes faxes but not e-mails.
2. BASIS OF CONTRACT
2.1 These Conditions apply to the Contract to the exclusion of any other terms that the Customer seeks to impose or incorporate, or which are implied by trade, custom, practice or course of dealing.
2.2 The Order constitutes an offer by the Customer to purchase the Goods in accordance with these Conditions. The Customer is responsible for ensuring that the terms of the Order and any applicable Specification submitted by the Customer are complete and accurate.
2.3 The Order shall only be deemed to be accepted when HOC issues a written acceptance of the Order or dispatches the Goods, at which point the Contract shall come into existence.
2.4 Any cancellation of an Order by the Customer must be approved in writing by the director of HOC, at HOC’s sole discretion. In the event that such cancellation is accepted, the Customer shall be liable to pay to HOC all costs and expenses incurred by HOC up to the date of cancellation within 14 days of the same.
2.5 The Contract constitutes the entire agreement between the parties. The Customer acknowledges that it has not relied on any statement, promise, representation, assurance or warranty made or given by or on behalf of HOC which is not set out in the Contract.
2.6 Any samples, drawings, specification sheets, price lists, descriptive matter, or any other advertising produced by HOC and any descriptions or illustrations contained in HOC’s catalogues, website or brochures are produced for the sole purpose of giving an approximate idea of the Goods described in them. They shall not form part of the Contract or have any contractual force.
2.7 A quotation for the Goods given by HOC shall not constitute an offer. A quotation shall only be valid for a period of 20 Business Days from its date of issue.
3. GOODS
3.1 The Goods are described in the Order and any applicable Specification.
3.2 To the extent that the Goods are to be manufactured in accordance with a Specification supplied by the Customer, the Customer shall indemnify HOC against all liabilities, costs, expenses, damages and losses (including any direct, indirect or consequential losses, loss of profit, loss of reputation and all interest, penalties and legal and other reasonable professional costs and expenses) suffered or incurred by HOC in connection with any claim made against HOC for actual or alleged infringement of a third party’s intellectual property rights arising out of or in connection with HOC’s use of the Specification. This clause 3.2 shall survive termination of the Contract.
3.3 HOC reserves the right to amend the Specification if required by any applicable statutory or regulatory requirements.
4. DELIVERY
4.1 HOC shall ensure that:
4.1.1 each delivery of the Goods is accompanied by a delivery note which shows the date of the Order, all relevant Customer and HOC reference numbers, the type and quantity of the Goods (including the code number of the Goods, where applicable), special storage instructions (if any) and, if the Order is being delivered by instalments and the outstanding balance of Goods remaining to be delivered;
4.1.2 if HOC requires the Customer to return any packaging materials to HOC, that fact is clearly stated on the delivery note. The Customer shall make any such packaging materials available for collection at such times as HOC shall reasonably request. Returns of packaging materials shall be at HOC’s expense; and
4.1.3 where Goods being delivered to the Customer are damaged in transit or not delivered in accordance with the delivery note, HOC shall at its option repair or replace the damaged Goods provided that the Customer notifies HOC of such damage or delivery in writing as soon as is reasonably practicable and in any event no later than two days after receipt.
4.2 HOC shall deliver the Goods to the location set out in the Order or such other location as the parties may agree (“Delivery Location”) at any time after HOC notifies the Customer that the Goods are ready.
4.3 Delivery of the Goods shall be completed on the arrival of the Goods at the Delivery Location.
4.4 Any dates quoted for delivery are approximate only, and the time of delivery is not of the essence. HOC shall not be liable for any delay in delivery of the Goods that is caused by a Force Majeure Event or the Customer’s failure to provide HOC with adequate delivery instructions or any other instructions that are relevant to the supply of the Goods.
4.5 If HOC fails to deliver the Goods, its liability shall be limited to the costs and expenses incurred by the Customer in obtaining replacement goods of similar description and quality in the cheapest market available, less the price of the Goods. HOC shall have no liability for any failure to deliver the Goods to the extent that such failure is caused by a Force Majeure Event or the Customer’s failure to provide HOC with adequate delivery instructions or any other instructions that are relevant to the supply of the Goods.
4.6 If the Customer fails to take delivery of the Goods within five Business Days of HOC notifying the Customer that the Goods are ready, then, except where such failure or delay is caused by a Force Majeure Event or HOC’s failure to comply with its obligations under the Contract:
4.6.1 delivery of the Goods shall be deemed to have been completed at 9.00 am on the third Business Day after the day on which HOC notified the Customer that the Goods were ready; and
4.6.2 HOC shall store the Goods until delivery takes place, and charge the Customer for all related costs and expenses (including insurance).
4.7 If five Business Days after the day on which HOC notified the Customer that the Goods were ready for delivery the Customer has not taken delivery of them, HOC may resell or otherwise dispose of part or all of the Goods and, after deducting reasonable storage and selling costs, account to the Customer for any excess over the price of the Goods or charge the Customer for any shortfall below the price of the Goods.
4.8 HOC may deliver the Goods by instalments, which shall be invoiced and paid for separately. Each instalment shall constitute a separate Contract. Any delay in delivery or defect in an instalment shall not entitle the Customer to cancel any other instalment.
5. QUALITY
5.1 HOC warrants that on delivery , and for a period of 24 months from the date of delivery (“warranty period”), the Goods shall:
5.1.1 conform in all material respects with the Order and any applicable Specification;
5.1.2 be free from material defects in design, material and workmanship;
5.1.3 be of satisfactory quality (within the meaning of the Sale of Goods Act 1979); and
5.1.4 be fit for any purpose held out by HOC.
5.2 Subject to clause 5.3, if:
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5.2.1 the Customer gives notice in writing to HOC during the warranty period within a reasonable time of discovery that some or all of the Goods do not comply with the warranty set out in clause 5.1;
5.2.2 HOC is given a reasonable opportunity of examining such Goods; and
5.2.3 the Customer (if asked to do so by HOC) returns such Goods to HOC’s place of business or to such locations as HOC may reasonably request at the Customer’s cost.
HOC shall, at its option, repair or replace the defective Goods, or refund the price of the defective Goods in full.
5.3 HOC shall not be liable for Goods’ failure to comply with the warranty set out in clause 5.1 in any of the following events:
5.3.1 the Customer makes any further use of such Goods after giving notice in accordance with clause 5.2;
5.3.2 the defect arises because the Customer failed to follow HOC’s oral or written instructions as to the storage, commissioning, installation, use and maintenance of the Goods or (if there are none) good trade practice regarding the same;
5.3.3 the defect arises as a result of HOC following any drawing, design or Specification supplied by the Customer;
5.3.4 the Customer alters or repairs such Goods without the written consent of HOC;
5.3.5 the defect arises as a result of fair wear and tear, wilful damage, negligence, or abnormal storage or working conditions; or
5.3.6 the Goods differ from the Order and any applicable Specification as a result of changes made to ensure they comply with applicable statutory or regulatory requirements.
5.4 Except as provided in this clause 5, HOC shall have no liability to the Customer in respect of the Goods’ failure to comply with the warranty set out in clause 5.1.
5.5 The terms implied by sections 13 to 15 of the Sale of Goods Act 1979 are, to the fullest extent permitted by law, excluded from the Contract.
5.6 These Conditions shall apply to any repaired or replacement Goods supplied by HOC.
6. TITLE AND RISK
6.1 The risk in the Goods shall pass to the Customer on completion of delivery.
6.2 Title to the Goods shall not pass to the Customer until the earlier of:
6.2.1 HOC receives payment in full (in cash or cleared funds) for the Goods and any other goods that HOC has supplied to the Customer in respect of which payment has become due, in which case title to the Goods shall pass at the time of payment of all such sums; or
6.2.2 the Customer resells the Goods, in which case title to the Goods shall pass to the Customer at the time specified in clause 6.4.
6.3 Until title to the Goods has passed to the Customer, the Customer shall:
6.3.1 store the Goods separately from all other goods held by the Customer so that they remain readily identifiable as HOC’s property;
6.3.2 not remove, deface or obscure any identifying mark or packaging on or relating to the Goods;
6.3.3 maintain the Goods in satisfactory condition and keep them insured against all risks for their full price from the date of delivery;
6.3.4 notify HOC immediately if it becomes subject to any of the events listed in clause 9.1.3 to clause 9.1.14; and
6.3.5 give HOC such information relating to the Goods as HOC may require from time to time.
6.4 Subject to clause 6.5, the Customer may resell or use the Goods in the ordinary course of its business (but not otherwise) before HOC receives payment for the Goods. However, if the Customer resells the Goods before that time:
6.4.1 it does so as principal and not as HOC’s agent; and
6.4.2 title to the Goods shall pass from HOC to the Customer immediately before the time at which resale by the Customer occurs.
6.5 If before title to the Goods passes to the Customer, the Customer becomes subject to any of the events listed in clause 9.13 to clause 9.1.14, then, without limiting any other right or remedy HOC may have:
6.5.1 the Customer’s right to resell the Goods or use them in the ordinary course of its business ceases immediately; and
6.5.2 HOC may at any time:
6.5.2.1 require the Customer to deliver up all Goods in its possession which have not been resold, used, installed or irrevocably incorporated into another product; and
6.5.2.2 if the Customer fails to do so promptly, enter any premises of the Customer or of any third party where the Goods are stored, installed or used in order to recover them.
7. PRICE AND PAYMENT
7.1 The price of the Goods shall be the price set out in the Order, or, if no price is quoted as otherwise agreed between the parties.
7.2 HOC may, by giving notice to the Customer at any time up to two Business Days before delivery, increase the price of the Goods to reflect any increase in the cost of the Goods that is due to:
7.2.1 any factor beyond HOC’s control (including foreign exchange fluctuations, increases in taxes and duties, and increases in labour, materials and other manufacturing costs);
7.2.2 any request by the Customer to change the delivery date(s), quantities or types of Goods ordered, or the Specification; or
7.2.3 any delay caused by any instructions of the Customer or failure of the Customer to give HOC adequate or accurate information or instructions.
7.3 The price of the Goods is exclusive of the costs and charges of packaging, insurance and transport of the Goods, which shall be invoiced to the Customer.
7.4 HOC shall be entitled to charge an additional fee where the Customer has requested urgent delivery of the Goods. Such fee shall be notified to the Customer upon acceptance of the Order.
7.5 Where the costs of packaging materials have been charged by HOC, the Customer will be entitled to be credited in full the amount of such costs subject to the packaging materials being returned to HOC in good condition, in HOC’s reasonable opinion, and within three months of delivery of the Goods.
7.6 The price of the Goods is exclusive of amounts in respect of value added tax (“VAT”). The Customer shall, on receipt of a valid VAT invoice from HOC, pay to HOC such additional amounts in respect of VAT as are chargeable on the supply of the Goods.
7.7 HOC may invoice the Customer for the Goods on or at any time after the completion of delivery.
7.8 The Customer shall pay the invoice in full and in cleared funds by the end of the month following the month the invoice was dated. Payment shall be made to the bank account nominated in writing by HOC. Time of payment is of the essence.
7.9 If the Customer fails to make any payment due to HOC under the Contract by the due date for payment, then the Customer shall pay interest on the overdue amount at the rate of 4% per annum above Barclays Bank Plc’s base rate from time to time. Such interest shall accrue on a daily basis from the due date until actual payment of the overdue amount, whether before or after judgment. The Customer shall pay the interest together with the overdue amount.
7.10 The Customer shall pay all amounts due under the Contract in full without any set-off, counterclaim, deduction or withholding (except for any deduction or withholding required by law). HOC may at any time, without limiting any other rights or remedies it may have, set off any amount owing to it by the Customer against any amount payable by HOC to the Customer.
8. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
8.1 The Customer acknowledges that HOC’s rights to the Intellectual Property used on or in relation to the Goods are HOC's property.
8.2 The Customer accepts that:
8.2.1 it is only permitted to use the Intellectual Property for the purposes of selling the Goods and only as authorised by HOC;
8.2.2 other than to that extent, it has and shall have no right to use or to allow others to use the Intellectual Property or any part of it;
8.2.3 it shall not remove, alter or otherwise tamper with any trademarks, trade names, logos, numbers or other means of identification on the Goods or the packaging materials which come into the Customer's possession, custody or control, and shall not place any trade mark or trade name of its own on the Goods or any packaging material or other materials used in connection therewith;
8.2.4 it shall not do or omit to do, or authorise any third party to do or to omit to do, anything which could invalidate or be inconsistent with the Intellectual Property; and
8.2.5 it shall make a statement in any advertising material and promotional literature produced by or for it in connection with the Goods as to the ownership of any relevant Intellectual Property used or referred to therein.
9. TERMINATION AND SUSPENSION
9.1 Without prejudice to its other rights and remedies HOC may terminate the Contract with immediate effect by giving written notice to the Customer if:
9.1.1 the Customer fails to pay any amount due under this agreement on the due date for payment and remains in default not less than thirty (30) days after being notified in writing to make such payment;
9.1.2 the Customer commits a material breach of any term of this agreement which breach is irremediable or (if such breach is remediable) fails to remedy that breach within a period of thirty (30) days after being notified in writing to do so;
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9.1.3 the Customer suspends, or threatens to suspend, payment of its debts, or is unable to pay its debts as they fall due or admits inability to pay its debts, or (being a company or limited liability partnership) is deemed unable to pay its debts within the meaning of section 123 of the Insolvency Act 1986, or (being an individual) is deemed either unable to pay its debts or as having no reasonable prospect of so doing, in either case, within the meaning of section 268 of the Insolvency Act 1986, or (being a partnership) has any partner to whom any of the foregoing apply;
9.1.4 the Customer commences negotiations with all or any class of its creditors with a view to rescheduling any of its debts, or makes a proposal for or enters into any compromise or arrangement with its creditors /other than (where the Customer is a company) where these events take place for the sole purpose of a scheme for a solvent amalgamation of the Customer with one or more other companies or the solvent reconstruction of the Customer;
9.1.5 (being a company) a petition is filed, a notice is given, a resolution is passed, or an order is made, for or in connection with the winding up of the Customer, other than for the sole purpose of a scheme for a solvent amalgamation of the Customer with one or more other companies or the solvent reconstruction of the Customer;
9.1.6 (being a company) an application is made to court, or an order is made, for the appointment of an administrator or if a notice of intention to appoint an administrator is given or if an administrator is appointed over the Customer;
9.1.7 (being a company) the holder of a qualifying floating charge over the Customer’s assets has become entitled to appoint or has appointed an administrative receiver;
9.1.8 a person becomes entitled to appoint a receiver over the Customer’s assets or a receiver is appointed over the Customer’s assets;
9.1.9 (being an individual) the Customer is the subject of a bankruptcy petition or order;
9.1.10 a creditor or encumbrancer of the Customer attaches or takes possession of, or a distress, execution, sequestration or other such process is levied or enforced on or sued against, the whole or any part of its assets and such attachment or process is not discharged within 14 days;
9.1.11 any event occurs, or proceeding is taken, with respect to the Customer in any jurisdiction to which it is subject that has an effect equivalent or similar to any of the events mentioned in clause 9.1.3 to clause 9.1.10 (inclusive);
9.1.12 the Customer suspends, threatens to suspends, ceases or threatens to cease to carry on all or a substantial part of its business;
9.1.13 the Customer’s financial position deteriorates to such an extent that in HOC’s opinion the Customer’s capability to adequately fulfil its obligations under the Contract has been placed in jeopardy; and
9.1.14 (being an individual) the Customer dies or, by reason of illness or incapacity (whether mental or physical), is incapable of managing his or her own affairs or becomes a patient under any mental health legislation.
9.2 Without limiting its other rights or remedies, HOC may suspend provision of the Goods under the Contract or any other contract between the Customer and HOC if the Customer becomes subject to any of the events listed in clause 9.1.3 to clause 9.1.14, or HOC reasonably believes that the Customer is about to become subject to any of them, or if the Customer fails to pay any amount due under this Contract on the due date for payment.
9.3 On termination of the Contract for any reason the Customer shall immediately pay to HOC all of HOC’s outstanding unpaid invoices and interest.
9.4 Termination of the Contract, however arising, shall not affect any of the parties’ rights, remedies, obligations and liabilities that have accrued as at termination.
9.5 Clauses which expressly or by implication survive termination of the Contract shall continue in full force and effect.
10. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
10.1 Nothing in these Conditions shall limit or exclude HOC’s liability for:
10.1.1 death or personal injury caused by its negligence, or the negligence of its employees, agents or subcontractors (as applicable);
10.1.2 fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation;
10.1.3 breach of the terms implied by section 12 of the Sale of Goods Act 1979; or
10.1.4 any matter in respect of which it would be unlawful for HOC to exclude or restrict liability.
10.2 Subject to clause 10.1:
10.2.1 HOC shall under no circumstances whatsoever be liable to the Customer, whether in contract, tort (including negligence), breach of statutory duty, or otherwise, for any loss of profit, or any indirect or consequential loss arising under or in connection with the Contract including any failure or delay in delivery of the Goods; and
10.2.2 HOC’s total liability to the Customer in respect of all other losses arising under or in connection with the Contract, whether in contract, tort (including negligence), breach of statutory duty, or otherwise, shall in no circumstances exceed 100% of the price of the Goods.
11. FORCE MAJEURE
Neither party shall be liable for any failure or delay in performing its obligations under the Contract to the extent that such failure or delay is caused by a Force Majeure Event. A “Force Majeure Event” means any event beyond a party’s reasonable control, which by its nature could not have been foreseen, or, if it could have been foreseen, was unavoidable, including strikes, lock-outs or other industrial disputes (whether involving its own workforce or a third party’s), failure of energy sources or transport network, acts of God, war, terrorism, riot, civil commotion, interference by civil or military authorities, national or international calamity, armed conflict, malicious damage, breakdown of plant or machinery, nuclear, chemical or biological contamination, sonic boom, explosions, collapse of building structures, fires, floods, storms, earthquakes, loss at sea, epidemics or similar events, natural disasters or extreme adverse weather conditions, or default of suppliers or subcontractors.
12. GENERAL
12.1 Assignment and other dealings.
12.1.1 HOC may at any time assign, transfer, mortgage, charge, subcontract or deal in any other manner with all or any of its rights or obligations under the Contract.
12.1.2 The Customer may not assign, transfer, mortgage, charge, subcontract, declare a trust over or deal in any other manner with any or all of its rights or obligations under the Contract without the prior written consent of HOC.
12.2 Notices.
12.2.1 Any notice or other communication given to a party under or in connection with the Contract shall be in writing, addressed to that party at its registered office (if it is a company) or its principal place of business (in any other case) or such other address as that party may have specified to the other party in writing in accordance with this clause, and shall be delivered personally, sent by pre-paid first class post or other next working day delivery service, commercial courier, fax.
12.2.2 A notice or other communication shall be deemed to have been received: if delivered personally, when left at the address referred to in clause 12.2.1; if sent by pre-paid first class post or other next working day delivery service, on the second Business Day after posting; if delivered by commercial courier, on the date and at the time that the courier’s delivery receipt is signed; or, if sent by fax, one Business Day after transmission.
12.2.3 The provisions of this clause shall not apply to the service of any proceedings or other documents in any legal action.
12.3 Severance.
12.3.1 If any provision or part-provision of the Contract is or becomes invalid, illegal or unenforceable, it shall be deemed modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it valid, legal and enforceable. If such modification is not possible, the relevant provision or part-provision shall be deemed deleted. Any modification to or deletion of a provision or part-provision under this clause shall not affect the validity and enforceability of the rest of the Contract.
12.3.2 If any provision or part-provision of this Contract is invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the parties shall negotiate in good faith to amend such provision so that, as amended, it is legal, valid and enforceable, and, to the greatest extent possible, achieves the intended commercial result of the original provision.
12.4 Waiver. A waiver of any right or remedy under the Contract or law is only effective if given in writing and shall not be deemed a waiver of any subsequent breach or default. No failure or delay by a party to exercise any right or remedy provided under the Contract or by law shall constitute a waiver of that or any other right or remedy, nor shall it prevent or restrict the further exercise of that or any other right or remedy. No single or partial exercise of such right or remedy shall prevent or restrict the further exercise of that or any other right or remedy.
12.5 Third party rights. A person who is not a party to the Contract shall not have any rights to enforce its terms.
12.6 Variation. Except as set out in these Conditions, no variation of the Contract, including the introduction of any additional terms and conditions, shall be effective unless it is in writing and signed by HOC.
12.7 Governing law. The Contract, and any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with it or its subject matter or formation (including non-contractual disputes or claims), shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with the law of England and Wales.
12.8 Jurisdiction. Each party irrevocably agrees that the courts of England shall have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with this Contract or its subject matter or formation (including non-contractual disputes or claims).
