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GPSLighting Limited Terms and Conditions of Hire
1. Interpretation
1.1 For the purpose of these conditions, unless the context requires otherwise: ‘the
Company’ means GPSlighting Limited and any subsidiary; ‘the Contract’ means any hire
agreement between the Company and the Hirer which may be defined as a contract
under the terms of English law; ‘Commencement Date’ means the date on which the
equipment is delivered to or made available for collection by the Hirer; ‘Default Rate’
means 4 per cent above the Bank of England base rate; ‘Equipment’ means any
equipment hired by the Company to the Hirer including any replacement or substitute
equipment and all accessories and additions and renewals; ‘Hire Period’ means the
period of hire specified in the schedule and beginning on the Commencement Date; ‘the
Hirer’ means any company, partnership or individual who shall enter into any hire
agreement with the Company; ‘Insolvency Act’ means the Insolvency Act 1986 or any
modification, amendment, consolidation, re-enactment or replacement of it; ‘Rentals’
means the rentals to be paid by the Hirer to the Owner details of which are set out in the
schedule; ‘Requested Delivery Date’ means the date specified in the schedule as being
the date requested by the
Hirer upon which the Equipment is to be available for delivery or collection; ‘Services’
means any services hired by the Company to the Hirer, including any replacement or
substitute services and all incidental services and additions and renewals; ‘VAT’ means
value added tax.
2. Hire of the Equipment and/or Services
2.1 The Company agrees to hire and the Hirer agrees to take on hire the Equipment
and/or Services for the Hire Period on the terms and conditions of hire set out in these
conditions.
2.2 The hire of the Equipment and/or Services commences on the
Commencement Date and continues for the Hire Period subject to termination as provided
by these conditions.
2.3 The Company shall prepare a Delivery and Acceptance Form and, at the time of
delivery or collection of the Equipment or provision of the Services, the Hirer or a person
authorised on its behalf, shall sign the Delivery and Acceptance Form, which signature
shall constitute the Hirer’s acceptance of the Equipment and/or Services.
2.4 The Company shall use all reasonable endeavors to have the Equipment and/or
Services available for delivery or collection on the Requested Delivery Date but the
Company shall not incur any liability whatever in the event of any delay however caused.
3. Rentals
3.1 The Hirer shall pay to the Company the Rentals (subject to any adjustment as
provided in clause 5) without previous demand by the Company the first such payment to
be made on the Commencement Date and subsequent payments to be made at the
consecutive intervals specified in the Schedule.
3.2 Time shall be of the essence in respect of the payment of all Rentals and all other
sums due from the Hirer to the company under these conditions and the Hirer shall be
deemed to have repudiated these conditions if any of the Rentals or other payments
remain unpaid for 14 days or more after becoming due.
3.3 All Rentals and other sums due from the Hirer to the Company shall be increased to
include VAT at the rate or rates for the time being in force.
3.4 All payments (if not made by direct debit or banker’s order) shall be made to the
address of the Company stated above or at such other address as the Company may
from time to time communicate to the Hirer.
3.5 Any payment sent by post shall be so sent at the risk of the Hirer.
4. Interest
4.1 Interest shall be payable by the Hirer on:
4.1.1 overdue Rentals; and
4.1.2 all other sums payable or which become payable under the Contract which are
unpaid in each case from the due date to the date of payment at the Default Rate.
4.2 Any interest payable under clause 4.1 above shall run from day to day and shall
accrue after as well as before any judgment.
5. Revision of Rentals
5.1 The Hirer expressly acknowledges and accepts that the Company is entitled to revise
the Rentals by such amount as the Company deems appropriate at any time after the
date of the Contract but before the Commencement Date to reflect an increase in the list
price of the Equipment announced or imposed by the manufacturer or an increase in the
price of the provision of the Service. Such increase shall be in accordance with the Retail
Price Index.
5.2 Any such revision will be notified by the Company to the Hirer as soon as is
practicable and in any event on or before the Commencement Date.
6. Use of the Equipment and/or Services
6.1 The Hirer may use the Equipment and/or Services for the purposes of its business.
6.2 The Equipment and/or Services are not to be used, and the Hirer will not permit them
to be used, for any purpose for which they are not expressly designed.
6.3 The Equipment and/or Services are not permitted by the Hirer to be used for any
purpose beyond their capacity or in a manner likely to result in undue deterioration of
them.
6.4 The Hirer agrees that it will not:
6.4.1 without the prior consent of the Company effect any alteration or other modification
to the Equipment. In particular, cables must not be cut, and plugs and sockets must not
be rewired by the Hirer. Any Equipment found to have been modified or in any way altered
and any cables or components found to have been damaged by cutting or attempts at
modification will be charged at replacement price on return;
6.4.2 remove or interfere with any identification marks or plates affixed to the Equipment,
nor attempt or purport to do so, nor permit the same.
7. Duties of the Company
The Company shall during the continuance of the contract:
7.1 ensure that any Equipment is supplied to the Hirer in normal working order and
maintain liability for the rectification of any defect or failure arising from normal usage;
7.2 pay or reimburse to the Hirer the cost of regular service and maintenance in
accordance with the manufacturers’ recommendations having regard to usage and age
together with the cost of any necessary repairs or replacements, except where such repair
or replacement is necessitated by any accident or by any negligent use or abuse of the
Equipment. If such service or maintenance is not carried out by the Company or its
agents, the Company requires proof
that the work has been carried out by way of original receipted Invoices before it will pay
or reimburse the Hirer for such service or maintenance;
7.3 in the event that the Equipment and/or Services become temporarily unusable or
unavailable (other than as a result of accident, damage, theft or vandalism), the Company
will make available replacement Equipment and/or Services (not necessarily of the
same type and age) for collection by the Hirer within 48 hours (or as soon after that as is
practicable) after the receipt of notification from the Hirer requesting replacement
Equipment.
8. Duties of the Hirer
The Hirer shall during the continuance of the contract:
8.1 ensure that the Company’s Equipment is not used for any purpose beyond its capacity
or in any manner likely to result in the deterioration of the Equipment;
8.2 accept responsibility for ensuring that any relevant regulations, rules or statutory
provisions governing, or related to, the use of the hire Equipment and/or Services are
complied with during the period of hire and obtain and pay any sums due to acquire any
licence or authority legally required to use the Equipment;
8.3 accept responsibility for advising the Company of the location of the hire Equipment
during the period of hire, and of any changes in the location;
8.4 not take or allow the Equipment to be taken out of the United Kingdom mainland without
receiving the prior written authority of the Company and, in the event of that authority being
given, only on such terms as the Company deems fit, with it being expressly agreed that if
such consent is given, the Company shall not be responsible for the cost of maintenance nor
replacement of the Equipment in the event of mechanical failure for the period that the
Equipment is outside the United Kingdom mainland;
8.5 collect from and return to the Company, or from and to such place as the Company shall
advise, any replacement Equipment to be made available to the Hirer in accordance with
clause 8.4;
8.6 bear the cost of the repair or rectification of any damage to the Equipment resulting from
negligence or improper use of the Equipment by the Hirer;
8.7 not offer for hire to any third party or parties any Equipment which is the property of the
Company without the express written consent of the Company;
8.8 not sell, assign, mortgage, let, hire or otherwise dispose or part with possession of the
Equipment or part of the Equipment or charge the benefit of these conditions nor attempt or
purport to do so;
8.9 take all necessary steps (at its own expense) to retain and recover possession and control
of the Equipment if the Hirer loses possession or control;
8.10 notify the Company within 24 hours of any damage to, or failure of, or defect in any hired
Equipment and confirm this in writing within 3 days of initial notification;
8.11 permit the Company or its authorised representatives at all reasonable times to enter
upon the premises where the Equipment may from time to time be in use or stored to inspect
and test the condition of the Equipment;
8.12 take responsibility for insuring equipment against ‘all risk’ to full
replacement value;
8.13 reimburse the Company for any loss or damage to the Equipment to the full replacement
value thereof.
9. Insurance
9.1 The Hirer shall throughout the Hire Period (without prejudice to any liability of the Hirer to
the Company) take responsibility for insuring the Equipment (including any replacement
Equipment provided under clause 8.4) at its own expense. Underwriters against all loss or
damage from all risks in an amount equal to the full new replacement value of the Equipment.
9.2 If the Hirer takes out a policy of insurance in respect of the Equipment to cover the Hire
Period it shall notify its insurers that the Equipment is on hire from the Owner and request the
insurers to endorse a note of the Company’s interest on the policy of insurance naming the
Company as loss payee.
9.3 Where any event or accident occurs which is a risk covered by the Hirer’s insurance, the
Hirer shall:
9.3.1 immediately notify the Company of such event or accident;
9.3.2 not compromise any claim without the consent of the Company;
9.3.3 indemnify the Company against all loss or damage to the Equipment not recoverable
under the policy of insurance;
9.3.4 allow the Company to take over the conduct of negotiations (except in relation to claims
of the Hirer for personal injuries, loss of use of the Vehicle, or loss of or damage to the
property of the Hirer unconnected with the vehicle); and
9.3.5 at the expense of the Hirer, take such proceedings (in the sole name of the Hirer or
jointly with the Company) as the Company shall direct, holding all sums recovered, together
with any monies received by the Hirer under its policy of insurance, on trust for the Company
and paying or applying the same as the Company directs and as provided in these conditions.
9.4 If the Equipment is declared a total loss, the hire of it shall terminate, and the Company at
its option shall apply any proceeds of insurance received by it:
9.4.1 towards a replacement of equivalent value, which replacement shall be deemed to be
included in these conditions for all purposes, and the Hirer shall continue to be liable to pay
Rentals as if such loss had not taken place; or
9.4.2 in or towards payment to the Company of the sum necessary to
compensate the Company for the loss or profit suffered as a result of
the loss of the Equipment.
9.5 The Company has the right to repair or have repaired the Equipment which suffers
damage (and not a total loss), but if the Company does not choose to do so, the Hirer is liable
at its own expense (but subject to any insurance proceeds) to reinstate or repair it and shall
continue to pay Rentals in respect of the Equipment during such reinstatement or repair.
9.6 The Hirer is liable to pay to the Owner any amount deducted by the insurers by way of
excess or in respect of damage caused to the Equipment prior to the date of total loss, and
(subject to the application of insurance proceeds under sub-clause 9.4.2) shall indemnify the
Owner accordingly.
10. General Liability
10.1 The Company does not hire the Equipment subject to any condition or warranty express,
implied or statutory in connection with the fitness for any purpose or age of the Equipment and
any conditions and warranties are hereby expressly excluded insofar as permitted by law.
10.2 Save for the Company’s liability for death or personal injury caused by the negligence of
the Company, its employees or agents, the Company will not be responsible for any liability,
claim, loss, damage or expense of any kind or nature caused directly or indirectly by the
Equipment or its use.
10.3 The Hirer shall be solely responsible for and hold the Company fully indemnified against
all claims, demands, liabilities, losses, damages, proceedings, costs and expenses which may
be brought against or incurred by the Company as a result of any incident involving the
Equipment (other than death or personal injury resulting from the negligence of the Company,
its employees or agents).
10.4 The Hirer is solely responsible for and shall hold the Company fully indemnified against
all claims, demands, liabilities, losses, damages, proceedings, costs and expenses suffered or
incurred by the Company as a result of any breach on the part of the Hirer in the discharge of
its obligations pursuant to these conditions of hire.
11. Ownership
The Equipment shall at all times remain the property of the Company and the Hirer shall have
no rights to the Equipment other than as hirer and the Hirer shall not do or permit or cause to
be done any matter or thing which is inconsistent with the Company’s ownership or as a result
of which the rights of the Company in respect of the Equipment are or may be prejudicially
affected.
12. Termination
12.1 If the Hirer:
12.1.1 fails to pay any Rentals or other sums payable under these conditions (or under any
other agreement between the Company), in full with in 14 days after such sums have become
due (whether demanded or not);
12.1.2 commits a breach of any of the other terms and conditions of the contract (whether
express or implied); or
12.1.3 does or causes to be done any act or thing which in the opinion of the Company may
jeopardise the Company’s rights in the Equipment or any part of the Equipment; then in each
and every such case the Hirer shall be deemed to have repudiated these conditions and the
Company may then, or at any time within three months after that by notice to the Hirer,
immediately terminate the hire contract under these conditions.
12.2 If any of the following events shall occur, namely:
12.2.1 if any distress, execution, or other legal process is levied on or against the Equipment
or any part of the Equipment, or against any premises where the Equipment is, or against any
of the Hirer’s goods or other property, or the Hirer permits any judgement against it to remain
unsatisfied for seven days; or
12.2.2 if the Hirer, being an individual, dies, suffers an interim order (within the meaning of the
Insolvency Act) to be made against him or enters into a voluntary arrangement or suffers the
making of a statutory demand or the presentation of a petition for a bankruptcy order; or
12.2.3 If the Hirer, being a body corporate, enters into any liquidation, calls any meeting
of its creditors, or has a receiver or administrative
receiver appointed of all or any of its undertaking or assets, or
suffers the appointment or the presentation of a petition for the
appointment of an Administrator under the provisions of Part II of
the Insolvency Act, or is deemed by virtue of Section 123 of the Insolvency Act to be
unable to pay its debts; then in each and every
such case the hire under these conditions shall terminate without
notice and no payment subsequently accepted by the Company
without knowledge of such termination shall in any way prejudice or
affect the operation of this clause.
12.3 If the Company at any time commits a material breach of any of these terms and
conditions (whether express or implied), then (provided the Hirer is not itself also in
breach) the Hirer may return the Equipment and (without prejudice to its right to claim
damages for that breach) by notice to the Company immediately terminate the hire
under these conditions for all purposes.
12.4 Without prejudice to the Company’s rights to claim damages, the Hirer shall, upon
any termination under clause 12.1 or 12.2, immediately pay to the Company:
12.4.1 all arrears of Rentals and all other sums accrued due and unpaid at the date of
termination, together with interest in accordance with clause 4;
12.4.2 the cost of all repairs required as at the date of termination (other than those for
which the Company has assumed responsibility under clause 7.3);
12.4.3 compensation for the loss suffered by the Company as a result of such
termination, such loss being determined by the Company having regard to all relevant
circumstances; and
12.4.4 any other sums which are or become due to the Company or to which the
Company is entitled by way of damages.
12.5 On termination of the hire however or whenever occasioned or on expiry of the
Hire Period, the Hirer shall (unless otherwise agreed with the Company) return the
Equipment forthwith (including accessories where fitted) to the Company at such
address as the Company may direct, in good order and in good working condition and
at the Hirer’s expense and risk.
12.6 Without prejudice to the foregoing, or to the Company’s claim for any arrears of
Rentals or damages for any breach by the Hirer of these conditions, the Company or its authorised representatives may, at any time after such termination or expiry of the Hire
Period, without notice retake possession of the Equipment and for such purpose enter
upon any premises belonging to or in the occupation or control of the Hirer and the
Hirer shall be responsible for all costs, charges and expenses so incurred in retaking
possession of the Equipment.
12.7 The Hirer shall bear the reasonable costs incurred by the Company at any time in
ascertaining the whereabouts of the Equipment and/or the Hirer.
13. Concurrent Remedies
No right or remedy conferred upon or reserved to the Company by these conditions is
exclusive of any other right or remedy in these conditions provided or permitted by law,
and each shall be cumulative of every other right or remedy now or in the future
existing and may be enforced by the Company concurrently or from time to time.
14. Assignment
14.1 The rights of the Hirer under the contract cannot be transferred or assigned.
14.2 The Company may assign, transfer, subcontract or make over all or part of the
contract without the Hirer’s consent.
15. Amendment and Waiver
15.1 No variation of these conditions of hire shall be effective unless it is made in
writing, refers specifically to these conditions and is signed by the parties.
15.2 No waiver or any of these conditions shall be effective except to the extent made
in writing and signed by the waiving party.
15.3 No omission or delay on the part of any party in exercising any right under these
conditions shall operate as a waiver by it of any right to exercise it in the future.
16. Further Assurance
The Hirer shall, whenever requested by the Owner, execute such documents and do
such acts and things as the Company may require to give full effect to these terms and
conditions.
17. Time of the Essence
Time shall be of the essence for all contracts made under these conditions.
18. Invalidity
The invalidity, illegality or unenforceability of any of these conditions of hire shall not
affect the other conditions.
19. Survivorship
These conditions shall, as to any of its provisions remaining to be performed in whole
or in part or capable or having effect following termination, remain in full force and
effect notwithstanding termination.
20. Notices
20.1 Any notice or other communication to be given under these conditions must be in
writing and may be delivered or sent by pre-paid first class letter or facsimile
transmission.
20.2 Any notice or document shall be deemed served, if delivered, at the time of
delivery; if posted, 48 hours after posting, and if sent by facsimile transmission, at the
time of transmission provided that confirmation of such transmission is in the
possession of the sender.
21. Law and Jurisdiction
21.1 All contracts subject to these conditions of hire shall be governed by and
construed in all respects in accordance with English law.
21.2 The Company and the Hirer irrevocably agree that the English courts shall have
exclusive jurisdiction to settle any dispute which may arise out of or in connection with
any contract of hire subject to these conditions and that, accordingly, any proceedings,
suit or action arising out of any such contract shall be brought in such courts. |