Action Sheet — Brush Clearing
How to choose a brush-clearing company without getting ripped off
The price difference between a reputable landscaper and an opportunist who scours OLD zones after every inspection can be as much as threefold — sometimes resulting in work that fails to meet standards. The criteria for a good quote, actual market prices, the tax credit and the pitfalls to avoid.
Key points
- Costs observed: €0.30 to €1 per square metre, depending on density and gradient — that is, €1,500 to €4,000 for initial compliance work, followed by €300–800 per year thereafter.
- The quotation must state that it complies with the prefectural decree and must specify how the cuttings will be disposed of (shredding or removal).
- 50 per cent tax credit (personal care services) for routine maintenance carried out by an approved company — capped at €5,000 per year in expenditure.
- Three quotes, verified professional liability insurance, and no large upfront payments when we approach you.
Equipment: your boundary plan · the prefectural order (PDF) · 3 requests for quotes
Why it’s important
The tightening of OLD inspections has created a market — and its parasites: door-to-door canvassing following formal notices, vague fixed-price quotes, ‘brush clearing’ that mows everything down with a mulcher without adhering to standards (trees to be preserved, gaps to be left) and then leaves the cuttings to dry on site. The result: overpriced, non-compliant work that needs redoing. A simple framework — clearly defined boundaries, the order attached, a detailed quotation — eliminates 90 per cent of unpleasant surprises. The expected technical standards: do my brush-clearing.
How to do it, step by step
Prepare the tender documentation
Your defined perimeter (area in m²), photos of the plot, and the PDF of the prefectural order. A professional will provide a detailed, evidence-based quote and then confirm it on site; a vague “we’ll do it for a flat fee” without a site visit is a red flag.
Check out three companies
Local landscapers, forestry contractors (ETFs), specialist social integration organisations: word of mouth within the local community and the town hall (some of which keep a list) are more effective than leaflets in the letterbox.
Make sure you get the right quote
Essential information: area treated and details of the work carried out (mowing, thinning, pruning at X metres, distances between tree crowns), explicit reference to compliance with the prefectural order, disposal of prunings (on-site shredding / removal included), professional liability insurance, SIRET number, date and period of validity.
Compare using adjusted prices
Convert everything to per square metre AND check the actual area quoted: a ‘cheap’ quote that excludes waste removal or only covers mowing is not comparable. A reasonable price range: €0.30–1 per square metre for the initial job, half that for annual maintenance.
Claim the tax credit
For home garden maintenance carried out by a company authorised to provide ‘personal care services’: a 50 per cent tax credit (expenditure capped at €5,000 per year for light gardening). Ask whether the company is SAP-accredited and request the annual tax certificate.
Sign for receipt whilst holding the order in your hand
End of works: walk-around of the site to check compliance with the criteria set out in the order (grass cut short, tree canopies spaced out, pruning carried out, debris cleared away), any issues noted before final payment, dated photographs — your compliance file for inspection and the insurer.
The mistakes that ruin everything
- Door-to-door sales pitches such as ‘make the most of the van in your neighbourhood’ with a cash deposit — the classic tactic following a formal notice.
- A flat-rate fee with no mention of floor area or details of the work involved: impossible to compare, impossible to challenge.
- Don’t forget to include the cost of clearing away debris in your quote: this can account for a third of the actual cost.
- Opting for ‘quick and cheap’ full-scale mulching where the regulation requires trees to be spaced out.
The tip that makes all the difference
Get together: 4–5 neighbours who consult with one another can achieve 20–40 per cent better results (shared travel, continuous works), and the hamlet becomes compliant all at once — something that both inspectors and insurers appreciate. The local council is often happy to support the initiative.
Frequently Asked Questions
The risk changes every day. So do your reflexes.
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