Terms and Conditions for Gardeners Hither Green

These Terms and Conditions set out the basis on which gardening services are provided by Gardeners Hither Green. By making a booking, the customer agrees to these terms, which are designed to create a clear and fair service arrangement for both parties. They apply to domestic and small commercial gardening work, including routine maintenance, one-off visits, and seasonal tasks. For the avoidance of doubt, these terms are intended to support a professional service relationship and should be read carefully before any work is arranged.

In these conditions, references to “we”, “us”, and “our” mean the gardening service provider, and references to “you” or “the customer” mean the person requesting the work. The scope of any job may vary depending on the condition of the garden, access, weather, and the materials required. Gardeners Hither Green aims to deliver services with reasonable care and skill, but certain outcomes may depend on natural conditions or pre-existing issues outside our control.

These terms apply to all bookings unless otherwise agreed in writing. If any part of these terms is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining sections will continue to apply. Nothing in these terms affects your statutory rights under UK consumer law.

1. Booking Process

Bookings may be made by agreeing a proposed date, time, and description of the required gardening work. A booking is only confirmed when the customer has provided the necessary details and we have accepted the request. Gardeners Hither Green may ask for photographs, site information, access instructions, or other relevant details to assess the work properly before confirming availability.

We may provide an estimate or quotation based on the information supplied. Any estimate is given in good faith, but the final price may change if the actual conditions differ from those described or if additional work is requested on site. Where a quote is provided, it remains valid for the period stated in that quote, or if no period is stated, for a reasonable time.

It is the customer’s responsibility to ensure that the garden is accessible on the agreed date and that any necessary permissions have been obtained. If access is restricted, delayed, or unsafe, we may need to reschedule or cancel the booking and charge a reasonable call-out or wasted journey fee where appropriate.

2. Service Scope and Customer Responsibilities

The exact services included in a booking will depend on the agreed job description. This may include mowing, hedge cutting, pruning, planting, weeding, tidying, turf care, or clearance work, but any task not expressly agreed may be excluded from the service. Gardeners in Hither Green may refuse to carry out work that is unsafe, unlawful, or outside the agreed scope.

The customer must ensure that the working area is reasonably safe and free from hazards that have not been disclosed in advance. This includes broken glass, concealed debris, unstable structures, aggressive animals, contaminated materials, or hazardous chemicals. If we discover a risk during the visit, we may pause the work until the issue is addressed.

You are responsible for informing us about water supply issues, electrical risks, hidden drains, fragile surfaces, protected plants, and any other relevant site conditions. If equipment, surfaces, or plants are damaged because important information was withheld or inaccurate, we will not be liable for the resulting loss to the extent permitted by law.

3. Payments, Charges, and Invoices

Prices may be agreed as a fixed fee, hourly rate, day rate, or another basis depending on the nature of the work. Unless otherwise stated, all quoted amounts are inclusive or exclusive of VAT according to our invoicing status at the time of supply. Any parking charges, disposal fees, specialist materials, or additional labour required beyond the original scope may be charged separately where applicable.

Payment terms will be confirmed at the time of booking or on the invoice. In many cases, payment is required on completion of the work, although deposits or advance payments may be requested for larger or seasonal jobs. Gardeners Hither Green reserves the right to suspend or decline future work if outstanding balances are not paid by the agreed due date.

Invoices must be paid in full unless a genuine dispute is raised promptly and in good faith. Late payment may result in interest or recovery costs being charged in line with the Late Payment of Commercial Debts legislation where applicable, or other lawful remedies available to us. Any dispute over part of an invoice does not remove the obligation to pay the undisputed amount.

4. Cancellations, Rescheduling, and Access Problems

Customers may cancel or reschedule a booking by giving reasonable notice. Where notice is provided sufficiently in advance and no costs have been incurred, no fee may be charged. However, if a cancellation is made at short notice, or if materials, labour, or travel have already been committed, we may charge a cancellation fee that reflects our reasonable costs and lost time.

Where severe weather, staff illness, equipment failure, or other unavoidable circumstances prevent the visit from taking place, we may rearrange the booking without liability for any indirect loss. We will seek to offer an alternative date where possible. If a job is postponed due to conditions beyond our control, any quoted schedule may need to be adjusted.

If we arrive at the property and cannot access the site, or if the garden is unsuitable for work because of conditions within the customer’s control, the booking may be treated as cancelled or a wasted visit fee may apply. This includes cases where gates are locked, access codes are not provided, pets cannot be secured, or the agreed work area is not available.

5. Liability and Limitations

We will carry out work with reasonable care and skill in line with applicable UK consumer law. However, gardening involves natural materials and variable site conditions, so we cannot guarantee uniform results in every case. In particular, plant health, growth, flowering, and recovery may depend on weather, soil quality, pre-existing disease, irrigation, and other factors beyond our direct control.

Nothing in these terms limits or excludes liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, fraud, fraudulent misrepresentation, or any other liability that cannot lawfully be limited or excluded. Subject to that, we are not responsible for indirect or consequential losses, including loss of profit, loss of opportunity, or loss arising from events outside our reasonable control.

If any damage occurs in connection with our work, our liability will be limited to the reasonable cost of repair or replacement, taking account of fair wear and tear, the age and condition of the item, and whether the damage was caused by factors outside our control. Customers should make us aware of fragile items, hidden services, and protected features before work begins.

6. Waste, Green Waste, and Regulatory Compliance

Garden waste removed from a property will be handled in accordance with applicable waste management rules. We aim to dispose of green waste lawfully and responsibly, including by using licensed facilities where required. Where the customer requests waste removal, this may be subject to an additional charge depending on volume, weight, transport, and disposal method.

Under UK waste regulations, waste transfer and disposal must be managed properly, and contaminated or non-green waste may require separate handling. Customers must not ask us to dispose of hazardous or restricted materials unless this has been expressly agreed and lawful arrangements are in place. This includes chemicals, asbestos, clinical waste, batteries, oils, fuels, and similar substances.

The customer remains responsible for declaring whether any material on site may be contaminated or regulated. If we discover waste that cannot be legally transported or disposed of as garden waste, we may stop work and request further instructions. Any additional costs arising from incorrect waste descriptions, contamination, or restricted materials may be charged to the customer.

7. Materials, Plants, and Property Care

Where we supply plants, compost, topsoil, fertiliser, or other materials, the customer should inspect them as soon as reasonably possible. Natural products may vary in appearance, size, or performance. Unless otherwise agreed, all materials remain subject to standard supplier terms and normal tolerances for living products.

Any plant replacement advice or maintenance suggestions are offered in connection with the service, but outcomes cannot be guaranteed. Different gardens require different care, and some plants may not thrive due to weather, pests, soil conditions, or future neglect. We are not liable for deterioration caused by events occurring after completion of the job.

The customer should protect valuables, ornaments, fragile paving, irrigation systems, and hidden installations. Reasonable care will be taken during all visits, but existing defects, unstable structures, and concealed utilities may present risks that cannot always be eliminated. If the customer asks us to work close to such features, this is at the customer’s risk unless we expressly agree otherwise in writing.

8. Complaints and Problem Resolution

If you believe a service has not been delivered as agreed, you should raise the issue promptly so that it can be reviewed. We may ask for relevant details or photographs to understand the concern and determine whether a remedy is appropriate. Gardeners Hither Green may offer a revisit, partial adjustment, or other reasonable solution where justified.

We aim to handle matters fairly and efficiently. However, no complaint should be treated as an automatic admission of liability. Any remedy offered will depend on the facts, the condition of the site, the agreed instructions, and whether the issue was caused by our error or by circumstances outside our control.

If a dispute cannot be resolved directly, both parties should try to deal with the matter reasonably and in good faith before considering formal proceedings. This approach supports efficient resolution and helps avoid unnecessary cost and delay.

9. Governing Law

These Terms and Conditions, and any dispute or claim arising from them, are governed by the laws of England and Wales. By entering into a booking, the customer agrees that the courts of England and Wales will have exclusive jurisdiction, subject to any mandatory consumer protection rights that may apply.

Gardeners Hither Green may update these terms from time to time to reflect legal, operational, or commercial changes. The version in force at the time of booking will normally apply to that booking, unless the parties agree otherwise in writing. Continued use of the service after any update will mean acceptance of the revised terms for future bookings.

These terms form the full agreement between the parties in relation to the booking, unless a separate written agreement states otherwise. No statement made verbally or in promotional material will override these conditions unless confirmed in writing. If any provision needs to be interpreted, it should be read in a way that gives effect to the overall intention of a fair and lawful service agreement.