Terms and Conditions for Gardeners Lower Clapton

These Terms and Conditions set out the basis on which gardening services are provided by Gardeners Lower Clapton. They are designed to make the booking, delivery and payment of services clear for residential and commercial customers. By requesting a service, the customer agrees to these terms in full. If any part of these terms is unclear, it is the customer’s responsibility to review them before confirming a booking.

Throughout this document, references to we, us and our mean the gardening service provider, while you and your mean the customer. These terms apply to all standard gardening appointments, one-off jobs, recurring maintenance visits and related services arranged under the name Gardeners Lower Clapton. Nothing in these terms affects your statutory rights as a consumer.

We aim to provide a professional and reliable service, but all garden work is subject to weather, site conditions, access, plant health and other practical limitations. Some tasks may require specialist equipment or additional labour, which may affect the original quotation. Where this happens, we will explain the issue before continuing, so that the scope of work remains transparent and fair.

1. Booking Process

A booking is considered requested when you provide us with the necessary details for the service, including the type of work needed, the location, the preferred date or time period, and any relevant access information. A request does not create a confirmed appointment until we have accepted it and, where required, received any applicable deposit or advance payment. Until confirmation is issued, availability cannot be guaranteed.

When booking gardening services, you must ensure that the information you provide is accurate and complete. This includes details about garden size, overgrown areas, waste volumes, pets, restricted access, water supply, parking limitations and any hazards on site. If incorrect information is supplied, the price, duration or feasibility of the work may need to be adjusted. We reserve the right to amend the booking if the actual conditions differ from those described at the time of enquiry.

We may offer a quotation based on photos, descriptions, site visits or previous work history. Any quote given before attendance is an estimate unless stated otherwise. Gardeners Lower Clapton reserves the right to revise the quotation if the scope changes, hidden issues are found, or extra materials, labour or disposal arrangements are required. If the revised terms are not acceptable to you, you may cancel the booking in accordance with the cancellation terms below, subject to any charges already incurred.

2. Service Standards and Customer Responsibilities

We will use reasonable skill and care in carrying out all agreed gardening services. Our team may include trained gardeners or approved contractors acting on our behalf. The exact methods used will be determined by the condition of the garden, the type of work requested, and any health and safety considerations. We will always aim to complete the work efficiently and to a professional standard, but some outcomes depend on factors outside our control, such as plant condition, seasonal growth and soil quality.

Customers are responsible for ensuring that the garden, access paths and working areas are reasonably safe and accessible on the agreed date. Any fragile items, ornaments, pots, furniture, cables or other obstacles should be moved where possible before work begins. If access is not available, or if the site is unsafe, we may need to delay the service or limit the work performed. Any resulting waiting time, return visit or additional labour may be chargeable.

Where work involves cutting, trimming, digging, lifting or chemical treatment, you must inform us of any known hazards, protected plants, buried services, septic tanks, wildlife concerns or public access restrictions. You are also responsible for obtaining any permissions that are required from landlords, management companies, neighbours or local authorities. Gardeners Lower Clapton will not be responsible for delays or additional costs caused by missing permissions, inaccurate site information or undisclosed site conditions.

3. Payments and Pricing

Payment terms will be stated at the time of booking or in the quotation. Unless agreed otherwise, invoices are payable immediately upon completion of the service. For larger jobs or recurring maintenance arrangements, we may request a deposit, advance payment or staged payment schedule. Prices may be listed as fixed fees, hourly rates or a combination of both, depending on the nature of the task and the level of uncertainty involved.

All prices are stated in pounds sterling and may be subject to VAT where applicable. If the service scope changes after the booking has been confirmed, the final price may be adjusted to reflect additional work, materials, waste handling or time spent on site. Any such adjustment will be explained before further work continues wherever reasonably practicable. Additional work will not be undertaken without your approval unless it is necessary to prevent safety risks or damage.

Late or failed payments may result in suspension of future services, cancellation of any ongoing arrangement or recovery action to obtain the outstanding balance. If we incur bank charges or collection costs because a payment is declined or reversed without valid reason, we may pass those reasonable costs on to you. Discounts, promotional pricing or special offers, if provided, apply only as stated and may be withdrawn or changed at our discretion for future bookings.

4. Cancellations, Rescheduling and Access Failures

You may cancel or reschedule a booking by giving reasonable notice. The amount of notice required may vary depending on the type and size of the job, but cancellations made at short notice may still incur a charge if we have already reserved labour, equipment, travel time or materials. If we arrive and are unable to start work because of lack of access, unsafe conditions, incorrect information or no one being available to grant entry, this may be treated as a late cancellation or failed appointment.

If we need to cancel or reschedule due to illness, severe weather, equipment failure or another reason beyond our control, we will contact you as soon as reasonably possible to arrange an alternative time. We will not be liable for indirect losses arising from such changes, although any prepaid amount for unperformed work will normally be refunded or credited, unless we have already incurred non-recoverable costs on your behalf and this has been made clear in advance.

For recurring gardening services, either party may end the arrangement by giving reasonable notice. If the service has been set up on a regular basis, missed visits or access issues may cause the schedule to be revised. Where cancellation occurs after materials have been purchased or specialist labour has been booked specifically for your job, those costs may be charged to you if they cannot be recovered. Gardeners Lower Clapton will always aim to keep such charges proportionate and reasonable.

5. Liability and Limitations

We will take reasonable care when working in your garden, but gardening work naturally involves some risk of minor damage, including to turf, roots, bark, paving edges, decorative items and established plants. Unless caused by our negligence, we do not accept responsibility for pre-existing defects, hidden weaknesses, poor plant health, subsidence, unstable fences, underground utilities, or deterioration that occurs as a result of ordinary wear, weather or the nature of the work itself.

Where we are found to be legally liable for loss or damage, our liability will be limited to the reasonable cost of repair or replacement of the affected item, or the amount paid for the specific service giving rise to the claim, whichever is lower, except where the law does not allow such limitation. We will not be liable for loss of profit, loss of enjoyment, indirect loss or consequential damage. Nothing in these Terms limits liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, fraud, or any other liability that cannot be excluded by law.

You must notify us of any claim or alleged damage as soon as reasonably possible after the service. Failure to do so may affect our ability to investigate the issue and may reduce any remedy available. If a problem is reported, we may need photographs, access to the site and the opportunity to inspect the matter before any repair, replacement or settlement is considered. This helps ensure that any response is fair and evidence-based.

6. Waste, Green Waste and Regulatory Compliance

Green waste and general garden waste generated during the work will be handled in line with applicable waste management rules. Unless agreed otherwise, waste removal is included only where stated in the quotation. If waste is to be left on site, it becomes your responsibility once the service has ended. If we remove waste on your behalf, we will do so in a lawful and environmentally responsible manner, using appropriate carriers, facilities and disposal routes.

Customers must tell us in advance about any waste that may require special handling, such as soil contamination, treated timber, asbestos-containing materials, chemicals, hazardous containers or construction debris. Such materials are not standard garden waste and may require separate arrangements. We may refuse to remove items that we reasonably believe are unlawful, unsafe or outside our permitted handling arrangements. Additional charges may apply for sorting, loading, transport or authorised disposal of non-standard waste.

All parties must comply with relevant UK waste regulations and environmental duties. This includes ensuring that waste is not fly-tipped, burned illegally or disposed of in a manner that could cause pollution or nuisance. If any waste connected with the booking is traced back to the customer because of false instructions or unlawful disposal requests, the customer will be responsible for the consequences. Gardeners Lower Clapton may keep records of waste transfers where required by law or good practice.

7. Changes to Work, Materials and Subcontracting

From time to time, the work may need to be adjusted once the garden has been inspected on site. For example, the amount of pruning, clearing, hedge cutting or lawn restoration required may be greater or less than anticipated. If the revised work changes the time, cost or materials needed, we will explain the likely impact before proceeding. You may decline the revised scope, but if you do, the service may be completed only to the extent originally agreed or may be postponed.

Where materials such as compost, plants, topsoil, fertiliser or replacement parts are required, these may be charged separately unless included in the quoted price. We do not guarantee the availability, colour, variety or seasonal condition of live plants supplied by third parties. Any warranties provided by manufacturers or suppliers will, where possible, be passed to you, but we do not give additional guarantees beyond those stated expressly in writing.

We may use suitable subcontractors or assistants to perform all or part of the service. Even where third parties are involved, the service will remain subject to these Terms and Conditions. Any subcontractors will be instructed to follow the same standards of care and conduct expected of our team. If a third party is needed for specialist work, this may affect scheduling, pricing and the scope of liability, which will be explained as part of the booking confirmation.

8. Governing Law

These Terms and Conditions are governed by the laws of England and Wales. Any dispute arising out of or in connection with the services, the booking process or these terms will be dealt with by the courts of England and Wales, unless mandatory consumer protection rules provide otherwise. If any part of these terms is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue in full force.

These terms are intended to provide a fair balance between customer rights and the practical realities of gardening work. They apply alongside any specific written quotation or service agreement, and if there is any inconsistency, the specific written agreement will take priority to the extent of that inconsistency. All other terms remain unaffected unless expressly varied in writing by both parties.

Gardeners Lower Clapton may update these Terms and Conditions from time to time to reflect changes in law, operational needs or payment practices. The version applicable to your booking will be the one in force on the date your service is confirmed, unless a later change is required by law. By proceeding with a booking, you acknowledge that you have read, understood and accepted these terms.