Terms and Conditions for Gardening Services

These Terms and Conditions set out the basis on which Gardeners Gospel Oak provides domestic and commercial gardening services in the UK. By making a booking, the customer agrees to these terms, which apply to all routine and one-off works unless otherwise agreed in writing. The purpose of this document is to make the service clear, fair, and straightforward, while protecting both the customer and the service provider. These terms should be read carefully before any appointment is confirmed.

Throughout this document, references to the Company, we, or us mean the gardening service provider, and references to you or the customer mean the person requesting or paying for the work. A booking may cover general garden maintenance, hedge trimming, lawn care, planting, pruning, clearance, or similar tasks connected with gardeners Gospel Oak services. Any work outside the agreed description may require a revised quotation or a separate booking.

These terms are intended for legal and service clarity and do not form a guide to gardening or horticultural practice. They do not affect any statutory rights you may have as a consumer under UK law. If any part of these terms is found invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue to apply. Nothing in these Terms and Conditions seeks to exclude liability where it cannot lawfully be excluded.

Booking Process

Bookings are made subject to availability and are only confirmed once the Company has accepted the request. A customer may enquire by phone, email, or online form, but an enquiry alone does not create a binding agreement. We may ask for photographs, measurements, access details, or other relevant information to assess the work before confirming the visit. Accurate information is essential, because the final service, timing, and price may depend on the condition and size of the garden.

For larger or more complex jobs, the Company may issue an estimate, site assessment, or fixed quotation. Any estimate is based on the information available at the time and may change if the actual work differs from what was described. Where a quote is accepted, the customer agrees that the scope of work is limited to what is stated in the quotation or booking confirmation. If additional tasks are requested on the day, these may be charged separately at the Company’s standard rate or by a revised fixed price.

It is the customer’s responsibility to ensure that the site is accessible and safe on the scheduled date. This includes arranging access to gates, driveways, rear gardens, sheds, water supply points, and electricity where required. The customer must also remove or secure valuables, fragile items, or personal belongings that could be affected by gardening operations. Gardeners Gospel Oak may refuse to begin work if access is unsuitable, if the site presents a risk, or if the condition of the property makes the booked service impractical.

Pricing and Payments

Prices will be stated as either hourly rates, fixed fees, or quoted project prices depending on the nature of the work. Unless otherwise agreed, all prices are in pounds sterling and may be subject to VAT where applicable. The customer agrees to pay the amount shown in the booking confirmation or invoice. Any work not included in the original agreement may be chargeable, including additional labour, specialist equipment, or extra waste handling.

Payment is due in accordance with the invoice or booking terms. For regular maintenance visits, payment may be required immediately after the service or within a short stated period. For larger works, the Company may ask for a deposit before the date of service to secure materials, labour, or scheduling. Deposits may be non-refundable where stated at the time of booking, particularly where the Company has already reserved time or purchased items specifically for the job.

Late or failed payment may result in interest, administrative charges, or suspension of future services to the extent permitted by law. The Company may also recover reasonable costs incurred in pursuing unpaid amounts. Where a customer disputes an invoice, they must notify us promptly and clearly explain the issue. Undisputed amounts should still be paid by the due date. Payment disputes do not automatically cancel the customer’s obligation to pay for completed work.

Cancellations, Rescheduling, and Delays

If you need to cancel or change a booking, you must give notice as soon as reasonably possible. The amount of any cancellation charge will depend on the notice provided, the type of work booked, and whether the Company has already incurred costs. For routine gardening visits, short-notice cancellation may attract a charge where time has been reserved and cannot reasonably be reallocated. For larger projects, deposits and preparatory costs may be retained in full or in part if cancellation occurs after the Company has committed resources.

The Company may reschedule an appointment if weather conditions, health and safety concerns, staff illness, equipment failure, or other circumstances beyond our control make attendance impossible or unsafe. In such cases, we will use reasonable efforts to offer an alternative date. The Company will not be liable for delay caused by events outside its reasonable control, including severe weather, access restrictions, utility failures, or acts of third parties. If a site becomes unsafe after the visit has started, we may pause or stop work without being in breach of contract.

If the customer is not present when required, or if access is not available at the agreed time, the Company may treat the appointment as a late cancellation and charge accordingly. Where a job depends on instructions or approvals from the customer, delays caused by missing information may also affect completion dates. Gardeners Gospel Oak will always act reasonably when deciding whether to continue, postpone, or amend a booking, but repeated missed appointments or persistent access issues may lead to termination of future services.

Liability and Customer Responsibilities

The Company will provide its services with reasonable care and skill. However, gardening work often involves living plants, uneven ground, soil conditions, hidden fixtures, and pre-existing defects, so not every outcome can be guaranteed. We are not responsible for pre-existing damage, concealed defects, poor-quality materials supplied by the customer, or problems caused by neglect, disease, pests, or adverse weather after completion. No liability is accepted for indirect or consequential loss, including loss of profit, loss of enjoyment, or inconvenience, except where such exclusion is not permitted by law.

The Company’s total liability for any claim arising from the service, whether in contract, tort, negligence, or otherwise, will be limited to the amount paid or payable for the specific service giving rise to the claim, except where liability cannot legally be limited. Nothing in these terms excludes or limits liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, fraud, fraudulent misrepresentation, or any other liability that cannot lawfully be excluded under UK law. The customer should report any concern promptly so that we may investigate and, where appropriate, remedy the issue within a reasonable time.

The customer is responsible for informing us of any underground services, hidden cables, fragile structures, irrigation systems, wildlife hazards, protected plants, or other site-specific risks. Where the customer has asked us to work in a way that may increase risk, or has instructed us to ignore a recommendation, the customer accepts responsibility for the consequences of that instruction. We may decline unsafe instructions or stop work if continuing would breach health and safety obligations.

Waste Regulations and Disposal

Any green waste, branches, clippings, soil, or other materials removed during the service will be handled in accordance with applicable UK waste laws and local authority requirements. Unless expressly included in the quote, waste removal is not automatically part of the service. If we agree to remove waste, it may be taken to a licensed waste transfer site or otherwise managed through lawful disposal routes. The customer must not request that waste be disposed of unlawfully, fly-tipped, burned in a prohibited manner, or mixed with hazardous material.

The customer is responsible for identifying any hazardous, restricted, or unusual waste before the work starts. This includes but is not limited to chemicals, asbestos, paint, fuel, contaminated soil, sharp metal, or medical waste. Such items are outside standard gardening services and may require specialist handling. If hazardous waste is discovered unexpectedly, the Company may stop work and charge for time already spent, or arrange additional services only if this is safe and lawful to do so.

Where the customer retains ownership of cuttings, logs, turf, or other organic material, they must ensure that these materials are stored or composted lawfully and do not create nuisance, infestation, or obstruction. Gardeners Gospel Oak reserves the right to refuse to remove material that is unsafe, improperly bagged, contaminated, or not reasonably related to the booked service. Any recycling, reuse, or disposal method used by the Company will depend on availability, safety, and compliance with current regulations.

Changes to Service, Complaints, and Termination

The Company may change the proposed method of work if necessary for safety, efficiency, or legal compliance, provided the essential nature of the service remains similar. If a customer requests a material change after a booking is confirmed, we may revise the price and schedule accordingly. Complaints should be made as soon as reasonably possible after the issue arises, with enough detail for us to assess the matter. We may ask for photographs, a description of the problem, or an opportunity to revisit the site before reaching a conclusion.

If either party materially breaches these terms, fails to cooperate, or acts in a way that makes continuation unreasonable, the service may be suspended or ended by notice. This includes persistent non-payment, abusive conduct, unsafe conditions, refusal to provide access, or instructions that would require unlawful work. In the event of termination, the customer remains responsible for payment for services already provided, materials purchased, and any cancellation charges due under these terms. Termination does not affect rights that have already accrued before the date of ending the agreement.

Gardeners Gospel Oak may update these Terms and Conditions from time to time. The version in force at the time of booking will normally apply to that booking unless a later change is required by law or is agreed in writing. Customers are encouraged to review the terms before each new service request, particularly where repeat visits or multi-stage work are involved. Any variation must be confirmed in writing to be effective.

Governing Law

These Terms and Conditions, and any dispute or claim arising from them or in connection with them, are governed by the laws of England and Wales. The courts of England and Wales will have exclusive jurisdiction unless mandatory consumer law provides otherwise. If any dispute cannot be resolved informally, the parties agree to first attempt to resolve it through good-faith discussion before commencing formal proceedings. This paragraph does not prevent either party from seeking urgent injunctive relief where necessary.

The customer acknowledges that these terms form part of the agreement for gardeners Gospel Oak services and should be read alongside any quotation, invoice, or written booking confirmation. In the event of inconsistency, a specific written quotation or service agreement may take priority over these general terms to the extent of the inconsistency. However, no variation will override legal obligations that apply automatically under UK consumer or business law.

By confirming a booking, the customer agrees to these Terms and Conditions and accepts that they apply to the service provided. These terms are intended to provide a fair commercial framework for both regular and occasional gardening work, while keeping obligations clear and lawful. They help ensure that every garden service is arranged on a transparent basis and completed with reasonable care, professionalism, and compliance.