Terms and Conditions for Gardeners Addiscombe
These Terms and Conditions set out the basis on which gardening services are provided by Gardeners Addiscombe and explain the expectations that apply when a customer books, receives, or pays for any service. By placing a booking, the customer agrees to these terms, which are designed to create a clear, fair, and practical arrangement for both parties. These terms apply to domestic and commercial customers unless otherwise agreed in writing. References to gardening services, garden maintenance, and related work include all routine and seasonal tasks, unless a separate written quotation or statement of work says otherwise.
For the purposes of these terms, the words we, us, and our refer to the service provider, and you or the customer refer to the person requesting or receiving the work. Any variation to these terms must be confirmed in writing. If any part of these terms is found unenforceable, the rest will continue to apply. Nothing in these terms is intended to limit any rights that cannot legally be excluded under UK law.
These terms should be read together with any estimate, quotation, invoice, or written confirmation issued before or after the booking. In the event of any inconsistency, the written quotation or service agreement will take priority for the specific job, provided that it does not conflict with mandatory consumer law. The customer is responsible for reviewing the details of the work requested, including access arrangements, scope, timing, and any special instructions that may affect delivery of the service.
Booking Process
Bookings for Gardeners Addiscombe are normally accepted after a request is made by the customer and the service details have been reviewed. A booking is not confirmed until we have acknowledged the request and, where required, received any deposit or advance payment set out in the quotation. We may request photographs, site information, measurements, or a brief description of the area to be worked on in order to provide an accurate estimate and assess whether the requested garden care can be completed safely and efficiently.
Once a booking is accepted, we will usually provide the date, approximate arrival window, and the agreed scope of work. The customer must ensure that the site is accessible on the agreed date and that any information necessary for completing the work is accurate. If access is restricted, the customer should tell us in advance. Delays caused by missing information, unsafe conditions, locked gates, obstructed pathways, or similar issues may result in rescheduling or additional charges where appropriate and lawful.
We may decline, postpone, or cancel a booking if the requested work is outside our service capacity, would create an unreasonable safety risk, or would require permissions or equipment not available at the time. If a booking is made by a person acting for someone else, that person must have authority to agree to these terms. The customer remains responsible for ensuring that any trees, structures, utilities, or shared boundaries affected by the work are disclosed before the service begins.
Payments and Charges
All prices are quoted in pounds sterling and may be subject to VAT where applicable. Estimates are based on the information provided at the time of enquiry and may change if the actual work differs from the original description. The final price may be adjusted if the customer requests extra tasks, if conditions on site are materially different, or if hidden complications arise that could not reasonably have been identified beforehand. We will aim to discuss any significant change before proceeding.
Payment terms will be confirmed at the time of booking or in the quotation. For one-off jobs, payment may be required on completion, while larger projects may require a deposit or staged payments. Unless otherwise stated, invoices are payable immediately or within the stated due date. Late payment may result in administration costs, interest, or recovery action permitted under UK law. We reserve the right to suspend further work until overdue sums are settled in full.
The customer must pay for all agreed work, including any reasonable additional labour or materials authorised during the job. If materials are purchased on the customer’s behalf, they will be charged at cost unless otherwise agreed. Any discounts or promotional rates apply only as stated and may be withdrawn if the booking is amended or cancelled. Failure to make payment may also affect eligibility for future bookings with Gardeners Addiscombe or any related garden maintenance service.
Cancellations, Rescheduling, and No-Access Situations
Cancellations should be made as early as possible. If the customer cancels with sufficient notice, no cancellation fee may apply, unless a non-refundable deposit has been stated in advance. Where a booking is cancelled at short notice, we may charge a reasonable fee to cover lost time, reserved labour, or costs already incurred. The amount will reflect the circumstances and any work already performed in preparation for the appointment.
We may reschedule a booking due to weather, illness, equipment failure, staff shortage, or circumstances beyond our control. In such cases, we will try to offer a suitable alternative time. Gardeners Addiscombe will not be liable for delays caused by events outside our reasonable control, provided we take reasonable steps to minimise disruption. If the service cannot proceed because the customer is unavailable, access is refused, or the site is unsafe, we may treat the booking as cancelled or charge a call-out or waiting fee where lawful and proportionate.
If a customer wishes to change the service date, the request should be made promptly. We will consider reasonable changes, but amended appointments are subject to availability. Repeated changes may affect pricing, particularly where staff, tools, or specialist materials have been reserved. Customers should make sure pets are secured, vehicles are moved if needed, and any valuable or fragile items are protected before work begins.
Service Standards and Customer Responsibilities
We aim to carry out all work with reasonable care and skill, using appropriate methods for the type of garden work requested. This may include mowing, pruning, hedge care, planting, weeding, seasonal clearance, and general maintenance, depending on the booking. Any service outcome depends on weather, plant condition, soil condition, and other factors that can affect living material. Because gardening involves natural variation, results may not be uniform or permanent.
The customer is responsible for disclosing hazards before work begins, including hidden drains, unstable surfaces, buried cables, asbestos, aggressive animals, protected wildlife, or contaminated areas. Where the customer asks us to work around existing structures or plantings, the customer accepts that some minor incidental contact may occur despite reasonable care. We are not responsible for pre-existing damage, deterioration, disease, or defects that become visible during or after the work.
Where the customer requests the removal or reduction of plants, shrubs, or trees, the customer confirms that they have the right to authorise the work and that any necessary permissions have been obtained. It is the customer’s responsibility to check whether planning controls, lease obligations, boundary restrictions, or conservation rules apply. We may refuse any instruction that appears unlawful, unsafe, or likely to create avoidable harm to people, property, or the environment.
Liability and Limitations
Nothing in these terms excludes liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, fraud, fraudulent misrepresentation, or any other liability that cannot be excluded under UK law. Subject to that, our liability for loss or damage is limited to direct losses that were reasonably foreseeable at the time the contract was made. We do not accept responsibility for indirect, special, or consequential losses such as loss of profit, loss of enjoyment, or loss of business opportunity.
Although we take care when carrying out garden maintenance and related work, we cannot guarantee that every plant will survive pruning, transplanting, treatment, or seasonal change. Natural processes, pests, disease, drought, frost, and soil conditions can all affect outcomes. We are not liable for damage caused by pre-existing weakness, hidden defects, or failure of the customer to provide accurate information about the site. Customers should notify us promptly of any issue discovered after completion.
Where equipment, furniture, ornaments, glass, wiring, irrigation systems, or delicate surfaces are close to the work area, the customer should tell us in advance and take reasonable steps to protect them. We may ask for items to be moved before starting. If the customer asks us to proceed despite a known risk, that decision may limit or remove our liability for resulting damage, provided we have acted with reasonable care and have not been negligent.
Waste Regulations and Disposal
All green waste, soil, branches, and similar material must be handled in line with applicable UK waste regulations. Unless the quotation states otherwise, waste removal is only included if specifically agreed. We may bag, stack, or leave green waste in a designated area for collection, depending on the service arrangement. The customer is responsible for confirming whether they want waste left on site, removed, or processed in another lawful manner.
Where waste is removed from the site by us or by a person acting on our behalf, it will be transported and disposed of only through lawful and environmentally responsible channels. The customer must not ask us to dispose of controlled waste, hazardous material, chemicals, asbestos, or other restricted items unless we have explicitly agreed in writing and are legally permitted to handle them. Any such material must be disclosed in advance, and additional charges may apply for specialist handling or disposal.
If waste is contaminated, mixed with non-garden items, or placed in a condition that makes lawful disposal more costly, we may increase the charge or refuse removal. The customer must not include household waste, broken tools, sharps, or building debris unless agreed. We reserve the right to leave any unexpected waste in place if handling it would breach regulations or create an unreasonable risk. By requesting our services, the customer agrees to cooperate with all reasonable waste-separation and disposal instructions.
Complaints, Variations, and Termination
If the customer believes any aspect of the service has not been carried out in line with these terms, they should notify us as soon as reasonably possible so that we can review the matter. Where appropriate, we may offer a re-attendance, partial refund, or another reasonable remedy. Nothing in this section affects statutory rights. Any variation to the agreed service must be confirmed by both parties, ideally in writing, to avoid misunderstandings about scope, price, or timing.
We may terminate or suspend the service if the customer behaves abusively, withholds payment, provides misleading information, or creates unsafe conditions for workers or others. Termination may also occur if continuing the work would be unlawful, commercially impractical, or contrary to professional standards. In such circumstances, the customer remains responsible for payment for work already completed and any non-recoverable costs reasonably incurred before termination.
Any notice under these terms may be given by written communication, including email or other agreed electronic means, unless a different method is required by law. Notices are deemed received when they are properly sent to the relevant address or contact point last provided by the customer or by us. The customer should keep their details up to date so that booking changes, invoices, and service notices can be delivered without delay.