Terms and Conditions for Gardeners The Hyde

Introduction. These Terms and Conditions set out the basis on which gardening services are supplied by Gardeners The Hyde to domestic and commercial customers. By making a booking, the customer agrees to be bound by these terms, which are designed to create a clear, fair and workable arrangement for both sides. They cover the booking process, payments, cancellations, liability, waste regulations and governing law. Nothing in these terms affects any rights that cannot be excluded under UK law.

These terms apply to all routine and one-off services, including garden maintenance, lawn care, hedge trimming, planting support, seasonal tidy-ups and related outdoor work. They may be updated from time to time, and the version in force at the time of booking will usually apply to the service agreed. The customer is responsible for reading the terms carefully before confirming an appointment. If anything is unclear, the customer should raise it before the work begins.

For the purposes of these terms, references to “we”, “us” and “our” mean the service provider operating under the name Gardeners The Hyde, and references to “you” and “your” mean the customer. These terms are intended to be practical and proportionate. They are not intended to create any relationship other than that of independent contractor and customer.

Booking Process

Bookings may be made after an initial enquiry and are only confirmed once we have accepted the requested work, the location, the proposed date or dates, and any relevant service details. A booking may be subject to a pre-arranged quotation, an estimate, or a standard hourly or fixed rate, depending on the type of gardening work requested. We may decline or postpone a booking if the scope of work is unclear, unsafe, outside our service area, or not suitable for the available resources.

The customer must provide accurate information when booking, including access details, the condition of the garden, any known hazards, and any restrictions that may affect the work. If the information supplied is incomplete or inaccurate, we may revise the quoted price, adjust the timetable, or cancel the booking without liability for any loss caused by the error. Clear information at the outset helps avoid delays and unexpected changes.

In some cases, we may require photographs, measurements, or a short description of the site before confirming the appointment. We may also request that the customer identifies any pets, water features, fragile fixtures, underground services, or areas to avoid. If the customer is not present at the property, the customer must ensure suitable access arrangements are agreed in advance. We are entitled to assume that anyone who authorises work on the property is acting with the customer’s permission.

Payments and Charges

All prices will be confirmed in advance where possible. Where a fixed quotation has been provided, it will apply only to the work specifically described and only if the information provided by the customer remains accurate. If the scope of work changes during the visit, additional charges may be applied. Any extra time, labour, materials, or waste disposal costs may be charged separately if they are necessary to complete the work properly.

Unless otherwise agreed, payment is due immediately on completion of the service or within the period stated on the invoice. We may request a deposit or advance payment for larger projects, repeat bookings, or work involving special materials or disposal arrangements. If a deposit is taken, it may be non-refundable where we have already reserved labour, equipment, or a time slot for the customer.

We reserve the right to charge interest or reasonable recovery costs on overdue sums, to the extent permitted by law. If a payment is declined, reversed, or not received when due, we may suspend further work until the outstanding amount has been settled. The customer is responsible for bank charges, transfer fees, or other payment processor costs unless we agree otherwise in writing.

Invoices should be checked promptly. If the customer believes an invoice contains an error, they should notify us as soon as reasonably possible so the matter can be reviewed. An invoice dispute does not entitle the customer to withhold payment for any undisputed part of the sum due. Where work has been completed in stages, each completed stage may be invoiced separately.

Cancellations, Rescheduling and Access

The customer may cancel or reschedule a booking, but reasonable notice is required. If notice is given too close to the appointment, we may charge a cancellation fee to reflect reserved labour, administrative time, and any lost opportunity to accept other work. The amount of any cancellation charge will depend on the circumstances, including the notice period and whether materials or disposal arrangements have already been arranged.

We may cancel or reschedule work if weather conditions, health and safety concerns, equipment failure, staff unavailability, or other events outside our control make it unreasonable or unsafe to proceed. Where possible, we will offer an alternative date. However, we are not liable for losses arising from a delay or rescheduling caused by circumstances beyond our reasonable control.

The customer must ensure the property is accessible at the agreed time. If we are unable to gain access, cannot safely carry out the work, or are prevented from starting because the site is not ready, we may charge a call-out fee or part of the agreed price. This includes situations where gates are locked, essential utilities are unavailable, heavy obstructions have not been moved, or the customer has failed to make animals secure. Access delays can affect the whole schedule for the day.

Liability and Service Standards

We will carry out services with reasonable care and skill, using suitable equipment and methods appropriate to the task. Any work performed should reflect the instructions agreed with the customer and the condition of the property at the time of the visit. However, gardening work often involves living materials, variable weather, and pre-existing site conditions, and outcomes may be affected by factors outside our control.

We are not responsible for defects, damage, or deterioration that arise from hidden conditions, poor existing installation, unstable surfaces, disease, pests, adverse weather, or inaccurate information supplied by the customer. For example, lawn recovery, plant survival, hedge regrowth, or soil response may depend on ongoing care and environmental conditions. Where the customer requests work against our advice, the customer accepts the associated risk.

Nothing in these terms limits or excludes liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation, or any other liability that cannot lawfully be limited under UK law. Subject to that, our total liability for any claim arising out of a booking will be limited to the amount paid or payable for the specific service giving rise to the claim, unless a different limit is required by law. We are not liable for indirect or consequential losses, loss of profit, loss of opportunity, or loss arising from third-party actions.

Any complaint about the quality of the work should be reported promptly and in any event within a reasonable time after completion. This allows us to inspect the issue and decide whether any remedial action is appropriate. We may, at our discretion, return to correct work where a genuine service failure has occurred and where the customer has allowed us a reasonable opportunity to inspect the site. Such correction will not extend to damage caused by misuse, neglect, interference, or later site changes.

Waste, Green Waste and Environmental Compliance

The handling and removal of green waste, cuttings, branches, soil, turf, packaging and other material produced during the service will be agreed in advance where possible. Unless the parties agree otherwise, the customer remains responsible for ensuring lawful disposal arrangements for waste arising from the property. If we arrange removal, this may be charged separately and may include transport, tipping fees, transfer costs and any additional handling requirements.

We will dispose of waste in accordance with applicable UK environmental and waste management regulations, and we expect the customer to cooperate with reasonable requests relating to segregation, storage, loading and collection. It is the customer’s responsibility to disclose if any material on site may be hazardous, contaminated or subject to special handling requirements. We do not accept responsibility for unidentified waste that is mixed with ordinary garden waste unless we knowingly agree to take it.

Where waste is left for collection, the customer must ensure it is placed in an agreed location and does not create a safety hazard, obstruction, or nuisance. We may refuse to remove waste that is unsafe, contaminated, excessive for the agreed service, or not consistent with the information provided at the time of booking. If a site contains fly-tipped, commercial, construction or regulated waste, we may suspend work until the matter has been properly assessed.

Any materials that are recyclable, reusable, compostable or otherwise suitable for lawful recovery may be handled in a responsible way, subject to operational practicality. We may separate waste streams where this is useful and permitted. The customer must not ask us to dispose of waste unlawfully or to misdescribe the contents of any waste load. We may end a booking if legal compliance would otherwise be compromised.

Customer Obligations and Site Conditions

The customer must take reasonable steps to prepare the site for the agreed work. This may include moving personal items, securing animals, identifying hidden hazards, and ensuring that the area can be worked on without unnecessary obstruction. If the property contains delicate structures, valuable items, sprinkler systems, electrical fittings, or other sensitive features, the customer should tell us before work begins.

We are entitled to assume that any ordinary garden access route, drive, path, or service area is suitable for the planned task unless told otherwise. If the site contains unsafe conditions such as loose paving, exposed cables, sharp debris, aggressive pests, or unstable slopes, the customer must notify us in advance. We may refuse to proceed until the hazard is removed or reduced to a safe level.

The customer should also ensure that any required permissions, consents, leasehold approvals, landlord approvals, or neighbour-related arrangements have been obtained where needed. We do not check title, planning, lease or boundary matters as part of the service. Responsibility for permissions and site authority remains with the customer. If the customer asks us to work near a boundary or shared area, we may require written confirmation that the customer is authorised to instruct the work.

If any part of the customer’s request would require action that is unlawful, unsafe or inconsistent with these terms, we may decline that part of the service without affecting the remainder of the agreement. The same applies where a request would require us to trespass, damage protected plants, breach environmental rules, or act in a manner that is not reasonably practical.

Changes to Terms and Governing Law

We may amend these Terms and Conditions from time to time to reflect changes in law, operational practice, or the services we offer. The most recent version will apply to new bookings, while existing bookings will normally remain subject to the terms accepted at the time unless a change in law requires otherwise. Any variation to a confirmed booking should be agreed in writing or otherwise clearly recorded.

If any part of these terms is found to be unlawful, invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue in force. A failure by us to enforce any right or remedy on one occasion does not mean that right or remedy is waived. No variation or waiver will be effective unless agreed by us.

These terms, and any dispute or claim arising from them or from the services provided, are governed by the laws of England and Wales. The courts of England and Wales will have exclusive jurisdiction, except where the law provides otherwise. By confirming a booking, the customer acknowledges that they have read and understood these terms and agree to comply with them in full. This agreement is intended to provide clarity, fairness and lawful protection for both parties.