Terms and Conditions for Gardeners Herne Hill

These Terms and Conditions set out the basis on which gardening services are provided by Gardeners Herne Hill. They are designed to keep the service clear, fair and consistent for both the customer and the service provider. By making a booking, the customer agrees to these terms in full. Please read them carefully before confirming any work, as they explain how garden services are arranged, how payments are handled, and what responsibilities apply to both sides.

In these terms, references to “we”, “us” and “our” mean the gardening service provider, and references to “you” and “your” mean the customer or the person placing the booking. These terms apply to domestic and light commercial gardening work, including regular maintenance, one-off visits, seasonal tidying, planting, lawn care, hedge trimming, pruning and similar services. They do not create any obligation to accept every request, and any work offered will depend on availability, scope and suitability.

For clarity, these terms are intended as a legal service page and not as a guide to gardening methods, plant care or outdoor design. They explain the practical and contractual arrangements only. If a task requires specialist knowledge, access equipment, planning permission, or a separate contractor, we may decline the request or recommend that the customer obtains the appropriate specialist support before work begins.

1. Booking Process

A booking is formed when the customer requests a service and we confirm acceptance. Requests may be made for a single visit, recurring maintenance or a specific project. A booking is not secure until it has been confirmed by us, and we may decline or adjust a request if the required time, materials, access or expertise are not available. Any estimate, quotation or proposed appointment time is based on the information available at the time of issue.

To create an accurate booking, the customer should provide correct and complete details about the garden, the services required, access arrangements, parking restrictions, pets, hazards, water supply, waste volume and any other relevant issue. If the information later turns out to be incomplete or inaccurate, we may need to revise the schedule, price or scope of the work. Gardeners Herne Hill is not responsible for delays or extra costs caused by misleading or missing information supplied by the customer.

Changes to the service after booking may be accepted at our discretion. If the customer asks for additional tasks, those tasks may be priced separately or rescheduled. Any agreed change should be treated as part of the booking only once we confirm it. We may also need to rearrange visits due to weather, staff illness, material supply issues or other matters beyond our reasonable control. In such cases, we will aim to offer an alternative time where practicable.

2. Quotation, Pricing and Payments

Prices may be offered as an estimate, a fixed quotation or an hourly/day rate depending on the nature of the work. Unless stated otherwise, quotations are valid for a limited period and may be withdrawn or amended if the scope changes. Any quote is based on visible conditions at the time of assessment and assumes normal access, reasonable working conditions and ordinary levels of debris, waste or overgrowth.

Payment terms will be explained at the time of booking or in the quotation. In many cases, payment is due on completion of the work, although deposits or staged payments may be required for larger jobs, supply purchases, repeated visits or scheduled project work. If a deposit is requested, the booking may not be secured until that payment has been received. All payments must be made in the agreed form and by the due date stated on the invoice or booking confirmation.

If payment is late, we reserve the right to charge interest and reasonable recovery costs where permitted by law. We may also suspend further work until outstanding sums are settled in full. If any part of an invoice is disputed, the undisputed amount should still be paid on time. Gardeners Herne Hill may withhold completion documents, continue no further visits, or remove future dates from the diary where payment obligations are not met.

3. Cancellations, Delays and Access

Customers may cancel or reschedule a booking by giving reasonable notice. The amount of notice required may vary depending on the size and type of the job, but short-notice cancellations can result in a charge if time, labour or materials have already been committed. If a customer is not present when required, or access is not provided, the visit may be treated as a late cancellation and a charge may still apply. Any deposit already paid may be retained to cover administration or lost booking time where lawful.

We may cancel or postpone a booking where weather conditions, unsafe access, machinery failure, supply issues, staff illness or other operational problems make the work impracticable or unsafe. We will try to give notice as soon as reasonably possible and to offer a rearranged date. However, we are not liable for inconvenience arising from necessary changes caused by circumstances outside our control. In the event of repeated access problems, the booking may be terminated without further obligation.

Customers should ensure that paths, driveways and working areas are reasonably accessible on the day of attendance. If there are locked gates, concealed hazards, aggressive animals, broken structures or other risks that were not disclosed in advance, we may refuse to start or continue work. Any wasted attendance time, extra labour or additional return visit required because of access failure may be charged separately.

4. Liability, Property and Service Limitations

We will take reasonable care when carrying out gardening services, but natural outdoor work carries inherent risks. While every effort is made to avoid damage, we are not responsible for pre-existing defects, hidden weaknesses, soil subsidence, weather-related movement, plant disease, poor installation, or deterioration that occurs naturally over time. The customer accepts that some tasks may involve cutting, lifting, digging, pruning or moving materials that can reveal existing damage or instability.

We do not accept liability for indirect or consequential losses, including loss of use, loss of enjoyment, business interruption, plant failure due to pre-existing conditions, or damage caused by events outside our reasonable control. 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. Where liability is lawfully established, any claim is limited to the value of the relevant service supplied, unless the law requires otherwise.

The customer is responsible for securing valuables, ornaments, vulnerable furniture, delicate structures and private items before work begins. We may move lightweight items to carry out the service, but we are not obliged to handle heavy, fragile, hidden or hazardous objects unless agreed in advance. Any instruction to work near glass, electrical fittings, ponds, drainage covers or utility access points should be discussed beforehand so that reasonable precautions can be taken.

5. Waste, Green Waste and Regulatory Compliance

All waste generated during the service will be handled in line with applicable UK waste law and local disposal requirements. This includes cuttings, leaves, soil, turf, branches, compostable material, packaging and mixed garden waste. Unless the booking specifically includes waste removal, the customer remains responsible for final disposal of waste generated on the property. Where waste removal is included, we may transport and dispose of green waste through lawful channels only.

The customer must disclose whether any waste is likely to contain treated timber, rubble, fencing, shards, contaminated soil, invasive species, hazardous materials or other non-garden refuse. Such materials may require special handling and can be excluded from standard garden services. We will not knowingly remove, burn, bury or dump waste unlawfully. If we suspect that waste is contaminated or otherwise regulated, we may stop work and ask for further instructions or specialist disposal arrangements.

Any request to dispose of waste is subject to lawful capacity, vehicle limits, transit restrictions and disposal site acceptance rules. Charges may vary according to volume, weight, and sorting requirements. We are not responsible for fines, penalties or enforcement action caused by inaccurate information supplied by the customer or by the presence of prohibited waste. The customer agrees to comply with all applicable environmental, recycling and duty-of-care obligations relating to the service.

6. Customer Responsibilities

Customers must provide a safe working environment as far as reasonably practicable. This includes warning us about underground services, fragile fittings, uneven ground, restricted access, pets, children, wildlife hazards, slippery surfaces and any known issue that may affect the work. If a task is likely to involve particular risk, the customer should raise it before the appointment so that the job can be assessed properly.

The customer is also responsible for ensuring that any required approvals, consents or permissions have been obtained before the service begins. If work is requested on shared property, leasehold land or an area subject to restrictions, the customer must make sure they have authority to instruct the work. Gardeners Herne Hill may rely on the customer’s confirmation that they are entitled to proceed, and we will not be liable for disputes arising from lack of permission or authority.

If plants, materials or products are supplied by the customer, we do not guarantee their quality, suitability or performance. We may decline to plant, prune or install items that appear unhealthy, unsafe or inappropriate for the setting. Any advice given by our team is given in good faith, but final decisions remain the customer’s responsibility unless a separate written agreement states otherwise.

7. Complaints and Rectification

If the customer believes the service has not been carried out in line with the agreement, they should notify us within a reasonable period after completion. We may request photographs, a description of the issue and any relevant supporting information. If the complaint is justified, we may choose to return to inspect the matter, re-perform part of the service or agree another reasonable solution.

We are not obliged to provide rectification where the issue arises from circumstances outside our control, customer instructions, natural changes after the visit, or failure by the customer to follow our reasonable recommendations. Any complaint process is without prejudice to the parties’ legal rights. Delayed reporting may make it harder to assess the issue fairly, particularly where weather, use, watering, pruning cycles or other external factors have altered the condition of the garden.

8. Variation of Terms

We may update these Terms and Conditions from time to time to reflect changes in law, service arrangements or business practice. The version in force at the time of booking will normally apply to that booking unless a later update is required by law or expressly agreed. If a term is found to be unenforceable, the remaining terms will continue in force to the fullest extent allowed by law.

No waiver of a term will be effective unless it is made expressly. If we choose not to enforce a particular term on one occasion, that does not mean it will not be enforced later. Any variation requested by the customer should be agreed in writing or otherwise confirmed before work proceeds. Oral statements made outside the booking confirmation may not override these terms unless required by law.

9. Governing Law

These Terms and Conditions, and any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with them, are governed by the laws of England and Wales. The courts of England and Wales shall have exclusive jurisdiction, except where mandatory consumer law provides otherwise. If any provision conflicts with applicable law, the legal requirement will prevail and the relevant wording will be interpreted accordingly.

By booking a service, the customer confirms that they understand these terms and agree to be bound by them. Gardeners Herne Hill aims to provide a dependable, lawful and professional gardening service, with clear expectations on both sides. These terms are intended to support a fair working relationship and to set out the practical framework for every approved booking.