Terms and Conditions for Gardeners Riddlesdown

These Terms and Conditions set out the basis on which Gardeners Riddlesdown provides gardening services to residential and commercial customers. By making a booking, the customer agrees to these terms in full. They are designed to keep arrangements clear, fair, and practical for both parties, whether the work involves routine maintenance, seasonal tasks, planting, pruning, lawn care, or other agreed garden services.

For the purposes of these terms, references to we, us, and our mean Gardeners Riddlesdown, and references to you or the customer mean the person or organisation requesting the service. Nothing in these terms is intended to affect your statutory rights under UK consumer law where those rights apply.

These terms apply to all garden service bookings unless we agree otherwise in writing. If any part of an estimate, quotation, or service description conflicts with these terms, these terms will take priority unless expressly stated otherwise. We may update these terms from time to time, and the version in force at the time of booking will usually apply to the work scheduled.

Booking process

A booking with Gardeners Riddlesdown is normally made following an enquiry, assessment, or discussion of the work required. We may ask for photographs, measurements, access details, or a description of the garden and the tasks to be completed. In some cases, a site visit may be needed before confirming the booking, especially where the work is complex, large-scale, or depends on conditions that cannot be assessed remotely.

Any quotation or estimate we provide will generally be based on the information supplied by the customer at the time. If the scope of work changes after booking, we reserve the right to revise the price, timing, or staffing required. A booking is only confirmed once we have accepted the work and, where applicable, received any deposit or advance payment that has been requested.

We will usually confirm the date, expected duration, and agreed services in writing or by another durable record. It is your responsibility to check that the information is correct. If access is required, such as entry through a side gate, shared pathway, or timed site access, you must ensure that this is available on the agreed day. Delays caused by restricted access, inaccurate information, or unsafe conditions may result in changes to the schedule or additional charges.

Payments

Unless otherwise agreed, payment terms will be stated in the quotation or invoice. For recurring or smaller domestic jobs, payment may be due on completion. For larger projects, garden clearance work, or bookings that require materials or reserved labour, we may request a deposit or staged payments in advance. Any deposit will be non-refundable except where required by law or where we cancel the service without fault on your part.

All prices are normally quoted in pounds sterling and may be inclusive or exclusive of VAT depending on our business status and the wording of the quotation. If VAT applies, this will be made clear where required. Prices may change if the work turns out to be materially different from what was originally described, for example where hidden overgrowth, waste volume, soil condition, pests, or difficult access substantially affect the task.

Invoices should be paid by the stated due date. If payment is not received on time, we may suspend further work, charge reasonable recovery costs where permitted, and decline future bookings until the account is settled. We may also withhold completion certificates, handover notes, or follow-on work until overdue sums are paid in full. Late payment does not remove your obligation to pay for services already delivered.

Cancellations, rescheduling, and changes

You may cancel or reschedule a booking by giving us reasonable notice. For one-off visits, we ask that you notify us as early as possible, and at least the minimum notice stated in the quotation where one has been provided. Where a booking is cancelled at short notice, we may charge a cancellation fee to reflect reserved labour, vehicle costs, or materials already purchased for the job.

If we need to cancel or rearrange due to weather, illness, safety concerns, staff availability, or circumstances beyond our control, we will aim to offer an alternative date. Gardening services can be affected by conditions such as heavy rain, frost, high winds, waterlogging, or extreme heat, and in some cases work may be unsafe or unsuitable to proceed. In those circumstances, we may postpone the appointment without liability for any indirect loss.

Any change you request to the agreed scope, schedule, or specifications should be communicated promptly. Where the amended request is accepted, we may issue a revised quotation or confirm the changes in writing. If a change materially increases the time, cost, or resources needed, we are not obliged to carry out the revised work at the original price.

Service standards and customer responsibilities

We will carry out our garden services with reasonable care and skill, using appropriate tools and methods for the work agreed. However, outcomes can depend on the condition of the garden, the season, and the age or health of plants, turf, hedges, and trees. Some results, such as recovery of severely neglected areas or improvement of established growth, may take time and cannot be guaranteed in a single visit.

You are responsible for ensuring that the work area is reasonably accessible and safe to enter. This includes moving fragile items, securing pets, identifying hidden hazards, and notifying us of any underground services, irrigation systems, electricity cables, asbestos, or other risks that may affect the work. Where you fail to provide accurate or complete information, we will not be responsible for losses caused by that omission.

You must also ensure that you have authority to arrange the work for the property in question, including any permissions needed from landlords, managing agents, residents’ associations, or other relevant parties. If access is shared with neighbours or third parties, you are responsible for obtaining any consent required before work begins. We may refuse to proceed where proper permission has not been obtained.

Waste, green waste, and environmental regulations

Where our service includes the removal of green waste, branches, soil, turf, or other garden materials, we will handle waste in accordance with applicable UK waste regulations. We may transport and dispose of waste through licensed facilities or approved transfer arrangements where required. The customer must not ask us to dispose of materials illegally or in a manner that breaches environmental law, fly-tipping rules, or local authority requirements.

Unless stated otherwise, the quotation may exclude specialist disposal charges, skip hire, contaminated waste handling, or disposal of materials requiring separate treatment. Some items cannot be removed as ordinary green waste, including hazardous substances, chemicals, treated timber, building rubble, animal waste, or items contaminated by oil, paint, fuel, or pests. If such materials are discovered, we may pause the job and discuss the correct disposal method and any extra cost.

Ownership of waste usually passes to us only when we have agreed to remove it as part of the service and have taken possession of it for lawful disposal or recycling. If the customer prefers to keep any waste, it must be clearly identified before work starts. We are not responsible for waste left on-site after completion if the customer has instructed that it remain there or has failed to arrange timely collection.

Liability and limitations

We will take reasonable care when working in your garden, but our liability is limited to losses that are foreseeable and directly caused by our breach of these terms or by our negligence. 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 legally be excluded under UK law.

We are not responsible for pre-existing damage, hidden defects, unstable structures, weak fencing, buried objects, diseased plants, poor soil conditions, or deterioration caused by weather, pests, or natural growth. In particular, cutting, pruning, digging, or clearing work may reveal problems that were not visible before the service began. Where we have warned you of a risk and you choose to proceed, you accept that risk so far as the law allows.

Our total liability for any claim arising out of a booking will normally be limited to the amount paid, or payable, for the specific service giving rise to the claim. We are not liable for indirect, special, or consequential losses such as loss of profit, loss of enjoyment, or interruption to business, except where such exclusion is not permitted by law. You should insure against risks that are not covered by our liability.

Force majeure, termination, and general provisions

We shall not be liable for delay or failure to perform our obligations where this is caused by events outside our reasonable control, including severe weather, accidents, equipment failure, illness, supply disruption, transport issues, strikes, or changes in law. If such an event continues for a prolonged period, either party may cancel the affected booking without liability for the unperformed part of the service, although payment remains due for work already completed.

We may terminate or suspend services immediately if you act abusively, fail to make payment, deny access, provide unsafe conditions, or request work that is unlawful or unsafe. If termination is due to your breach, you may remain liable for costs reasonably incurred up to the point of termination, including labour, materials, and disposal fees. Any rights and obligations intended to survive termination will continue to apply after the booking ends.

If any provision of these terms is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue in full force. Any delay or failure by us to enforce a right will not prevent us from enforcing it later. These terms, together with any written quotation or confirmed booking details, form the entire agreement between the customer and Gardeners Riddlesdown for the relevant service.

Governing law

These Terms and Conditions, and any dispute or claim arising from them or their subject matter, shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of England and Wales. The courts of England and Wales shall have exclusive jurisdiction over any dispute arising in connection with the services, unless mandatory consumer law provides otherwise.

By booking with Gardeners Riddlesdown, you confirm that you have read, understood, and accepted these terms. They are intended to provide a fair framework for service delivery, payment, safety, waste handling, and liability, while allowing both parties to know what to expect before work begins. If you do not agree with any part of these terms, you should not proceed with the booking.