Gardeners Sanderstead Service Terms and Conditions

These Terms and Conditions set out the basis on which Gardeners Sanderstead provides gardening and related services to residential and commercial clients. By requesting, booking or allowing our gardeners to carry out any work at your property, you agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions.

These terms are intended to be clear and fair to both parties and apply to all services, including but not limited to garden maintenance, lawn care, hedge trimming, planting, garden tidy-ups and related outdoor works within our regular service area.

1. Definitions

In these Terms and Conditions, the following words have the meanings set out below:

Client means the person, company or organisation requesting and accepting services from Gardeners Sanderstead.

Company, we, our or us means Gardeners Sanderstead.

Services means the gardening and related services we agree to provide, whether as a one-off visit or as part of an ongoing schedule.

Property means the outdoor area or premises where the Services are to be carried out.

Agreement means the contract between the Client and the Company, consisting of these Terms and Conditions and any written or verbal confirmation of the specific Services, dates and pricing.

2. Booking Process

2.1 You may request Services by contacting us and providing details of your Property, the type of work required, preferred dates and any relevant access information.

2.2 We may offer an estimate based on your description or, where necessary, we may suggest a visit to assess the garden before confirming a quote. Any estimate given without a site visit is indicative only and may be adjusted once our gardeners arrive and assess the actual scope of work.

2.3 A booking is only confirmed when we have accepted your request for Services and provided a date or schedule, and you have agreed to the quoted price or charging basis. Confirmation may be given verbally or in writing.

2.4 We reserve the right to refuse or cancel bookings where the requested work is unsafe, impractical, beyond our normal scope of services, or where access or site conditions make it unreasonable for us to proceed.

2.5 For regular maintenance visits, we may agree a recurring schedule, such as weekly, fortnightly or monthly. The day and time may be approximate and subject to change due to weather, seasonal demands or operational reasons. We will aim to give reasonable notice of significant changes.

3. Access and Client Obligations

3.1 You must ensure that we have safe and reasonable access to the Property at the agreed time. This includes providing any keys, codes or instructions required to enter any relevant areas such as gates, side passages or communal gardens.

3.2 The Client is responsible for ensuring that the Property is safe for our gardeners to work in, including the removal or secure storage of hazardous items, sharp objects, pet waste, and obstructions that may pose a risk.

3.3 You must inform us of any known risks at the Property, such as unstable ground, hidden ponds, sharp drops, low overhead cables, damaged structures, or any other features that may affect safe working.

3.4 The Client is responsible for keeping children, pets and other third parties away from the immediate working area while Services are being carried out, to ensure safety for everyone on site.

4. Services and Standards

4.1 We will provide the Services with reasonable care and skill, in accordance with generally accepted standards for gardening work in the UK.

4.2 The scope of the Services will be as agreed at the time of booking or as reasonably adjusted by agreement on site. If, during the visit, it becomes clear that additional work is required than originally specified, we will discuss the options and any extra costs before proceeding.

4.3 All time spent on site, including set-up, loading, clearing up and waste handling related to the gardening work, is part of the Service and may be chargeable as part of the quoted price or hourly rate.

4.4 We aim to complete the agreed work within the allocated time. If the required work cannot reasonably be completed in the time estimated due to its extent, unforeseen issues or access limitations, we will discuss next steps with you. This may mean agreeing a further visit or modifying the scope of work.

5. Pricing and Payments

5.1 Prices may be provided as a fixed quote for a defined scope of work or as an hourly or daily rate. All pricing arrangements will be made clear before work begins.

5.2 Unless otherwise indicated, prices are in pounds sterling and may be subject to any applicable taxes as required by UK law.

5.3 Payment terms will be confirmed when you book. Unless otherwise agreed, payment is due on completion of the Service for one-off jobs or in accordance with the agreed schedule for regular services.

5.4 We may accept payment by commonly-used methods such as bank transfer or card. The specific payment options available at the time of booking will be confirmed to you.

5.5 Where invoices are issued, you must pay them by the due date stated on the invoice. We reserve the right to charge reasonable interest or late payment charges on overdue amounts and to suspend or cancel further Services until outstanding balances are settled.

5.6 The Client is responsible for any fees or charges applied by their own bank or payment provider in connection with payments to us.

6. Cancellations, Rescheduling and No-Show

6.1 If you need to cancel or reschedule a booking, you must give us as much notice as reasonably possible so we can adjust our schedule.

6.2 We may apply a cancellation charge if you cancel or significantly change the booking with short notice. As a general guideline, cancellations made less than 24 hours before the agreed start time may be charged up to the full cost of the booked visit, at our discretion.

6.3 If we arrive at the Property and cannot gain access, or if the site is unsuitable or unsafe for us to work due to circumstances within the Client's control, this may be treated as a late cancellation or no-show and may be charged as such.

6.4 In the event of severe weather, staff illness, vehicle breakdown or other circumstances beyond our reasonable control, we may need to reschedule your booking. We will contact you as soon as practicable to arrange an alternative date and time.

7. Client Satisfaction and Complaints

7.1 If you are not satisfied with any aspect of the Services, you must inform us as soon as possible, ideally within 48 hours of completion of the visit, so we can investigate and consider an appropriate resolution.

7.2 Where a complaint relates to the quality of work, we may ask to inspect the Property in person or request photographs so we can understand the issue and, if appropriate, arrange remedial work.

7.3 Our liability in respect of any warranted rework is limited to providing reasonable corrective measures or, where that is not practical, an appropriate price adjustment as set out further in these Terms and Conditions.

8. Waste Removal and Environmental Regulations

8.1 Gardening work often produces green waste such as grass cuttings, branches, leaves and plant material. The handling and disposal of waste will be agreed with you when booking the Service.

8.2 Where our quotation includes the removal of green waste, we will take away the agreed volume as part of the service. If additional waste is generated beyond what was reasonably anticipated, we may charge an additional fee or agree to leave the surplus on site, depending on your preference.

8.3 We will comply with applicable UK waste and environmental regulations, including requirements relating to the transport and disposal of green waste. We will not remove hazardous waste, soil contaminated with chemicals, building rubble, large tree stumps, or other controlled materials unless expressly agreed and suitably arranged.

8.4 If the Client chooses to dispose of the waste independently, we will leave the waste neatly in a designated area, subject to sufficient space being available. It is then the Client's responsibility to ensure lawful and responsible disposal in accordance with local regulations.

9. Tools, Equipment and Property Care

9.1 Our gardeners normally use our own professional tools and equipment. You must not use our tools or equipment without our express permission.

9.2 If you request us to use your own tools, machinery or garden equipment, you do so at your own risk. We will not be liable for any damage to such items unless caused by our negligence or deliberate misconduct.

9.3 We will take reasonable care to avoid damage to lawns, borders, plants, structures and surfaces. However, certain works, such as hedge reduction, tree pruning or heavy traffic over wet lawns, may inevitably cause some disturbance. By booking such work, you accept that minor and unavoidable damage may occur as part of the gardening process.

10. Liability and Limitations

10.1 Nothing in these Terms and Conditions limits or excludes our liability for death or personal injury caused by our negligence, for fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation, or for any other matter where liability cannot legally be limited or excluded under UK law.

10.2 Subject to the above, our total liability to you arising out of or in connection with the Services, whether in contract, tort including negligence, or otherwise, shall not exceed the total amount paid or payable by you for the specific visit or job giving rise to the claim.

10.3 We shall not be liable for any indirect or consequential loss, including loss of enjoyment, loss of profits, loss of use, or any loss arising from delays or cancellations caused by events beyond our reasonable control.

10.4 We are not responsible for pre-existing damage or defects at the Property, including damage to plants, lawns, structures, fences, paving, garden furniture or other items that were already worn, unstable, diseased or otherwise compromised before we began work.

10.5 The Client is responsible for ensuring that any plants or features requested are suitable for the Property and for any ongoing maintenance after our work is completed, unless otherwise agreed. We cannot guarantee the survival or performance of plants, lawns or seeds affected by weather, pests, diseases, soil conditions or inconsistent aftercare.

11. Insurance

11.1 We maintain appropriate insurance cover relevant to our gardening services in the UK. Details of our insurance can be supplied upon request.

11.2 The Client is responsible for maintaining their own property insurance and any other cover they may require in relation to their garden and outdoor areas.

12. Health and Safety

12.1 We are committed to working safely and in compliance with relevant health and safety laws and guidelines.

12.2 Our gardeners may refuse to carry out any task they reasonably consider unsafe, unsuitable for the equipment available, or likely to cause harm to people, property or the environment.

12.3 The Client must not request or insist that our gardeners undertake work at dangerous heights, in unsafe structures, or with inappropriate tools or methods.

13. Data Protection and Privacy

13.1 We will collect and process personal information such as your name, address and contact details for the purpose of providing our Services, managing bookings, and handling payments and communications.

13.2 We will handle your information in accordance with applicable UK data protection laws. We will not sell your personal details to third parties. We may share information with third parties only where required to deliver the Services, comply with the law or protect our legitimate interests.

14. Changes to These Terms

14.1 We may update or amend these Terms and Conditions from time to time. The version in force at the time you book or renew Services will apply to that particular Agreement.

14.2 Where we provide ongoing or regular services, we may notify you of any material changes to these Terms and, if you continue to use our Services after such notice, you will be deemed to have accepted the updated Terms and Conditions.

15. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

15.1 These Terms and Conditions, and any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with them or the Services provided, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales.

15.2 The courts of England and Wales shall have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with these Terms and Conditions or their subject matter.

16. General Provisions

16.1 If any provision of these Terms and Conditions is found to be invalid or unenforceable by a court or other competent authority, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.

16.2 No failure or delay by us in exercising any right or remedy under these Terms shall constitute a waiver of that right or remedy, nor shall it prevent or restrict the further exercise of that or any other right or remedy.

16.3 These Terms and Conditions, together with any specific booking details or written quotations agreed between us, constitute the entire agreement between the Client and the Company in relation to the Services and supersede any previous agreements or understandings.

16.4 The Client may not assign or transfer their rights or obligations under these Terms without our prior consent. We may assign or subcontract our rights and obligations where reasonably necessary to deliver the Services, provided that this does not reduce the level of service you receive.

By confirming a booking or allowing our gardeners to commence work at your Property, you acknowledge that you have read, understood and agreed to these Service Terms and Conditions.