Terms and Conditions for Gardeners Southfields

These Terms and Conditions set out the basis on which gardening services are provided by Gardeners Southfields. By making a booking, the client agrees to these terms, which are intended to create a clear, fair, and practical arrangement for both parties. The purpose of this document is to explain how garden services are booked, how payments are handled, when cancellations may apply, and what limits exist around liability, waste, and legal responsibility. For the avoidance of doubt, these terms apply to all routine and one-off work unless otherwise agreed in writing.

These conditions are written in plain language, but they still form a binding agreement once a service has been accepted. They apply whether the work involves lawn care, hedge trimming, planting, clearance, seasonal maintenance, or other agreed garden work. If any part of a quotation or written agreement differs from these terms, the written agreement will take priority only for the specific point concerned. All other terms remain in force.

In these terms, references to “we”, “us”, and “our” mean the gardening service provider, while “you” and “your” refer to the customer placing the booking. The phrase gardeners Southfields may be used as a general reference to the service, but it does not change the legal meaning of the contract. Customers should read the terms carefully before confirming any appointment.

Booking Process

Bookings may be made after an enquiry, quotation, or agreed service discussion. A booking is not confirmed until we have accepted the job and, where required, received any deposit or written approval. We may ask for details about the size, condition, and access of the garden in order to prepare an accurate quotation. If the information provided is incomplete or inaccurate, the scope, timing, and pricing of the work may need to be adjusted.

The customer is responsible for ensuring that the property is accessible on the scheduled date and time. This includes providing safe entry to the garden and any areas where work is to be carried out. Gardeners Southfields may refuse or delay work where access is restricted, unsafe, or not reasonably available. If the appointment cannot proceed because access has not been arranged, a call-out or wasted journey charge may apply.

We aim to carry out services with reasonable care and skill, but the precise method of work may be adjusted by our team if conditions require it. For example, weather, plant health, ground conditions, hidden debris, or the presence of nesting wildlife may affect the timing or manner of the work. The customer accepts that gardening services often involve living materials and changing outdoor conditions, so results may vary naturally from one visit to another.

Payments

Unless otherwise agreed, all prices are quoted in pounds sterling and may be stated as fixed-price work, hourly work, or scheduled maintenance. Any quotation is valid only for the period stated in it, or if no period is stated, for a reasonable time. Prices may change if the scope of work changes, if additional labour or materials are required, or if unforeseen conditions are discovered after work begins. Any significant change will normally be discussed before further work continues.

Payment is due according to the terms stated on the quotation, invoice, or booking confirmation. For regular visits, payment may be required in advance, on completion, or by an agreed recurring arrangement. For larger projects, we may request a deposit before work begins. Deposits are used to reserve time, cover initial costs, and secure materials where relevant. Late payment may result in suspension of future bookings until the account is settled in full.

If payment is not received by the due date, we may charge interest on overdue sums in accordance with applicable UK legislation, together with reasonable costs of recovery where allowed by law. Failure to pay on time may also result in cancellation of future appointments without further notice. Any dispute about an invoice should be raised promptly so that it can be reviewed. Payment of undisputed amounts must still be made on time.

Cancellations and Rescheduling

Customers may cancel or reschedule a booking by giving reasonable notice. The amount of notice required may vary depending on the nature of the work, whether materials have been purchased, and how much time has been reserved. Where cancellation is made too late for the slot to be reallocated, a charge may apply to cover lost time and preparation costs. This is particularly relevant for booked maintenance visits or jobs requiring specific planning.

If we must cancel or reschedule due to weather, illness, safety concerns, equipment failure, or events outside our control, we will aim to rearrange the appointment at the earliest practical time. Garden services are often affected by conditions beyond anyone’s control, and postponement may be necessary where work would be unsafe or ineffective. We will not be responsible for any indirect loss caused by a reasonable change of date, provided we act fairly and communicate the change promptly.

Where a cancellation occurs after materials have been ordered, time has been reserved, or preparatory work has already started, the customer may be charged for those costs. This may include plants, compost, waste sacks, fuel, or other items purchased specifically for the job. If a customer repeatedly cancels at short notice, we may decline further bookings. The same may apply if access, payment, or site conditions regularly prevent work from being completed.

Scope of Service and Customer Responsibilities

The service provided by Gardeners Southfields is limited to the tasks agreed in the booking or quotation. Any additional work must be authorised before it is carried out. The customer remains responsible for informing us of any known hazards, underground services, fragile structures, hidden objects, pets, security systems, or special site conditions that may affect the work. If such information is withheld, we may suspend the service or make reasonable adjustments to protect safety.

We may take reasonable care around existing plants, lawns, paving, fences, garden furniture, irrigation systems, and decorative features, but the customer understands that outdoor work can involve some risk of incidental disturbance. Age, weather exposure, previous maintenance history, and natural plant condition can all affect outcomes. We do not guarantee the survival of plants that are already unhealthy, poorly rooted, or adversely affected by soil, pests, drought, frost, or disease unless a separate written guarantee has been given.

The customer should ensure that children, pets, and visitors are kept away from active work areas where needed. Tools, machinery, and materials may present hazards during the visit. If we are unable to work safely because the area has not been cleared or because third-party interference continues, we may pause the service and charge for any lost time where reasonable. This helps ensure a fair allocation of risk between the parties.

Liability and Limitations

Nothing in these terms limits or excludes liability where it would be unlawful to do so, including liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, fraud, or fraudulent misrepresentation. Subject to that, our total liability for loss or damage arising from any service will be limited to the amount paid, or payable, for the specific work giving rise to the claim. We are not liable for indirect or consequential loss, loss of profit, loss of opportunity, or delays caused by matters outside our reasonable control.

We accept responsibility only for losses directly caused by our proven negligence or failure to perform the service with reasonable care and skill. We do not accept responsibility for damage caused by pre-existing defects, unstable surfaces, hidden obstacles, defective structures, poor drainage, previous workmanship, or natural events such as storms, strong winds, frost, or flooding. Where possible, we may alert the customer to obvious issues, but we are not required to identify concealed defects that would not reasonably be visible during normal garden work.

The customer agrees to notify us of any claim as soon as reasonably possible and to allow a fair opportunity to inspect the issue before repair or replacement work is arranged. Any steps taken by the customer without our consent may affect the handling of a claim, although this does not remove any rights that cannot legally be excluded. We may also decline liability where the customer has instructed us to proceed in spite of warnings or where the customer’s own acts or omissions contributed to the problem.

Waste Regulations

Garden waste produced during the service will be handled in accordance with applicable UK waste rules. Unless otherwise agreed, waste removal is not included automatically and may be charged separately. If waste collection has been arranged, the customer agrees that green waste, soil, branches, leaves, cuttings, and other organic material may be removed for lawful processing, recycling, composting, or disposal. We will not knowingly dispose of restricted, hazardous, or contaminated waste as ordinary garden waste.

The customer must disclose any materials that may be regulated, contaminated, or unsafe to move, such as asbestos, chemicals, sharps, fuel containers, or fly-tipped items. Where such waste is discovered, work may be paused and additional charges or revised arrangements may apply. We are not obliged to remove material that would place our staff at risk or require specialist handling unless this has been expressly agreed in advance and properly priced.

Ownership of removed garden waste passes to us only when we have agreed to collect it as part of the service. If waste is left on site after the job, the customer is responsible for ensuring that it is stored, segregated, and disposed of lawfully. We will take reasonable steps to avoid nuisance, spillages, and contamination during collection and transport, but the customer accepts that minor residue may remain in areas where gardening work has been carried out. Any request for special disposal arrangements should be made before the booking is confirmed.

Force Majeure, Termination, and Governing Law

We will not be liable for failure or delay caused by events outside our reasonable control, including severe weather, transport disruption, strikes, power failures, equipment shortages, acts of government, or emergency public restrictions. In such circumstances, we may suspend, delay, or amend the service without liability for resulting inconvenience, provided we act reasonably. If the event continues for an extended period, either party may agree to terminate the affected booking.

We may end a booking or refuse further work if the customer breaches these terms, fails to pay, provides unsafe access, or behaves abusively toward staff or contractors. If termination occurs after part of the work has been completed, the customer must pay for the portion completed together with any non-refundable costs already incurred. If we terminate without fault on the customer’s part, we will refund any prepaid amount for work not carried out, less legitimate costs already committed.

These terms and any dispute or claim arising from them are governed by the laws of England and Wales. The courts of England and Wales will have exclusive jurisdiction, unless mandatory law requires otherwise. If any part of these Terms and Conditions is found to be unenforceable, the remaining sections will continue in effect. By confirming a booking with Gardeners Southfields, the customer acknowledges that they have read, understood, and accepted these terms as the basis of the service agreement.