Gardeners Eel Pie Island Service Terms and Conditions

These Terms and Conditions set out the basis on which Gardeners Eel Pie Island provides gardening and related outdoor services to residential and commercial clients in the United Kingdom. By placing a booking, accepting a quotation, or allowing work to commence, you agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions.

These Terms and Conditions form a legally binding agreement between you, the client, and Gardeners Eel Pie Island, for all services including but not limited to garden maintenance, planting, lawn care, soft landscaping, seasonal tidy-ups, and related works.

1. Definitions

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

Client means the individual, business, landlord, managing agent or other entity that engages Gardeners Eel Pie Island to provide services.

We, us, our means Gardeners Eel Pie Island.

Services means any gardening, garden maintenance, soft landscaping, planting, lawn care, hedge cutting, pruning, seasonal work, or other outdoor services that we agree to provide.

Site means the garden, grounds or property where the Services are to be carried out.

Contract means the agreement between you and us, formed in accordance with these Terms and Conditions.

2. Booking Process and Quotations

2.1 Bookings may be requested by you via our website enquiry form or in writing. We do not accept bookings as confirmed until we have provided written confirmation setting out the agreed date or schedule of visits, the Services to be carried out, and any relevant charges.

2.2 We may arrange a site visit before confirming a booking in order to assess the garden and the work required. Any information you provide regarding the condition of the garden, access arrangements and specific requirements must be accurate and complete.

2.3 Quotations are provided based on the information available at the time and on our assessment of the work required. Quotations may be given as fixed price for specific works, or as hourly or daily rates for maintenance and similar Services. Where time-based rates are used, we will provide a reasonable estimate of the likely duration, but this is not guaranteed.

2.4 Unless otherwise stated, quotations are valid for 30 days from the date of issue. We reserve the right to amend or withdraw a quotation if the scope of work changes, access conditions differ from those described, or there is a significant delay between quotation and acceptance.

2.5 A Contract between you and us is formed when you accept our quotation or booking confirmation in writing, or when you instruct us to commence work following receipt of our quotation.

3. Scope of Services

3.1 The Services to be provided will be detailed in the quotation or booking confirmation. It is your responsibility to check that the description is complete and accurate. Any additional services requested will be charged in accordance with our then current rates and may require a separate quotation.

3.2 We will carry out the Services with reasonable skill and care, using appropriately qualified gardeners and in accordance with accepted industry standards. However, gardening is subject to factors beyond our control, including weather conditions, soil quality, existing plant health and seasonal variation, and we do not guarantee specific results.

3.3 Unless expressly stated otherwise, our Services do not include tree surgery, structural landscaping, construction, electrical work, plumbing, or pest control. Where such services are required, you may need to engage suitably qualified third parties.

3.4 You are responsible for ensuring that any necessary permissions, consents or approvals, such as from landlords, neighbours, management companies or local authorities, are in place prior to the commencement of the Services.

4. Access and Site Conditions

4.1 You must provide safe and reasonable access to the Site on the agreed dates and times. This includes providing keys, access codes, parking arrangements, and clear instructions for entry where required.

4.2 The Site must be free from hazards that could affect the safety of our gardeners, including but not limited to broken glass, sharp objects, unstable structures, aggressive animals, and hazardous substances. You must inform us in advance of any known risks or restrictions at the Site.

4.3 If we are unable to carry out the Services due to lack of access, unsafe conditions, or other issues within your control, we may charge a call-out fee or treat the visit as a late cancellation under the cancellation terms set out below.

4.4 You are responsible for ensuring that children and pets are kept away from the immediate working area while we are on Site, and for securing pets where necessary to allow safe access.

5. Payments and Charges

5.1 Our charges will be as set out in the quotation or booking confirmation. Prices are quoted in pounds sterling and, unless expressly stated otherwise, are inclusive of labour and normal use of standard gardening tools and equipment.

5.2 Additional charges may apply for plant materials, compost, turf, decorative aggregates, specialist equipment, waste removal, or any third-party services. These will be notified to you in advance where reasonably possible.

5.3 For one-off projects or larger works, we may require a deposit or staged payments. The deposit amount and payment schedule will be clearly set out in the quotation. We are not obliged to reserve dates or order materials until the required deposit has been received.

5.4 For regular maintenance Services, invoices are usually issued after each visit or monthly in arrears, as agreed. Payment terms will be stated on the invoice. Unless otherwise stated, payment is due within 7 calendar days of the invoice date.

5.5 Payment may be made by bank transfer or other agreed cashless methods. We do not accept cash payments. You are responsible for ensuring that payments reference the invoice number or your name and property address so that we can correctly allocate your payment.

5.6 If payment is not received by the due date, we reserve the right to charge interest on overdue sums at the statutory rate and to suspend or cancel further Services until all outstanding amounts have been cleared. You will be liable for any reasonable costs we incur in recovering overdue payments.

6. Cancellations, Rescheduling and Delays

6.1 If you need to cancel or reschedule a booked visit, you must notify us in writing as early as possible. For regular maintenance visits, at least 48 hours notice is required. For one-off or project bookings, at least 5 working days notice is required.

6.2 If you cancel or reschedule with less than the required notice, we may charge a cancellation fee of up to 50 percent of the expected charge for that visit, to cover allocated time and any costs incurred.

6.3 For larger projects where a deposit has been paid, if you cancel after materials have been ordered or work has commenced, we reserve the right to retain all or part of the deposit to cover our costs and loss of bookings.

6.4 We may need to postpone or reschedule Services due to adverse weather conditions, staff illness, equipment failure or other circumstances beyond our reasonable control. In such cases we will notify you as soon as reasonably practicable and arrange a revised date. We will not be liable for any loss arising from such delays.

6.5 We may cancel the Contract or any booked visit with immediate effect by giving you notice if you are in material breach of these Terms and Conditions, including non-payment of invoices, unsafe site conditions, or abusive or unreasonable behaviour towards our gardeners.

7. Waste Handling and Environmental Regulations

7.1 We aim to operate in a manner consistent with relevant UK environmental guidance and regulations relating to green waste and garden materials. Our default approach is to leave non-hazardous green waste neatly on Site for your own composting or disposal, unless waste removal has been specifically agreed.

7.2 Where you request green waste removal, this will be charged separately. The cost will reflect the volume and type of waste and any applicable disposal fees. We will inform you of anticipated costs before removal where reasonably possible.

7.3 We do not remove general household rubbish, builder's waste, or hazardous materials. If such materials are present in the garden and obstruct the work, we may charge for additional time taken to work around them or, where necessary, refuse to proceed until the Site has been cleared.

7.4 We will apply garden care products such as fertilisers, weed control, or treatments only in accordance with manufacturer instructions and relevant UK regulations. Where such products are used, you must follow any guidance we provide regarding safe use of the garden afterwards, especially in relation to children and pets.

8. Client Responsibilities

8.1 You agree to provide accurate information regarding the Site, including existing plant conditions, irrigation systems, underground services where known, and any previous treatments or chemicals used that may affect safety or plant health.

8.2 You are responsible for ensuring that water and electricity, where reasonably required for the Services, are available for use by our gardeners at no cost, unless otherwise agreed in writing.

8.3 It is your responsibility to protect any items in the garden that you do not wish to be moved or disturbed, and to advise us of any particularly valuable or fragile plants, ornaments or structures before we commence work.

8.4 You must notify us promptly, and in any event within 48 hours of completion of a visit, if you have any concerns about the Services provided on that visit. We will work with you to investigate and, where appropriate, to put matters right.

9. Liability and Insurance

9.1 We will exercise reasonable skill and care in delivering the Services, and we maintain appropriate public liability insurance for our gardening activities.

9.2 Our total liability to you in respect of any loss or damage arising out of or in connection with the Contract, whether in contract, tort or otherwise, shall not exceed the total price paid or payable for the specific Services giving rise to the claim.

9.3 We shall not be liable for any loss of profit, loss of business, loss of enjoyment, or any indirect or consequential loss. We are also not responsible for natural events such as adverse weather, pests, diseases, or other factors beyond our control that may affect plants, lawns or the garden after our work is completed.

9.4 We are not liable for damage to cables, pipes, irrigation lines or other underground services that have not been clearly identified to us in writing before work begins. You are responsible for informing us of the location of any such services where known.

9.5 Nothing in these Terms and Conditions excludes or limits our liability for death or personal injury caused by our negligence, for fraud, or for any other matter for which liability cannot lawfully be excluded under UK law.

10. Materials, Plants and Guarantees

10.1 Where we supply plants, turf or other living materials, we will source them from reputable nurseries or suppliers. However, the performance and longevity of living plants depend on ongoing care, weather and soil conditions, and other factors outside our control.

10.2 We do not provide guarantees that plants or turf will thrive or survive for a particular period, unless expressly stated in writing. We will, however, give reasonable guidance on aftercare and maintenance.

10.3 Any defects in non-living materials supplied by us, such as fixings used for trellis or supports, must be notified to us within a reasonable time. Our responsibility will be limited to repair, replacement or refund of the defective item, at our discretion.

11. Photographs and Promotional Material

11.1 We may take photographs of the garden before, during and after the provision of the Services for our records and for training and quality purposes.

11.2 We may wish to use such photographs in our marketing materials or on our website. Where the garden is clearly identifiable as belonging to you, we will not do so without your prior consent.

12. Privacy and Data Protection

12.1 We will handle any personal information you provide to us in connection with the Services in accordance with applicable UK data protection laws.

12.2 We will use your contact details for the purposes of managing your bookings, delivering the Services, issuing invoices, and, where you have consented, providing information about our services. You may ask us at any time to stop using your details for marketing purposes.

13. Changes to These Terms

13.1 We may update these Terms and Conditions from time to time. The version in force at the time you make a booking or accept a quotation will apply to that Contract.

13.2 Where we have an ongoing maintenance arrangement with you, we will notify you of any material changes to these Terms and Conditions. Continued use of our Services after such notification will constitute your acceptance of the updated terms.

14. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

14.1 These Terms and Conditions, and any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with them or their subject matter or formation, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales.

14.2 You and we both agree that 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, the Services, or the Contract between us.

By making a booking, accepting a quotation, or allowing our gardeners to commence work at your property, you confirm that you have read, understood and agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions.