Terms and Conditions for Gardeners Plumstead

These Terms and Conditions set out the basis on which gardening services are provided by Gardeners Plumstead. By making a booking, requesting a quote, or authorising work to begin, the customer agrees to these terms in full. They are designed to create a clear understanding of how services are arranged, how payments are handled, what happens if plans change, and the limits of liability that apply in ordinary circumstances. The purpose of these terms is to support fair dealing, safe working practices, and a professional service relationship.

Throughout this document, references to the company, we, or us refer to the gardening service provider, and references to the customer, you, or your refer to the individual or business receiving the service. These terms apply to all routine and one-off gardening work, including maintenance, clearance, pruning, lawn care, planting, and related tasks agreed in writing or verbally before work begins. Any special conditions agreed for a particular job will take priority only where they are confirmed in writing.

If any part of these terms is found to be unlawful or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue to apply. No failure or delay by either party in enforcing a right under these terms shall be treated as a waiver of that right. The headings are included for convenience only and do not affect interpretation. Where a service is arranged for a specific date, time, or season, the customer should ensure that access and instructions are ready in advance so the work can proceed without delay.

Booking Process

A booking is made when a service request is accepted by us and a date, time, or service window is confirmed. The booking may be made by phone, email, online form, or any other method we choose to offer from time to time. A booking request does not guarantee availability until we have confirmed it. We may ask for photographs, measurements, access notes, or a brief description of the garden condition before confirming a visit. This helps us assess the work and allocate suitable staff and equipment.

When preparing a quote or booking arrangement, the customer must provide accurate information about the site, including any restrictions, hazards, or known issues that could affect the work. This includes, but is not limited to, difficult access, hidden utilities, uneven ground, aggressive plants, water features, pet concerns, or areas containing fragile items. If the actual conditions differ significantly from the information provided, we may revise the price, adjust the service, or decline to proceed where it would be unsafe or impractical to continue.

We aim to arrive within the agreed time frame, but timings are approximate unless we have expressly confirmed a fixed appointment. Garden work may be affected by weather, traffic, staff availability, equipment issues, or site conditions. In such cases, we may rearrange the visit to the next suitable date. Gardeners Plumstead will take reasonable steps to notify the customer of any material change, but we are not responsible for losses arising from ordinary scheduling adjustments outside our control.

Services, Scope, and Customer Duties

The scope of work will be limited to the services agreed at the time of booking or subsequently confirmed. If additional tasks are requested on-site, we may agree to carry them out, subject to availability, safe working conditions, and any extra charge that applies. Where a quote is based on limited information or an inspection from outside the property, the final scope may be refined once work begins. Any material change requested by the customer may require a revised estimate before the new task is started.

The customer is responsible for ensuring that the site is accessible and reasonably safe for the work to take place. This includes removing small personal items, securing pets, providing access to gates or communal areas where relevant, and ensuring that water or electricity supplies are available if needed for the service. We are entitled to suspend work if access is denied, if the site becomes unsafe, or if instructions are unclear. Any delay caused by incomplete preparation may result in an additional charge.

Unless otherwise agreed, we do not move heavy objects, remove hazardous materials, carry out structural repairs, or handle specialist tree surgery work requiring separate qualifications or permissions. If a task appears outside the originally agreed scope, we may refuse to carry it out or recommend that the customer arranges an alternative specialist. Any advice given during the service is offered in good faith, but it should not be treated as a formal guarantee of future plant performance, weather resilience, or maintenance outcomes.

Payments

Unless a different arrangement is confirmed in writing, payment is due on completion of the service. For larger or recurring works, we may request a deposit, staged payment, or advance payment before materials are ordered or labour is scheduled. Quotes are generally based on the information available at the time and may be adjusted if the scope changes, unexpected conditions arise, or the customer requests additional work. All prices are stated in pounds sterling and may be subject to VAT where applicable.

The customer must pay by the method we specify at the time of booking or invoicing. If payment is not received by the due date, we may charge interest and recovery costs where permitted by law, and we may withhold future services until all outstanding sums are paid. We reserve the right to pause work if there is a reasonable concern that payment may not be made. Any disputed invoice should be raised promptly, and the undisputed portion of the invoice must still be paid on time.

Where materials are purchased specifically for a job, the customer may be required to pay for them in advance or reimburse the cost in full. Any estimates for materials are based on current prices and may vary if suppliers alter their charges. If a customer cancels after materials have been ordered, the customer may still be responsible for those costs if they cannot reasonably be returned or reused. For recurring garden maintenance, payment terms may differ from a one-off visit and will be confirmed in the booking details.

Cancellations and Rescheduling

We understand that plans can change, and we will try to accommodate reasonable rescheduling requests. However, cancellations or changes made at short notice may create lost time and unrecoverable costs. Unless a different arrangement has been confirmed, the customer should give as much notice as possible if they need to cancel or postpone a booking. Where a visit has been specifically scheduled, we may reserve the right to charge a cancellation fee if notice is insufficient or if our team has already been dispatched.

If the customer is not present at the agreed time and access has not been arranged, the visit may be treated as a late cancellation or a wasted attendance. In such cases, we may charge for the time spent travelling, waiting, or attempting to gain access. If adverse weather makes the work unsafe or unsuitable, we may postpone the service without liability. Certain tasks, such as hedge cutting, turf work, or planting, may be weather dependent and may need to be rearranged for practical reasons.

We may cancel or reschedule a service if staff illness, equipment failure, unsafe site conditions, legal restrictions, or other events beyond our control make attendance impractical. If we do so, we will make reasonable efforts to offer an alternative date. Except where required by law, we are not liable for indirect losses resulting from cancellation or rescheduling, including loss of use, inconvenience, or any delay in garden plans. Our responsibility is limited to returning any prepaid sum for the cancelled portion of work where no alternative is accepted.

Liability

We will carry out services with reasonable care and skill. However, gardening involves living materials, variable weather, soil conditions, and existing site features, so outcomes cannot be guaranteed in every situation. We are not responsible for pre-existing defects, hidden damage, underground services not disclosed to us, or losses caused by circumstances outside our control. The customer should alert us to any known risks, including irrigation systems, cables, buried structures, or delicate surfaces that may require special handling.

We will not be liable for any loss or damage arising from inaccurate information supplied by the customer, failure to provide access, failure to follow aftercare instructions where provided, or any attempt by the customer or a third party to alter or continue the work after our visit. To the fullest extent permitted by law, our liability for direct loss is limited to the amount paid for the relevant service or the cost of re-performing the affected part of the work, whichever is lower. Nothing in these terms excludes liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, fraud, or any other liability that cannot legally be excluded.

Any items left in work areas should be removed before the service begins. We accept no responsibility for breakages or damage to unsecured ornaments, pots, furniture, fixtures, or decorative items where reasonable care was taken and the customer did not make us aware of their presence or fragility. Likewise, we are not responsible for natural variation in plant colour, growth, seasonal appearance, or recovery after pruning, cutting, transplanting, or clearance. Gardening services are inherently dependent on biological conditions and cannot be treated as an exact science.

Waste Regulations

All green waste and garden debris arising from the service will be handled in accordance with applicable waste management rules. Unless otherwise agreed, waste removal may be included, charged separately, or left on site for the customer to arrange disposal. Where waste is removed by us, it may be taken to a licensed facility, composted, recycled, or otherwise processed in line with legal requirements. The customer must not ask us to dispose of controlled, hazardous, or prohibited materials as part of ordinary gardening work.

We do not accept asbestos, chemicals, paint, fuel, medical waste, contaminated soil, or any other material requiring specialist handling unless this has been expressly agreed in advance and we are legally permitted to manage it. If such waste is discovered during a job, we may stop work immediately and request further instructions. Additional charges may apply where waste volumes exceed the expected amount, where access makes loading difficult, or where sorting is needed to separate recyclable materials from general waste.

The customer remains responsible for declaring any unusual waste present on the site before work begins. Where waste is left behind at the customer’s request, it becomes the customer’s responsibility to store, move, and dispose of it lawfully. We are not responsible for fines, enforcement action, or costs arising from waste that the customer instructed us not to remove or from waste misdescribed by the customer. We reserve the right to refuse to handle any item that may breach environmental or safety rules.

General Provisions

These terms may be updated from time to time, and the version in force at the time of booking will apply unless a later written agreement states otherwise. If any variation is made to the service after booking, that variation must be agreed by both parties. Verbal changes should be treated as provisional until confirmed. The customer should keep a copy of any booking confirmation, quotation, invoice, or service note relating to the work carried out, as these documents may be relevant if a later question arises.

Nothing in these terms creates a partnership, employment relationship, or agency relationship between the customer and the company. Each party acts as an independent contracting party. We may assign or subcontract any part of the work to suitably qualified personnel where necessary for efficient service delivery, provided the overall standard of service remains consistent with the booking. The customer may not transfer a booking or invoice to another person without our prior consent.

Governing Law
These terms and any dispute or claim arising from them shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of England and Wales. Any dispute that cannot be resolved informally will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales. This legal framework applies to all service arrangements, quotations, and invoices connected with the gardening services described above.