Gardeners Chalk Farm Service Terms and Conditions

These Terms and Conditions set out the basis on which Gardeners Chalk Farm provides gardening and related services to residential and commercial customers. By making a booking, accepting a quotation, or allowing our gardeners or operatives to start work at your premises, you agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions.

1. Definitions

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

Customer means the individual, business, or organisation that requests or receives services from Gardeners Chalk Farm.

Company means Gardeners Chalk Farm, providing gardening, grounds maintenance, and related services.

Services means any gardening, maintenance, clearance, landscaping, planting, lawn care, hedge trimming, pruning, waste removal, or related work carried out by or on behalf of the Company.

Site or Premises means the garden, outdoor area, or other property where the Services are to be carried out.

Agreement means the contract between the Customer and the Company, comprising these Terms and Conditions and any written quote, schedule, or scope of works accepted by the Customer.

2. Scope of Services

The Company provides a range of gardening and outdoor maintenance services, which may include regular garden maintenance, one off tidy ups, lawn care, hedge cutting, pruning, planting, soft landscaping, garden clearance, and related gardening works within our service area around Chalk Farm.

The exact scope of Services for each booking will be as described in our written quotation, booking confirmation, or agreed schedule of works. The Customer is responsible for ensuring that any description of the required Services is complete and accurate.

The Company reserves the right to refuse any work which it reasonably considers unsafe, illegal, unsuitable for the conditions on Site, or outside the normal scope of domestic or commercial gardening services.

3. Booking Process

3.1 Initial enquiry

The Customer may contact the Company to request a quotation or make a booking for gardening services within our operating area. The Customer should provide accurate information about the Site, including size of the garden, current condition, access arrangements, parking, and any particular requirements.

3.2 Quotations

Where possible, the Company will provide a quotation based on the information provided by the Customer. For more complex jobs, an on Site visit may be required before issuing a quotation. Quotations will usually specify whether they are based on a fixed price or an hourly rate, and may include an estimated duration for the work.

Unless otherwise stated, quotations are valid for 30 days from the date of issue. All quotations are subject to these Terms and Conditions and to the actual conditions found on Site at the time the Services are carried out.

3.3 Acceptance and booking confirmation

A booking is only confirmed when the Customer expressly accepts the quotation or offer, and the Company issues a booking confirmation or begins the Services with the Customer's consent. The Company may require a deposit or pre payment to secure the booking, particularly for larger or multi day projects.

3.4 Access and information

The Customer must ensure that the Company has clear and safe access to the Site on the agreed date and time. This includes access through any gates, communal areas, or parking spaces under the Customer's control. The Customer must also tell the Company about any known hazards, buried services, fragile surfaces, or other issues that may affect the Services.

4. Payments and Charges

4.1 Pricing

Prices are normally quoted either as a fixed price for a defined scope of work or on an hourly rate basis for labour, plus materials and waste disposal where applicable. All prices will be stated in pounds sterling. Any applicable taxes or government charges will be indicated in the quotation or invoice where required.

4.2 Deposits

The Company may require payment of a deposit before commencing work, particularly for large projects or where substantial materials must be purchased in advance. The amount and due date of any deposit will be stated in the quotation or booking confirmation. Deposits are usually non refundable once materials have been purchased or work has been scheduled, subject to the cancellation terms in section 5.

4.3 Payment terms

Unless otherwise agreed in writing, payment is due immediately upon completion of the Services or in accordance with staged payment dates specified on the invoice or quotation. For regular maintenance services, the Company may invoice on a per visit, weekly, or monthly basis as agreed with the Customer.

Payment methods will be communicated to the Customer, and the Customer must ensure that full payment reaches the Company by the due date shown on the invoice.

4.4 Late payment

If the Customer does not pay an invoice by the due date, the Company may charge interest on the overdue amount at a reasonable rate and may suspend further Services until payment is received in full. The Customer will be responsible for any reasonable costs the Company incurs in pursuing late or unpaid invoices, including debt recovery and legal costs, where permitted by law.

5. Cancellations, Rescheduling, and Access

5.1 Cancellation by the Customer

If the Customer wishes to cancel or reschedule a booking, the Customer must give as much notice as reasonably possible. For standard visits, the Company may require at least 24 to 48 hours notice of cancellation. For larger jobs or projects, the Company may specify longer notice periods in the quotation or booking confirmation.

If the Customer cancels with insufficient notice, the Company reserves the right to charge a reasonable cancellation fee, which may include recovery of any costs already incurred, such as materials purchased, waste disposal bookings, or lost labour time.

5.2 Cancellation by the Company

The Company may cancel or reschedule a booking where it is not reasonably practicable to proceed, including due to severe weather, staff illness, vehicle breakdown, unsafe conditions on Site, or other circumstances beyond the Companys control. Where possible, the Company will offer an alternative date and time. The Company will not be liable for any loss arising from such cancellation or rescheduling, but any deposits relating to work not yet started may be refunded or carried forward, as appropriate.

5.3 Failure to provide access

If the Company attends the Site at the agreed time but is unable to gain access or begin work due to reasons within the Customer's control, such as locked gates, absence of required permissions, or unsafe conditions caused by the Customer, the Company may charge a call out or wasted visit fee and may treat the visit as cancelled with insufficient notice.

6. Customer Responsibilities

The Customer must ensure that the Site is ready for the Services to be carried out. This may include clearing toys, furniture, or personal items from working areas; securing pets; providing access to outdoor water and electricity where reasonably required; and ensuring that any necessary permissions from neighbours, landlords, or managing agents have been obtained.

The Customer is responsible for identifying and clearly marking any hidden hazards or features that could be damaged or cause harm, such as underground cables, irrigation pipes, shallow drains, or delicate surfaces. The Company cannot accept liability for damage to items that the Customer has not disclosed or reasonably could not have disclosed.

7. Waste Handling and Environmental Regulations

7.1 Green waste and garden debris

As part of the Services, the Company may generate green waste, such as grass cuttings, branches, leaves, and other vegetation, as well as limited quantities of soil or rubble. The treatment of this waste will depend on what has been agreed with the Customer.

Where the price includes removal of green waste, the Company will transport such waste from the Site and arrange for lawful disposal or recycling in accordance with applicable waste regulations. Where waste removal is not included, the Company may place waste in the Customers green waste bin, compost area, or another designated location on Site, as agreed.

7.2 Waste that cannot be removed

The Company will not remove or transport hazardous waste, contaminated soil, asbestos, chemical containers, or any waste that requires specialist handling or is outside the normal scope of garden waste. If such materials are present, the Customer must arrange appropriate disposal with a licensed provider.

7.3 Compliance with law

The Company will take reasonable steps to comply with all relevant environmental and waste disposal regulations within its service area, including rules on controlled waste, transportation, and the use of authorised waste sites.

8. Health and Safety

The Company will carry out the Services with reasonable skill and care and in a manner that, so far as reasonably practicable, protects the health and safety of its staff, the Customer, and members of the public. This may include using tools and machinery that produce noise, dust, or temporary disruption.

The Customer must not interfere with or misuse any equipment or safety measures provided by the Company and must keep children and pets away from working areas and machinery while the Services are taking place.

9. Liability and Limitations

9.1 Duty of care

The Company will perform the Services using reasonable skill and care, consistent with generally accepted standards for gardening work in the local area. However, gardening and outdoor work can be affected by variables beyond the Companys control, such as weather, pests, diseases, and pre existing soil conditions.

9.2 Exclusions of liability

The Company will not be liable for any loss or damage that arises from circumstances beyond its reasonable control, including extreme weather, natural events, or unforeseen conditions on Site. The Company is not responsible for damage to plants, lawns, or trees caused after the Services by incorrect watering, neglect, adverse weather, or pest and disease problems, unless expressly agreed in writing.

The Company is not liable for indirect or consequential loss, including loss of enjoyment, loss of business, or loss of anticipated savings.

9.3 Limit of liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Companys total liability to the Customer for any claim arising under or in connection with the Agreement shall be limited to the total amount paid by the Customer for the specific Services giving rise to the claim.

Nothing in these Terms and Conditions limits or excludes liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, for fraud, or for any other liability that cannot lawfully be limited or excluded.

10. Materials, Plants, and Guarantees

Any materials, plants, turf, or products supplied by the Company will be of a type and quality suitable for normal garden use, based on the information provided by the Customer. The Company cannot guarantee the long term performance or survival of living plants, turf, or seeds, as this depends on post installation care, weather, water, and other conditions outside its control.

Where manufacturers warranties apply to specific products or materials, the Company will pass on any such warranties to the extent permitted, but is not responsible for the manufacturers terms or performance.

11. Complaints and Disputes

If the Customer is dissatisfied with any aspect of the Services, the Customer should notify the Company as soon as reasonably possible so that issues can be assessed and, where appropriate, remedied. The Customer should allow the Company a reasonable opportunity to inspect and, if necessary, re attend the Site to address the concern.

If a dispute cannot be resolved directly between the parties, each party may pursue any rights or remedies available under the governing law.

12. Amendments and Variations

Any changes to the scope of the Services or to these Terms and Conditions must be agreed in writing between the Customer and the Company. Variations requested by the Customer may result in an adjusted price or timeline. The Company is not obliged to carry out additional work that has not been quoted for or agreed.

13. Data Protection and Privacy

The Company will collect and process personal information about the Customer only to the extent necessary to arrange and deliver the Services, manage bookings and payments, and comply with any legal obligations. Customer information will be handled with appropriate safeguards and will not be sold to third parties.

14. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

These Terms and Conditions and any Agreement between the Customer and the Company are governed by the laws of England and Wales. Any disputes arising out of or in connection with these Terms and Conditions or the Services will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.

15. General Provisions

If any part 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.

No failure or delay by the Company in exercising any right or remedy under these Terms and Conditions will operate as a waiver of that right or remedy, and no single or partial exercise will prevent any further exercise of the same or another right or remedy.

These Terms and Conditions, together with any written quotation or booking confirmation, constitute the entire agreement between the Customer and the Company in relation to the Services and supersede any prior discussions or representations, whether written or oral.