Terms and Conditions for Gardeners New Southgate

These Terms and Conditions set out the basis on which gardening services are provided by the gardener, gardening contractor, or grounds maintenance provider operating under the name Gardeners New Southgate. By booking, confirming, or allowing work to begin, the customer agrees to be bound by these terms. They are intended to create a clear, fair, and lawful service agreement for both residential and commercial clients.

Gardeners New Southgate may offer a range of services, including lawn care, hedge trimming, pruning, planting, weeding, seasonal tidy-ups, soft landscaping, and general garden maintenance. The exact scope of work will always depend on the written or verbal quotation, the condition of the garden, access arrangements, and any special instructions provided before the job starts. Any service not expressly included in the quote is outside the agreed work unless confirmed in writing.

These terms should be read together with any quotation, estimate, invoice, or service schedule issued for a particular job. If there is any inconsistency, the specific job agreement will take priority over these general terms to the extent necessary. The customer should ensure that all instructions, site details, and relevant restrictions are accurate and up to date.

Booking process

A booking with Gardeners New Southgate may be made by telephone, email, online enquiry, or other agreed method. A booking is only confirmed once the service provider has accepted the request and, where applicable, a deposit or written acceptance has been received. Until confirmation is issued, availability remains subject to change.

At the time of booking, the customer should provide accurate information about the property, the type of work required, access to the site, parking limitations, water or electricity access if relevant, and any known hazards. This information allows the gardener to assess whether the work can be completed safely, lawfully, and within the agreed time. If the customer fails to disclose material information, the service provider may revise the quotation, alter the schedule, or decline the job.

Gardeners New Southgate reserves the right to refuse or postpone a booking where weather conditions, unsafe access, pest infestation, severe overgrowth, contamination, or other practical concerns would make the work unreasonable or unsafe. Where a booking is accepted subject to inspection, the final scope and price may be adjusted after the garden has been viewed in person. Any changes will be communicated as soon as reasonably possible.

Services, access, and site conditions

The customer must ensure that the site is accessible on the agreed date and time. If the gardener is unable to gain access, is delayed by locked gates, restricted parking, or incomplete instructions, the customer may be charged for wasted time or a call-out fee where this is reasonable. The customer is also responsible for making sure that pets, children, fragile items, and personal belongings are kept clear of the work area.

Unless otherwise agreed, the customer must clear away valuables, breakables, and any obstacles that could affect the safe delivery of the service. The gardener will take reasonable care while working, but Gardeners New Southgate is not responsible for damage caused by hidden defects, pre-existing weakness in structures, buried items, or conditions that could not reasonably have been identified in advance.

If the customer asks for additional work once the job has begun, the gardener may accept or refuse that request depending on time, equipment, staffing, and safety considerations. Where additional work is accepted, it may be charged separately or added to the original invoice. The customer agrees that service changes can affect the final price and completion time.

Payments

Payment terms will be stated on the quotation or invoice. Unless agreed otherwise, payment is due upon completion of the work or within the period specified on the invoice. For regular maintenance contracts, payment may be required weekly, fortnightly, monthly, or in advance, depending on the arrangement. Gardeners New Southgate may request a deposit for larger projects, seasonal work, or bookings requiring reserved materials or allocated labour.

The customer must pay all undisputed sums in full and on time. Late payments may result in suspended services, additional administrative charges, or recovery action where lawful. Any fees, interest, or recovery costs will be applied only to the extent permitted by UK law and will be proportionate to the amount overdue. If payment is made by bank transfer, the customer should quote the correct reference to help match the payment to the booking.

All prices quoted are based on the information available at the time and may be revised if the scope changes, the condition of the garden differs materially from what was described, or unforeseen work is required. Unless expressly stated, quotations are exclusive of VAT. Where VAT applies, it will be shown separately in accordance with applicable tax rules.

Cancellations and rescheduling

Either party may request to cancel or reschedule a booking, but reasonable notice is expected. If the customer cancels at short notice, particularly after labour has been allocated or materials purchased, Gardeners New Southgate may charge a cancellation fee to recover genuine losses. The amount charged will reflect the work already committed, the notice given, and any unrecoverable costs.

For larger or repeat bookings, a deposit may be non-refundable if cancellation occurs after the service provider has reserved time, purchased stock, or turned away other work. If the gardener must cancel due to illness, adverse weather, transport problems, equipment failure, or other events beyond reasonable control, a new date will usually be offered. The customer acknowledges that outdoor work is sometimes affected by conditions that make safe completion impractical.

If the customer is not present for a booked appointment and access has not been arranged, the visit may be treated as a late cancellation or wasted journey. Gardeners New Southgate is not obliged to wait for extended periods unless agreed in advance. Where rescheduling is possible, the earliest reasonable alternative date will be offered subject to availability.

Liability and limitations

Gardeners New Southgate will carry out work with reasonable skill and care, using suitable tools and methods for the agreed task. However, gardening involves natural variation, weather exposure, and site-specific risks. The customer accepts that certain outcomes, such as regrowth, seasonal change, or plant survival, cannot always be guaranteed unless a specific written warranty is given.

Nothing in these Terms and Conditions excludes or limits liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, fraud, fraudulent misrepresentation, or any other liability that cannot lawfully be excluded under English law. Subject to that, the service provider will not be liable for indirect loss, consequential loss, loss of profit, loss of opportunity, or damage that is not reasonably foreseeable at the time the contract is made.

If damage is caused directly by the gardener’s proven negligence, the service provider’s liability will be limited to the reasonable cost of repair or replacement, taking into account fair wear and tear, age, and pre-existing condition. The customer must notify the service provider of any alleged issue within a reasonable time and provide evidence where appropriate. Failure to do so may affect any claim. Reasonable care will always be taken, but no gardener can eliminate every risk associated with outdoor work.

Waste regulations and site clearance

The handling, movement, and disposal of garden waste will be carried out in accordance with applicable UK waste regulations. Where Gardeners New Southgate removes green waste, the customer agrees that waste may be transported to a licensed facility, recycled, composted, or otherwise lawfully processed. Waste transfer must be managed responsibly and only through permitted channels.

Unless expressly stated in the quotation, waste disposal may be charged separately. The customer should not assume that removal and disposal are included simply because cuttings, branches, or soil have been collected. If the site contains non-garden waste, contaminated material, rubble, sharps, chemicals, invasive plant species, or items requiring specialist handling, the customer must disclose this in advance. Additional charges or refusal of disposal may apply where special treatment is needed.

The customer must not ask the gardener to dispose of household rubbish, electrical goods, hazardous substances, asbestos, or other prohibited materials unless the service provider has expressly agreed and is legally permitted to handle them. Garden waste left on site after completion becomes the customer’s responsibility unless the quotation states otherwise. Where a waste transfer note or similar record is required, the parties will cooperate to ensure that records are complete and accurate.

Customer responsibilities and acceptance of work

The customer must cooperate with reasonable requests that help the work proceed safely and efficiently. This includes confirming boundaries, identifying plants to be retained, warning of underground utilities or irrigation systems, and advising of any protected trees, nesting birds, or planning restrictions that may affect the job. If the customer gives instructions that conflict with law or safety requirements, the gardener may refuse to carry them out.

On completion, the customer should inspect the work promptly if possible. Any concerns about incomplete or unsatisfactory work should be raised within a reasonable time so that they can be assessed. Gardeners New Southgate may return to the site to inspect and, where appropriate, remedy an issue if it is the result of the agreed service and not of later damage, weather, neglect, or third-party interference.

Where the service includes regular maintenance, the gardener may vary the exact method used from visit to visit depending on growth, season, and prevailing conditions. The customer acknowledges that a garden is a living environment, and exact visual consistency from one visit to another may not always be possible. Minor variations in appearance do not necessarily mean the service has been incorrectly performed.

Events beyond control

Neither party will be liable for delay or failure to perform where the delay or failure is caused by events outside reasonable control, including severe weather, flooding, storms, power failure, fire, road closures, labour disputes, or supply disruption. If such an event occurs, the affected party should notify the other as soon as reasonably practicable and the parties should seek a fair alternative arrangement.

If an event beyond control continues for a prolonged period, either party may be entitled to suspend the service or end the affected booking on reasonable notice. Any payment already made for work not carried out will be refunded or credited, after deducting any legitimate costs already incurred. This clause does not affect statutory rights where they apply.

The gardener may also pause work if a site becomes unsafe due to sudden weather change, aggressive animals, hidden hazards, or the presence of materials that were not disclosed beforehand. In such cases, additional attendance may be treated as a new visit or an amended booking.

Termination

Either party may end an ongoing arrangement by giving reasonable notice, unless the contract or booking states a different notice period. Gardeners New Southgate may terminate immediately if the customer fails to pay, behaves abusively, repeatedly blocks access, instructs unlawful conduct, or creates a serious safety risk. In such cases, payment will still be due for work completed and expenses properly incurred up to the termination date.

If the customer ends a contract early, any outstanding balance for completed work, booked labour, ordered materials, or committed disposal costs must be paid. The service provider may also invoice for reasonable losses caused by early termination where this is allowed by law and supported by the booking terms. Termination will not affect rights and liabilities that have already accrued.

The service provider may update these Terms and Conditions from time to time. The version in force at the time of booking will apply to that service unless a revised version is expressly agreed. If any part of these terms is found to be unlawful or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue in full force.

Governing law

These Terms and Conditions, and any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with them, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales. Both parties agree that the courts of England and Wales shall have exclusive jurisdiction, except where mandatory consumer law gives the customer the right to bring proceedings elsewhere.

Nothing in these terms affects the customer’s statutory rights under applicable UK consumer legislation. If a dispute arises, the parties should first try to resolve it informally and in good faith before commencing formal proceedings. This approach is intended to support fair dealing, efficient communication, and proportionate resolution of any issue relating to the gardening service.

By proceeding with a booking, the customer confirms that they have read, understood, and accepted these terms. If any question arises about the interpretation of the agreement, it will be interpreted in a manner that is consistent with UK law, the written quotation, and the reasonable expectations of the parties.