Terms and Conditions for Gardeners Isle of Dogs

These Terms and Conditions set out the basis on which gardening services are provided by Gardeners Isle of Dogs to domestic and commercial customers across the UK. By making a booking, accepting a quotation, or allowing work to proceed, you agree to these terms. Please read them carefully, as they explain the booking process, payment requirements, cancellations, limitations of liability, waste handling, and the law that applies to our services. These terms are intended to be clear, fair, and practical for customers who use our gardening services or related maintenance work.

In these Terms and Conditions, references to we, us, and our mean Gardeners Isle of Dogs, and references to you or the customer mean the person or business requesting the service. The expression gardening services includes, where agreed, lawn care, hedge trimming, planting, pruning, clearance, seasonal maintenance, minor outdoor tidy-ups, and similar tasks. Any work outside the agreed scope will only be carried out if both parties agree the change in writing or by clear recorded communication.

These terms apply alongside any written quotation, invoice, booking confirmation, or service description provided before the work begins. If there is any conflict between these Terms and Conditions and a specific written agreement, the specific written agreement will usually take priority for that job only. Nothing in these terms affects your statutory rights under UK consumer law where those rights apply.

1. Booking process

Bookings may be requested by phone, email, online form, message, or any other method we make available from time to time. A booking is not confirmed until we accept it and, where required, receive any deposit or advance payment that has been requested. We may ask for photographs, a description of the area, access details, and any specific requirements before confirming the appointment. This helps us provide an accurate estimate and assign the right team, tools, and schedule.

All dates and arrival times are offered in good faith but are not guaranteed unless expressly agreed otherwise in writing. Weather, traffic, equipment issues, seasonal demand, access problems, or unforeseen site conditions may require us to reschedule. If we need to change an appointment, we will aim to give reasonable notice and offer an alternative date where possible. We may also decline or cancel a booking if the requested work is unsafe, unlawful, beyond our competence, or materially different from the description provided by the customer.

If the site conditions differ from what was described at the time of booking, we may revise the quotation or pause the work until agreement is reached. Examples include hidden waste, restricted access, unsafe ground, excessive overgrowth, the presence of nesting wildlife, or a need for specialist machinery. Any additional charges will be explained before extra work continues, where reasonably practicable. The customer is responsible for ensuring that the work area is accessible and that any hazards are disclosed in advance.

2. Pricing and payments

Prices may be quoted as a fixed fee, hourly rate, daily rate, or another agreed pricing structure. Unless otherwise stated, quotations are based on the information available at the time and may be amended if the scope changes. Quoted prices may exclude VAT if applicable, materials, specialist disposal costs, parking charges, permits, or congestion-related expenses where relevant and permitted by law. Any such exclusions will be identified where reasonably possible.

Payment terms will be confirmed at the time of booking or on the invoice. We may require a deposit to secure a booking, particularly for larger projects, repeat visits, or peak-season appointments. The balance must be paid in full by the due date stated on the invoice, which is normally immediately after completion unless agreed otherwise. We may suspend future work, withhold non-essential follow-up services, or cancel outstanding bookings if invoices remain unpaid beyond the agreed term.

3. Cancellations, amendments, and missed appointments

You may cancel or reschedule a booking by giving us reasonable notice. Unless a different notice period is stated in the quotation or booking confirmation, cancellations made with less than 48 hours’ notice may incur a charge to cover allocated time, staff availability, and any preparations already made. If materials have been purchased specifically for your job, the cost of those materials may also be charged where they cannot reasonably be returned or reused.

Where a customer is not present and access is not available, or the work cannot proceed due to factors within the customer’s control, the appointment may be treated as a late cancellation or missed visit. This includes lack of access to gates, locked premises, inaccurate directions, or failure to remove pets or obstructions that make safe working impossible. If we attend site and cannot complete the agreed service, a call-out or wasted attendance fee may apply.

We reserve the right to cancel a booking without liability for delay or non-performance where an event beyond our reasonable control prevents us from carrying out the service. This includes severe weather, illness, accident, transport failure, power cuts, strikes, or supply chain disruption. In such cases we will aim to rearrange the appointment, but we will not be responsible for indirect loss, wasted time, or any inconvenience caused, except where required by law.

4. Customer responsibilities

The customer must ensure that the area to be worked on is safe and reasonably accessible. You should tell us in advance about underground services, fragile features, hidden drains, irrigation systems, electrics, contaminated ground, aggressive animals, or any other condition that may affect the work. If you ask us to work around delicate plants, decorative items, or specific boundaries, you accept that some disturbance may still occur during normal gardening activity.

You are responsible for securing valuables, moving personal items, and protecting anything that is likely to be affected by outdoor maintenance. While our gardening company will act with reasonable care and skill, we cannot accept responsibility for pre-existing damage, wear and tear, or issues caused by defects in the property or landscape. If you are not sure whether a task is suitable, please raise the issue before the work starts so that we can agree the safest approach.

We may refuse to handle dangerous substances, hazardous waste, asbestos, needles, chemicals, medical waste, or anything that requires specialist licensed disposal. If such items are discovered during a job, work may stop until the site is made safe and any additional steps are agreed. The customer must cooperate with reasonable safety instructions given by our team, including instructions relating to pets, children, and access routes.

5. Liability and limitations

We will carry out services with reasonable care and skill. If we fail to do so, our liability will be limited to re-performing the relevant part of the service where this is appropriate and reasonable, or to the amount paid for the affected service, subject to applicable law. We do not exclude or limit liability for death or personal injury caused by our negligence, fraud, fraudulent misrepresentation, or any other liability that cannot legally be excluded in the UK.

To the fullest extent permitted by law, we are not liable for indirect or consequential losses, loss of profits, loss of enjoyment, business interruption, or damage arising from information supplied by the customer that was incomplete or inaccurate. We also cannot accept liability for natural variation in plants, turf, or seasonal growth patterns, as gardening outcomes depend on weather, soil condition, plant health, and other factors beyond our control. Any advice given is based on general experience and should not be treated as a guarantee.

If a claim is made, you must notify us promptly and provide reasonable details, including photographs where relevant, so that we can inspect and respond. You should take reasonable steps to prevent further damage after any incident. Our total aggregate liability in connection with any single booking will not exceed the total amount paid or payable for the specific service giving rise to the claim, except where the law requires otherwise. This limitation applies to claims in contract, tort, misrepresentation, or otherwise.

6. Waste regulations and disposal

Garden work often creates green waste, soil, branches, leaves, hedge cuttings, and other organic material. Where agreed, we may remove and dispose of this waste in accordance with applicable UK waste regulations and local rules. We will only transport or dispose of waste that we are lawfully able to handle. Waste transfer may be charged separately if it is not included in the quotation or if the volume is greater than expected.

We aim to follow responsible disposal practices, including recycling or composting where reasonably possible. However, the customer remains responsible for declaring any waste that is contaminated, mixed with prohibited materials, or otherwise regulated. If waste contains items that require special handling, extra costs may apply, or the waste may be left on site for the customer to arrange specialist removal. We will not knowingly dispose of waste unlawfully, and we may refuse collection where compliance cannot be assured.

If you ask us to leave waste on your property, you are responsible for its storage, subsequent handling, and lawful disposal. We are not responsible for waste that is removed from site and transferred in accordance with the agreed service, unless a legal duty is breached by us. Any customer who supplies bags, containers, or bins for waste removal must ensure they are suitable for the intended material and meet any applicable regulations. We may record waste quantities or categories for administrative and compliance purposes.

7. Delays, force majeure, and service changes

We will use reasonable efforts to provide services on the agreed date and in the agreed order, but timings are approximate unless specifically guaranteed. Delays caused by conditions outside our control do not give rise to automatic compensation. If a job cannot be completed in one visit, we may return on a later date to finish the work, provided the parties agree a suitable arrangement. Minor alterations to the method of work may be made where necessary to achieve a safe and practical result.

From time to time, we may need to substitute a different team member, vehicle, or piece of equipment. Such changes will not normally affect the quality of the service. If a requested service becomes unavailable or unsuitable after booking, we may suggest an alternative. Any significant change to the scope or price will be discussed before continuation, wherever that is reasonably possible.

8. Governing law and disputes

These Terms and Conditions and any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with them are governed by the law of England and Wales. If you are a consumer, you may have additional rights relating to jurisdiction and dispute resolution under applicable law. Nothing in these terms affects those rights where they cannot lawfully be limited or excluded.

Before starting formal legal proceedings, both parties should try to resolve any issue in good faith by discussing the concern and providing any relevant information. If a dispute cannot be resolved informally, the courts of England and Wales will have exclusive jurisdiction, subject to any mandatory legal provisions that apply. If any part of these Terms and Conditions is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the remainder will continue in force.

These terms form the full agreement between the customer and Gardeners Isle of Dogs for the relevant service unless a separate written contract states otherwise. No failure or delay in enforcing any right under these terms shall be treated as a waiver of that right. By proceeding with a booking, you confirm that you have read, understood, and accepted these conditions for the gardening services provided.