Terms and Conditions for Gardening Services

These Terms and Conditions set out the basis on which gardeners in Maze Hill provide domestic and commercial gardening services to customers in the UK. By making a booking, accepting a quotation, or allowing work to begin, you agree to these terms. Please read them carefully before confirming any service. They are intended to be fair, clear, and practical, and to explain how bookings, payments, cancellations, liability, waste handling, and legal matters are managed.

For the purposes of these terms, references to “we”, “us”, and “our” mean the gardening service provider, and references to “you” and “your” mean the customer receiving the service. These terms apply to all routine and one-off gardening work, including general maintenance, lawn care, hedge trimming, pruning, planting, seasonal tidy-ups, clearance work, and related tasks agreed in writing or verbally before the service begins. Where any special condition applies, it must be confirmed before the work starts.

A booking is considered requested once you ask for a quotation, estimate, appointment, or service slot. We may ask for basic information about the site, the type of work required, access arrangements, and any known restrictions or hazards. Quotations are usually based on the information provided at the time of enquiry and may change if the scope of work changes, if hidden issues are found, or if the conditions at the property are materially different from those described.

We reserve the right to decline a booking where the requested work is outside our capability, would be unsafe, or cannot reasonably be completed within the agreed time frame. If a site visit is needed to assess the job, the booking may remain provisional until we confirm availability and the final scope. Any estimate we provide is not a fixed commitment unless expressly stated as such in writing. If a fixed price is agreed, it will apply only to the specific work described in that agreement.

Before the work begins, you must ensure that the site is accessible, safe, and ready for the agreed service. This includes providing any necessary access instructions, securing pets, clearing personal items from work areas where practical, and informing us of underground services, fragile features, or other relevant risks. If access is delayed or the site is not ready, we may need to reschedule, shorten the visit, or charge for wasted time, depending on the circumstances.

Bookings are confirmed only when we have accepted the job and, where applicable, received any required deposit or advance payment. Confirmed dates and times are arranged on the basis of the information available at the time. While we aim to keep to agreed schedules, weather, traffic, staff illness, equipment failure, or unforeseen operational issues may require us to change the timing of a visit. In such cases, we will make reasonable efforts to offer an alternative appointment.

Payment terms will be explained before the service begins. Unless otherwise agreed, payment is due on completion of the work on the same day. For larger projects, staged payments, deposits, or part-payments may be requested in advance. We may also require payment in full before ordering special materials or allocating extended labour. All prices are stated in pounds sterling and may include or exclude VAT depending on our trading status and the nature of the service provided.

Where an estimate is given, it is based on the expected labour, materials, and disposal requirements. If additional work is requested by you during the job, or if unforeseen conditions mean that more time, machinery, or materials are needed, we may revise the price accordingly. Any significant increase will be explained before extra work proceeds where reasonably possible. If we are unable to contact you promptly, we may pause the work until instructions are received.

We accept payment by the methods notified at the time of booking. If payment is not made when due, we may charge reasonable late payment interest and recovery costs where permitted by law. We also reserve the right to suspend future services until outstanding sums are cleared. In the event of a failed payment or disputed invoice, you should raise the issue promptly so that we can review the matter in good faith.

Cancellations should be made as early as possible. If you cancel a booking more than 48 hours before the scheduled start time, no cancellation charge will usually apply unless we have already incurred unavoidable costs or purchased non-returnable materials specifically for your job. If you cancel within 48 hours of the appointment, a reasonable cancellation fee may apply to cover reserved labour, travel, and administration time.

If we arrive at the property and cannot carry out the work because access is not available, you are not present where your presence is required, utilities are unavailable, or the site conditions are materially unsafe, this may be treated as a late cancellation or wasted visit. In such cases, a call-out charge or minimum fee may be applied. Repeated short-notice cancellations may also affect future booking priority.

We may cancel or postpone a service if conditions make the work unsafe or impracticable, including severe weather, equipment breakdown, staff unavailability, or legal restrictions. If we cancel for reasons within our control, we will offer an alternative date or refund any payment made for the affected service that has not already been reasonably incurred. We will not be liable for inconvenience caused by delays outside our reasonable control.

Our liability is limited to loss or damage directly caused by our proven negligence, breach of contract, or failure to carry out the service with reasonable care and skill. We do not exclude liability where it would be unlawful to do so, including liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, fraud, or any other matter that cannot be excluded under UK law. Nothing in these terms affects your statutory rights as a consumer.

Gardening work naturally involves tools, plants, soil, water, and outdoor surfaces, so some risk of incidental disturbance is unavoidable. We take reasonable care to protect surrounding areas, but we are not responsible for pre-existing defects, hidden utility faults, weak structures, disease already present in plants, or damage arising from conditions that could not reasonably be identified in advance. You should notify us of any special vulnerabilities, such as delicate paving, irrigation systems, ornamental features, or valuable planting.

Where we handle or move items at your request, you are responsible for confirming that they may be safely lifted, cut, removed, or repositioned. If you ask us to work near boundaries, trees, or structures owned by third parties, you are responsible for ensuring that you have the necessary permission. We will not be liable for disputes with neighbours, landlords, management companies, or other third parties unless the issue results from our own unlawful conduct.

Waste arising from gardening services, including grass cuttings, branches, soil, leaves, and general green waste, may be collected and removed by us if this is included in the agreed service. Any waste that is removed will be handled in accordance with applicable UK waste regulations and disposed of at approved facilities or through lawful collection routes. We may separate recyclable, compostable, and non-recyclable materials where appropriate.

You must not ask us to remove hazardous, controlled, or illegal materials unless we have specifically agreed in writing and are legally permitted to handle them. Such materials can include asbestos, chemicals, oil, contaminated soil, medical waste, sharp industrial debris, or protected species material. If prohibited waste is discovered during the job, we may suspend work until the issue is assessed. Additional charges may apply if specialist handling, segregation, licensing, or transport is required.

Ownership of removed waste transfers to us only when we have agreed to collect it as part of the service and where transfer is lawful. If waste is left on site for collection later, you remain responsible for securing it until it is removed. We do not accept responsibility for waste that has been contaminated by third-party action after the service is complete. You should ensure that any waste stored on your property is placed in a suitable location pending collection.

We will carry out services with reasonable care and skill, using suitable tools and methods for the agreed task. However, gardening outcomes can be affected by weather, soil conditions, plant health, seasonal timing, and prior maintenance history. Because living materials vary naturally, we do not guarantee that all plants, lawns, or shrubs will recover, thrive, or produce a specific result. Where plant replacement, specialist treatment, or long-term improvement is discussed, that remains subject to site conditions and the scope of the agreement.

You are responsible for ensuring that any instructions you give are accurate and lawful. If you instruct us to prune, remove, or alter plants, trees, or other features, you should confirm that the work is permitted on the property. If there is any uncertainty about ownership, access rights, conservation restrictions, or planning controls, the matter should be resolved before the work begins. We may refuse to proceed where compliance is unclear.

Any materials supplied by us remain our property until paid for in full, unless we agree otherwise in writing. Once materials are installed or incorporated into the site, they become part of the service outcome, subject to any warranty expressly provided. Any guarantee will apply only to the items and time period specifically stated. No implied guarantee applies to the natural performance of plants, turf, or seasonal growth.

We may use subcontractors or suitably qualified personnel to complete all or part of the work, provided that the service remains under our control and responsibility. If a subcontractor is used, these terms still apply. We may also vary the method of performance where necessary to complete the work safely and efficiently, as long as the essential nature of the agreed service is preserved.

We are not responsible for delays caused by events beyond our reasonable control, including extreme weather, fire, flooding, transport disruption, strikes, supply shortages, or emergency government restrictions. If such an event continues for a prolonged period, either party may cancel the affected service by written notice, and any payment relating to work not performed will be refunded subject to deductions for work already completed or costs already incurred.

Any complaint about the service should be raised as soon as reasonably possible after completion so that we can inspect the issue and, where appropriate, offer a remedy. We may choose to return, repair, rework, or provide a partial refund depending on the circumstances. Failure to notify us promptly may affect our ability to investigate and respond effectively. This does not limit any rights you may have under applicable law.

The contract between us is formed under the laws of England and Wales. These Terms and Conditions, any booking confirmation, quotation, or agreed variation will be interpreted in accordance with that law. If any part of these terms is found to be unlawful, void, or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue in full force to the extent permitted by law.

These terms may be updated from time to time to reflect changes in law, service arrangements, or business practice. The version in force at the time your booking is accepted will apply to that particular job unless we both agree otherwise in writing. Continued use of the service after an update does not waive your rights, and no change will reduce rights that cannot lawfully be removed.

By proceeding with a booking, you confirm that you have read and understood these terms and that the information you provide is true and complete to the best of your knowledge. These terms are intended to support a clear and professional relationship for maze hill gardeners, ensuring that each service is delivered on a fair, lawful, and transparent basis for all parties involved.