Gardeners Preston Service Terms and Conditions

These Terms and Conditions set out the basis on which Gardeners Preston provides gardening and related outdoor services to residential and commercial clients. By making a booking, accepting a quotation, or allowing our gardeners to commence work at your property, you agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions.

1. Definitions

In these Terms and Conditions, the following words have the meanings given:

Client means the person, company, or organisation purchasing services from Gardeners Preston.

Services means any gardening, grounds maintenance, soft landscaping, lawn care, hedge cutting, planting, garden tidy, or related outdoor work supplied by Gardeners Preston.

Property means the garden, grounds, or outdoor areas where the Services are to be provided.

Agreement means the contract between Gardeners Preston and the Client incorporating these Terms and Conditions, together with any agreed quotation or written scope of work.

2. Scope of Services

Gardeners Preston provides a range of garden maintenance and related services within its service area. The specific Services to be carried out will be detailed in a quotation, booking confirmation, or agreed schedule of works. The Client is responsible for ensuring that the description of the Services meets their requirements.

Any additional work requested that is outside the agreed scope may be subject to extra charges. Gardeners Preston will aim to agree any variation and associated cost with the Client before proceeding where reasonably practicable.

3. Booking Process

Bookings for gardening services can be made by contacting Gardeners Preston and providing details of the Property, the type of work required, and preferred dates. All bookings are subject to availability and confirmation by Gardeners Preston.

Gardeners Preston may request photographs, measurements, or a site visit before confirming a quotation or booking, particularly for larger projects or ongoing maintenance contracts. Any quotation is provided in good faith based on the information available at the time.

A booking is considered confirmed only when Gardeners Preston has issued a confirmation, which may include the date and time of the visit, the expected duration, the nature of the Services, and the pricing basis. Gardeners Preston reserves the right to refuse any booking at its discretion.

4. Quotations and Pricing

Quotations are typically based on an hourly rate, a fixed price for a specified task, or a recurring price for regular maintenance. All prices will be communicated clearly before work begins. Unless expressly stated otherwise, quotations do not include the cost of waste removal, disposal fees, or the supply of plants and materials.

Quotations are usually valid for a limited period from the date of issue. Gardeners Preston may amend or withdraw a quotation if the Client does not accept it within that period or if circumstances at the Property materially change.

Where the actual work required differs significantly from that anticipated when the quotation was given, Gardeners Preston reserves the right to revise the price. The Client will be informed and may choose whether to proceed with the revised quotation.

5. Access to the Property

The Client must ensure that Gardeners Preston has safe and reasonable access to the Property on the agreed date and time. This includes access to gates, driveways, and outdoor areas, and the removal of any obstacles that could prevent or delay the work.

If access cannot be gained or work cannot be carried out safely due to issues at the Property, Gardeners Preston may charge a call-out fee or a proportion of the agreed price to cover time and travel costs.

The Client should inform Gardeners Preston in advance of any specific access instructions, parking restrictions, or security requirements that may affect the visit.

6. Client Obligations

The Client agrees to provide accurate information about the Property and any known hazards, such as uneven ground, hidden cables, unstable structures, or the presence of animals that may pose a risk.

The Client is responsible for ensuring that any necessary permissions, consents, or approvals are in place for the Services to be carried out. This may include landlord consent, planning permission, or agreement with neighbours for work on boundary hedges or trees.

The Client must keep children and pets away from the working area for the duration of the visit and any period where tools, machinery, or treatments may remain active or hazardous.

7. Health and Safety

Gardeners Preston will take reasonable care to carry out the Services in a safe and professional manner, in line with applicable health and safety regulations. The use of powered tools, machinery, and treatments will be managed to minimise risk to persons and property.

Gardeners Preston may refuse to carry out work that it considers unsafe or unsuitable due to site conditions, weather, or other factors. Where possible, an alternative arrangement or date will be offered.

8. Materials, Plants, and Products

Any plants, materials, or products supplied as part of the Services will be of a quality suitable for the intended purpose. The Client acknowledges that the performance and longevity of plants and lawns depend on ongoing care, watering, and maintenance beyond the visit by Gardeners Preston.

Unless specifically guaranteed in writing, Gardeners Preston does not provide warranties on the long-term survival or growth of plants, turf, or seeded areas, as these are affected by factors outside its control, including weather, pests, diseases, and how the garden is maintained by the Client.

9. Waste Handling and Environmental Considerations

Gardeners Preston will endeavour to work in an environmentally responsible way, including the responsible handling of garden waste. Unless explicitly included in the quotation, the removal of green waste, soil, turf, or other materials is not automatically provided.

If waste removal is requested or included, any charges will reflect local waste regulations, tipping fees, and transportation costs. Gardeners Preston complies with applicable waste carriage and disposal requirements and will not dispose of waste unlawfully.

Where agreed, garden waste may be left on site in a suitable location for composting or disposal by the Client. The Client must ensure compliance with local rules on burning, green waste disposal, and the use of council collection services.

10. Payment Terms

Payment is due in accordance with the terms stated in the quotation, invoice, or booking confirmation. This may include payment on completion of the visit, staged payments for larger projects, or regular payments for ongoing maintenance.

Gardeners Preston accepts common payment methods as communicated at the time of booking or on the invoice. Cash payments, if accepted, should be made directly to a representative of Gardeners Preston and will be receipted.

If payment is not received by the due date, Gardeners Preston reserves the right to charge interest on overdue amounts, suspend further Services, and recover any reasonable costs incurred in pursuing payment.

11. Cancellations and Rescheduling

The Client may cancel or reschedule a booking by giving reasonable notice. Unless otherwise agreed, at least 24 hours notice before the scheduled visit is required to avoid a cancellation charge.

If the Client cancels with less than the required notice, or is not present to provide access where required, Gardeners Preston may charge a fee to cover lost time and travel costs.

Gardeners Preston may need to reschedule or cancel a visit due to severe weather, illness, vehicle breakdown, or other factors beyond its control. In such cases, Gardeners Preston will attempt to provide as much notice as reasonably practicable and arrange an alternative date.

12. Service Standards and Complaints

Gardeners Preston aims to deliver Services with reasonable care and skill. If the Client is dissatisfied with any aspect of the work, they should raise the issue as soon as possible, ideally within 48 hours of the visit.

Gardeners Preston will investigate complaints and, where appropriate, may arrange to revisit the Property to review and, if reasonably required, rectify the issue. Any remedy will be proportionate and take account of the nature of the Services and the price paid.

13. Liability and Limitations

Gardeners Preston will take reasonable care to avoid damage to the Property. However, minor damage to lawns, borders, or surfaces may occur as an unavoidable part of carrying out gardening work.

Gardeners Preston is not liable for pre-existing damage or defects at the Property, including but not limited to unstable structures, damaged paving, poorly installed fixtures, or diseased plants and trees.

Gardeners Preston will not be responsible for any indirect or consequential loss, loss of enjoyment, or loss of profit arising from the provision or non-provision of the Services. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the total liability of Gardeners Preston for any claim arising out of or in connection with the Agreement is limited to the price paid or payable by the Client 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, fraud, or any other liability that cannot be limited or excluded under applicable law.

14. Damage to Underground Services and Hidden Features

The Client is responsible for informing Gardeners Preston of the location of any underground services or hidden features that may be affected by the work, such as irrigation systems, electric cables, gas pipes, or drainage runs.

Gardeners Preston will not be liable for damage to underground or hidden services that were not reasonably identifiable or disclosed by the Client before work commenced.

15. Insurance

Gardeners Preston maintains appropriate insurance cover in respect of its business activities, including public liability insurance, subject to the terms, conditions, and exclusions of the policy.

16. Force Majeure

Gardeners Preston shall not be in breach of the Agreement or liable for any delay in performing, or failure to perform, any of its obligations where such delay or failure results from events, circumstances, or causes beyond its reasonable control. This may include extreme weather, flooding, storms, acts of government, strikes, or other events outside its control.

17. Intellectual Property and Photographs

Any design concepts, planting plans, or layout suggestions provided by Gardeners Preston remain its intellectual property unless otherwise agreed in writing. The Client may use such materials only for the purpose of implementing the agreed Services at the Property.

Gardeners Preston may, with the Client's consent where required by law, take photographs of the garden before and after work for record-keeping, insurance, or marketing purposes. Any use of identifiable images of people will be subject to appropriate consent.

18. Data Protection and Confidentiality

Gardeners Preston will collect and use personal information about the Client only as necessary to provide the Services, manage bookings, and comply with legal obligations. Personal information will be handled in accordance with applicable data protection laws.

Gardeners Preston will not sell or disclose the Client's personal information to third parties except where required to perform the Services, process payments, or comply with legal duties.

19. Amendments to Terms and Conditions

Gardeners Preston may update or amend these Terms and Conditions from time to time. The version in force at the time of booking or quotation acceptance will normally apply to that Agreement. Any significant changes will be communicated where reasonably practicable.

20. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

These Terms and Conditions, and any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with them or the Services, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales.

The courts of England and Wales shall have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with these Terms and Conditions or their subject matter.

21. Severability

If any provision of these Terms and Conditions is found to be invalid, unlawful, or unenforceable by a court or competent authority, that provision shall be deemed deleted, but such deletion shall not affect the validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions.

22. Entire Agreement

These Terms and Conditions, together with any written quotation, schedule of works, or booking confirmation, constitute the entire agreement between Gardeners Preston and the Client in relation to the Services. They supersede any prior discussions, correspondence, or representations relating to the subject matter.

By proceeding with a booking and allowing Gardeners Preston to carry out gardening services at your property, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agree to these Terms and Conditions.