Gardeners Sydenham Service Terms and Conditions

Welcome to our gardening services terms. These terms and conditions set out the basis on which Gardeners Sydenham provides domestic and commercial gardening services in the UK. By making a booking, you agree to these terms, which are designed to keep our work clear, fair, and professionally managed. They apply to all routine and one-off appointments, unless a separate written agreement says otherwise.

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, client, occupier, or authorised representative who requests the work. These terms apply whether the service is arranged for a private garden, shared property, managed premises, or other outdoor area requiring professional upkeep.

Please read this page carefully before confirming any appointment. It explains how bookings are accepted, how payments are handled, when cancellations may attract a charge, what responsibilities each party has, and how waste is managed in line with applicable UK rules. We may update these terms from time to time, and the version in force at the time of booking will normally apply unless otherwise agreed in writing.

1. Booking Process

A booking with Gardeners Sydenham is not confirmed until we have accepted the request and, where relevant, received any required deposit or written approval. The booking process may begin by telephone, email, online enquiry, or another agreed method. Any quotation provided before confirmation is based on the information available at the time and may be revised if the size, condition, access, or scope of the garden differs from what was described.

Once a booking request is received, we may ask for additional details to assess the work properly. This may include the type of garden, access arrangements, parking conditions, water or electricity availability, special hazards, and whether the site is occupied or vacant. We reserve the right to decline a booking if the job is outside our service scope, is unsafe, or cannot reasonably be completed within the proposed timeframe.

Bookings are subject to availability. Where a preferred date or time is requested, we will aim to accommodate it, but we cannot guarantee that every requested slot will be available. If weather conditions, access issues, staffing changes, or other operational matters affect the schedule, we may rearrange the appointment and will notify you as soon as reasonably possible. Any booking made on behalf of a landlord, tenant, property manager, or other third party must be authorised by the person making the request.

2. Pricing and Payments

Prices may be quoted as a fixed fee, estimated fee, hourly rate, or a combination of these, depending on the nature of the work. Unless stated otherwise, all prices are quoted in pounds sterling and may be subject to VAT where applicable. A written quotation is valid for the period stated on the quotation, or if no period is stated, for a reasonable time only and may be withdrawn or amended before acceptance.

If the work changes after booking, for example because additional clearance, pruning, turf work, hedge cutting, or waste removal is required, we may adjust the price accordingly. Any significant change will normally be explained before further work is carried out. Where a customer requests additional tasks on the day, these may be charged separately. Gardeners Sydenham is not obliged to carry out extra work at the original price unless this has been agreed in advance.

Payment is due according to the terms stated on the invoice or booking confirmation. In most cases, payment must be made on completion of the work unless a deposit, staged payment, or account arrangement has been agreed. We accept payment by the methods specified at the time of booking. Late payment may result in administration charges, suspension of future services, or recovery action where permitted by law.

3. Cancellations, Delays, and Rebookings

You may cancel or rearrange a booking by giving reasonable notice. Unless a different notice period is stated in the booking confirmation, cancellation charges may apply where notice is short or where materials, labour, or vehicle time have already been committed. For example, if we have reserved a team, purchased supplies, or travelled to site, we may charge for costs already incurred.

If you are not present at the agreed time and access cannot be gained, the appointment may be treated as cancelled or as a missed visit, and a charge may apply. It is your responsibility to ensure that the site is accessible, safe, and ready for the agreed work. If you need to delay the job, please notify us as soon as possible so that we can try to reschedule without unnecessary cost to either party.

We may cancel or postpone a visit if weather, equipment failure, staff sickness, safety concerns, or other matters beyond our control make it impractical or unsafe to proceed. In such cases, we will try to offer an alternative appointment. We are not responsible for indirect losses arising from a rearranged visit, provided we act reasonably and in good faith. Where a deposit has been paid for a cancelled booking, any refund will depend on the notice given and on costs already properly incurred.

4. Customer Responsibilities

You must ensure that the area to be worked on can be accessed safely and that the information you provide is accurate and complete. This includes telling us about hidden hazards, fragile surfaces, uneven ground, water features, pest issues, aggressive animals, contaminated waste, underground services, or restricted access points. If relevant, you should also inform neighbours, tenants, or managing agents where prior notice is necessary for the work to proceed smoothly.

Any children, pets, vehicles, garden furniture, ornaments, planters, or personal items that could be damaged should be moved or secured before work begins, unless we have agreed to assist with that as part of the service. We are entitled to rely on the understanding that the site has been made reasonably safe and clear for the tasks requested. If delays occur because the area is not prepared, additional charges may apply.

You are responsible for ensuring that any required permissions, consents, or restrictions affecting the garden have been disclosed to us. This includes leasehold conditions, conservation controls, shared access rules, or limits imposed by a managing agent. Gardeners Sydenham will not be liable for failing to carry out work that would breach a legal, contractual, or site-specific restriction not disclosed to us before the appointment.

5. Liability and Limitations

We will carry out services with reasonable care and skill, using appropriately trained staff and suitable equipment. However, gardening work can involve natural variation and some degree of risk. We are not responsible for pre-existing damage, hidden structural defects, weak fencing, diseased plants, unstable paving, buried objects, or other conditions that could not reasonably have been discovered in advance.

Where we are found to be at fault, our liability is limited to the direct loss or damage reasonably foreseeable at the time the contract was made, and only to the extent permitted by UK law. We do not exclude liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, fraud, or any other liability that cannot legally be limited. We are not liable for loss of profit, loss of enjoyment, loss of business, or other indirect or consequential losses.

We may use third-party suppliers or subcontractors where necessary. Where they are used, we remain responsible only to the extent required by law and by the terms agreed with you. Nothing in these terms affects your statutory rights as a consumer where the service is supplied to a private individual acting outside a trade, business, or profession. If a complaint arises, you should notify us promptly so that we can investigate and, where appropriate, put matters right.

6. Waste, Green Waste, and Environmental Regulations

Waste generated during the service may include grass cuttings, leaves, branches, soil, old mulch, dead plants, packaging, and similar garden material. Unless otherwise agreed, the treatment and removal of waste will be handled as specified in the quotation or service description. If waste is to be taken away by us, this may involve an additional charge depending on quantity, weight, type of waste, and disposal method.

All waste handling will be carried out in a manner intended to comply with applicable UK waste legislation, duty of care obligations, and local disposal requirements. We may separate green waste from general waste where appropriate and may use licensed facilities or approved transfer arrangements. You must not ask us to dispose of materials illegally, including hazardous substances, asbestos, chemicals, contaminated soil, or non-garden refuse, unless this has been specifically agreed and lawfully managed.

If the waste load contains items that were not disclosed beforehand or if the waste is unusually heavy, contaminated, or difficult to remove safely, we may revise the charge or decline removal. Any waste retained on site after completion remains your responsibility unless a separate removal service has been agreed. Where we leave compostable or reusable organic matter on site by request, you accept responsibility for its later handling and storage.

7. Materials, Plant Health, and Site Conditions

Any plants, seeds, compost, fertiliser, bark, soil, or other materials supplied by us will be supplied with reasonable care and, where applicable, sourced from reputable suppliers. Natural products can vary in appearance and performance, and we do not guarantee that all living material will thrive in every environment. Growth, flowering, and recovery depend on weather, soil, irrigation, light, pests, disease, and ongoing maintenance beyond our control.

If we are asked to trim, move, prune, or remove plants, we will use professional judgment, but we cannot guarantee the outcome where the plant is mature, unhealthy, neglected, or structurally compromised. Certain species may respond unpredictably to cutting or transplanting. If you request work that could stress or damage a plant, you accept that there is a degree of horticultural risk, even when the work is carried out competently.

We may pause or modify the service where site conditions are unsuitable, unsafe, or materially different from what was expected. This may include extreme weather, waterlogged ground, frozen soil, severe infestation, or the presence of nesting wildlife or protected species. In such cases we will act reasonably and may offer an alternative date, amended scope, or partial completion if full completion is not practical.

8. Complaints and Rectification

If you believe that the service has not been delivered in line with these terms, you should let us know as soon as possible and within a reasonable time after completion. Please provide enough detail for us to assess the issue, including the date of the work, the nature of the concern, and any relevant photographs if available. We will review the matter fairly and may, where appropriate, return to site to inspect or rectify the problem.

We will not be responsible for issues caused by third parties, adverse weather after completion, normal wear and tear, or the effects of incorrect care following our visit. If a remedy is offered, it may consist of reworking the affected area, revisiting part of the job, or providing another reasonable solution at our discretion. Any remedy will depend on the circumstances and on whether the issue was caused by our failure to act with reasonable skill and care.

These terms are intended to work alongside any consumer rights or statutory protections that apply under UK law. Nothing in this document limits rights that cannot lawfully be excluded. If any term is found to be unenforceable, the remaining terms will continue in force and the unenforceable part will be interpreted, so far as possible, to reflect the original intention of the parties.

9. Governing Law

These terms and any dispute arising from or connected with them shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of England and Wales. If you are a consumer resident elsewhere in the UK, any mandatory legal rights available to you under applicable local law will remain unaffected where they cannot lawfully be waived.

By engaging Gardeners Sydenham, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agreed to these terms and conditions. They form the basis of the contract between the customer and the service provider unless replaced by a separate written agreement signed by both parties. For clarity, no verbal statement, estimate, or informal message overrides these terms unless we expressly confirm the change in writing.

Thank you for choosing our gardening services. We aim to provide a clear, reliable, and professional experience from booking through to completion, with terms that support fairness, good communication, and responsible waste handling. If a job is arranged, performed, or paid for, it is deemed to have been accepted under these terms, subject always to applicable UK law.