Gardeners Cowley Terms and Conditions

These Terms and Conditions set out the basis on which gardening services are provided by Gardeners Cowley and apply to all bookings, quotations, visits, and work carried out unless agreed otherwise in writing. By making a booking, the customer confirms that they have read, understood, and accepted these terms. These provisions are intended to create a clear and fair framework for both the customer and the service provider, covering the booking process, payment terms, cancellation arrangements, liability limits, waste handling, and the law that governs the agreement.

For the purposes of these terms, references to “we”, “us”, or “our” mean the gardening service provider operating under the name Gardeners Cowley. References to “you” or “the customer” mean the person, business, landlord, tenant, or other party requesting the services. Where services are booked on behalf of another person or property owner, the person making the booking confirms that they are authorised to do so and to accept these terms on that party’s behalf.

These terms are designed for standard domestic and commercial garden work, including routine maintenance, planting, hedge cutting, lawn care, clearance, and related outdoor tasks. They do not create any obligation to provide specialist arboricultural, construction, pest control, or regulated treatment services unless this has been expressly agreed in advance. If any conflict arises between a written quotation and these terms, the quotation will prevail to the extent of that conflict, but all other provisions remain in force.

1. Booking Process

All bookings are subject to availability and may be accepted, amended, or declined at our discretion. A booking may begin with a request for an estimate, a site visit, or an initial description of the work needed. Any estimate given before inspection is based on the information provided by the customer and may change if the actual conditions differ from those described. A quotation is normally valid for a limited period stated at the time it is issued, and we reserve the right to revise it if there is a material change in scope, access, timing, or site condition.

When a booking is confirmed, the customer should ensure that the scope of work, dates, access arrangements, and any special instructions are accurate. The customer is responsible for providing safe and reasonable access to the property, including keys, gate codes, parking arrangements, and permission to enter where required. If access is not available at the agreed time, or if the site is not prepared in a way that allows the work to proceed safely, additional charges may apply for wasted attendance, waiting time, or rescheduling.

We may request photographs, measurements, or further information before confirming a booking for gardening services in Cowley or elsewhere. Any agreed date is an estimate unless explicitly stated as fixed. Weather, seasonal conditions, plant health, or safety concerns may require a change of schedule. We will act reasonably when rearranging visits and will inform the customer as soon as reasonably possible if a date needs to be altered.

The customer must disclose any relevant hazards before work begins, including uneven ground, hidden drains, asbestos, broken glass, contaminated soil, animal waste, aggressive animals, unsafe structures, or the presence of protected plants or wildlife. Failure to disclose such matters may result in delay, extra charges, or suspension of the work. We may refuse to proceed if the site conditions are unsafe, if the work requested would breach applicable law, or if the task requires equipment or expertise beyond the agreed service.

2. Payments

Unless otherwise agreed in writing, payment is due in full upon completion of the work or on the date stated in the quotation or invoice. For larger projects, ongoing maintenance contracts, or work requiring the purchase of materials, we may request a deposit, staged payments, or payment in advance. Any deposit is non-refundable except where we cancel the service or where a refund is required by law.

All prices are quoted in pounds sterling and, where relevant, may be subject to VAT or other applicable taxes. If a quotation is based on an hourly rate, the total cost will depend on the actual time required to complete the work and any additional tasks agreed on site. If we discover that extra labour, materials, access arrangements, or disposal costs are required because of circumstances not known at the time of quoting, we will inform the customer where practical and may adjust the price accordingly. Gardeners Cowley terms are intended to remain transparent, but they do not guarantee that every unforeseen item can be included in the original price.

Late or non-payment may result in interest, administrative charges, and recovery costs where permitted by law. We reserve the right to suspend further services until outstanding invoices are settled in full. The customer must raise any invoice query promptly and in any event within a reasonable time after receipt. Disputed items do not entitle the customer to withhold payment for the undisputed part of the invoice.

3. Cancellations and Changes

Customers may request to cancel or reschedule a booking, but reasonable notice is required. If notice is provided sufficiently in advance, no cancellation charge may apply, depending on the nature of the booking and the resources already allocated. Where a booking is cancelled at short notice, we may charge for lost time, allocated materials, transport, or labour that cannot be recovered. For repeat or contracted work, the notice period may be longer and may be set out in the relevant quotation or service agreement.

If we need to cancel or postpone a visit due to illness, equipment failure, severe weather, safety concerns, or other matters outside our reasonable control, we will seek to rearrange the appointment as soon as practical. We will not be liable for minor delays caused by traffic, weather, or access issues where we have acted reasonably. A cancellation by us will not affect any rights the customer may have in relation to work already performed and accepted.

Where a customer changes the scope of the work after booking, we may treat the change as a new instruction and re-quote accordingly. This includes requests to add extra beds, remove additional waste, undertake new planting, or extend the service duration. Any material change may affect price, timing, and the equipment required. For the avoidance of doubt, a booking is secured only for the work actually described and agreed at the time of confirmation.

4. Liability and Service Standards

We will use reasonable skill and care in providing gardening services and will take appropriate steps to complete the agreed work to a professional standard. However, gardening work involves natural materials and conditions that can be unpredictable. Variations in weather, soil quality, plant health, and pre-existing site conditions may affect the outcome. Unless otherwise stated, we do not guarantee the future survival, flowering, growth, or recovery of plants, turf, or trees once work has been completed.

Our liability is limited to direct loss or damage that is reasonably foreseeable and caused by our proven negligence, breach of contract, or failure to exercise reasonable care and skill. We do not accept liability for pre-existing defects, hidden damage, gradual deterioration, acts or omissions of third parties, or losses that are indirect or consequential. Nothing in these terms excludes or limits liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, fraud, fraudulent misrepresentation, or any other liability that cannot legally be excluded under UK law.

The customer is responsible for informing us of any fragile items, underground services, irrigation systems, cables, or valuable objects that may be affected by the work. Where the customer asks us to work near known risks without giving clear warning, we will not be responsible for resulting damage unless caused by our own negligence after proper notice. It is also the customer’s responsibility to make appropriate insurance arrangements for their property and contents where they consider this necessary.

5. Waste Regulations and Disposal

All garden waste removed by us will be handled in accordance with applicable waste legislation and environmental requirements. This includes the duty to transport, store, and dispose of waste responsibly and to use only lawful disposal routes. We may separate green waste, soil, inert materials, timber, and general rubbish where required for compliant disposal. The customer acknowledges that certain items, such as treated wood, chemicals, asbestos-containing materials, electrical items, batteries, paint, gas canisters, or contaminated soil, may be subject to specialist disposal rules and may not be accepted as ordinary garden waste.

Unless specifically included in the quotation, waste removal charges may be additional and may depend on the volume, weight, type, and disposal method required. The customer must not ask us to dispose of prohibited or hazardous materials as ordinary green waste. If such materials are discovered unexpectedly during a job, we may suspend the work, adjust the price, or require the customer to arrange specialist removal. We may also refuse to handle waste that would place us in breach of environmental, safety, or licensing obligations.

If waste is left on site for collection later, the customer is responsible for securing it and ensuring that it does not create a nuisance, breach local rules, or pose a danger to others. Any waste container, skip, or temporary storage area must be suitable for the purpose. We are not responsible for loss, contamination, or interference with waste once it has been lawfully transferred to a third-party disposal contractor, except where required by law.

6. Customer Responsibilities

The customer must ensure that the work area is reasonably clear and that children, pets, and bystanders are kept away from hazardous activity. If ladders, power tools, cutting equipment, or lifting operations are required, the customer should take sensible precautions to avoid interference. Where access is through shared areas, the customer must make any necessary arrangements with neighbours, landlords, managing agents, or other relevant parties.

Any permission, licence, or consent needed to carry out the work must be obtained by the customer unless we have agreed to do so in writing. This may include permission to prune overhanging vegetation, enter shared boundaries, or move items stored near the work area. The customer warrants that they have authority to instruct work on the property and that carrying it out will not infringe the rights of any other person.

We may take reasonable photographs before, during, or after the work for internal records, quality control, or proof of completion. These images will not be used for marketing without separate permission. Customers should remove or secure valuables, ornaments, and delicate items before the service begins, as we will not be responsible for loss or damage where reasonable care could have avoided the issue and adequate warning was not given.

7. General Provisions

If any part of these terms is found to be unlawful, unenforceable, or invalid, the remaining provisions will continue in full force. Failure by us to enforce any right or remedy at any time will not be treated as a waiver of that right or remedy. No variation to these terms will be effective unless agreed in writing by an authorised representative of the service provider.

These terms, together with any quotation, invoice, or written confirmation of booking, form the entire agreement between the parties for the relevant service. The customer should keep a copy for reference. Any headings are included for convenience only and do not affect interpretation. References to written communication include email or other electronic messaging where accepted by both parties.

Governing Law
These Terms and Conditions are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales. Any dispute arising out of or in connection with the services, these terms, or any related booking shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales. This legal position applies regardless of where the customer is based, provided the service agreement is made under UK law.