Terms and Conditions for Landscaping Shortlands

These Terms and Conditions govern the supply of landscaping services provided by Landscaping Shortlands and set out the basis on which residential and commercial customers may book, receive and pay for services. By requesting a quotation, confirming a booking or allowing work to begin, the customer agrees to be bound by these terms. These terms are intended to be clear, fair and practical, and they should be read alongside any written quotation, scope of works, schedule or service description issued by Landscaping Shortlands.

For the purposes of these terms, references to “we”, “us” and “our” mean the landscaping service provider, and references to “you” and “your” mean the customer or any person acting on the customer’s behalf. The phrase landscaping services includes, where applicable, garden maintenance, turfing, planting, hedge cutting, fencing, soft landscaping, hard landscaping, seasonal clearances and related outdoor works. Any variation to the agreed works must be confirmed in writing or otherwise clearly agreed before the work is carried out.

These terms apply to all bookings, whether the work is a one-off project or part of a recurring arrangement. If any part of a quotation, invoice or service note conflicts with these terms, these terms will prevail unless we expressly state otherwise in writing. Nothing in these terms affects your statutory rights as a consumer, and if you are contracting as a business customer, any mandatory consumer protections that do not apply to businesses shall be excluded to the fullest extent permitted by law.

Booking process begins when you make an enquiry and provide accurate information about the site, the type of work required, access arrangements and any known constraints. We may request photographs, measurements or a site visit before issuing a quotation. Any quotation we provide is based on the information available at that time and may be revised if the actual condition of the site differs materially from the information supplied. A quotation does not create a binding contract until it is accepted by you and confirmed by us.

Once a quotation is accepted, we will normally confirm the proposed date or service window, the agreed scope of work and any special conditions. You must ensure that all instructions you give are complete and correct. If you are booking on behalf of an owner, occupier, landlord or managing agent, you warrant that you have authority to do so. We may refuse or postpone a booking where access, safety, weather conditions or other practical issues make it unreasonable to proceed at the planned time.

In some cases, a deposit, retainer or advance payment may be required to secure a booking, particularly for larger landscaping projects or where materials must be ordered in advance. Where a deposit is required, the amount and payment deadline will be stated in the quotation or invoice. Booking dates may remain provisional until any requested deposit is received in full. We reserve the right to reschedule work where the customer fails to provide access, approval or required information within a reasonable time.

If the scope of the work changes after booking, including as a result of hidden ground conditions, unexpected waste volumes, changes to design, additional materials or extra labour, we may issue a revised quotation or charge additional sums at our standard rates. We will normally discuss such changes with you before proceeding, unless urgent action is needed to protect health, safety, property or the integrity of the works already completed. Any requested additions or alterations may affect completion time.

Payments must be made in accordance with the agreed quotation, invoice or payment schedule. Unless stated otherwise, invoices are payable within the period specified on the invoice. We may require staged payments for larger landscaping shortlands projects, including a deposit, interim payments and a final balance on completion or at agreed milestones. Payment methods accepted, if any, will be communicated in advance. Time for payment is of the essence where works depend on the timely release of funds.

If payment is not made by the due date, we may suspend further work, withhold delivery of materials, postpone future visits or charge reasonable administration costs and interest on overdue sums to the extent permitted by law. Any dispute over an invoice must be raised promptly and in good faith, with clear reasons and supporting details. You may not withhold payment for undisputed amounts because of a separate complaint or disagreement unless required by law.

Cancellations and postponements are permitted subject to the rules below. If you wish to cancel or reschedule a booking, you should notify us as soon as reasonably possible. For one-off domestic work, if you cancel after we have reserved labour, ordered materials or attended site, you may be liable for reasonable costs already incurred. For larger landscaping shortlands services, cancellation charges may apply on a sliding scale depending on notice given and expenditure committed.

Where a booking is cancelled at short notice, we may retain part or all of any deposit to cover administration, planning, labour allocation, travel, wasted materials or supplier charges, provided the amount retained is reasonable and proportionate. If we need to postpone or cancel due to unsafe conditions, severe weather, lack of access, non-payment, or circumstances beyond our control, we will usually offer an alternative date. We will not be responsible for delay arising from events outside our reasonable control.

You remain responsible for ensuring that the site is ready for work at the agreed time, including access for vehicles and operatives, removal or securing of pets, and clear communication regarding locked gates, permits or restrictions. If we arrive and are unable to proceed because the site is not ready or access is denied, we may charge a call-out or wasted journey fee where reasonable. Repeated failure to provide access may result in termination of the booking.

Liability is limited in the manner set out below, subject always to any liability that cannot be excluded under law. We will perform the services with reasonable care and skill, using competent staff and appropriate equipment. However, landscaping work often involves natural materials, irregular surfaces, hidden services and changing site conditions. We cannot guarantee outcomes affected by weather, soil movement, plant health, pre-existing defects, unseen underground obstructions or third-party interference.

We are not responsible for damage caused by pre-existing weaknesses, defective structures, outdated irrigation, underground cables, drains, pipes, roots or other hidden features that were not reasonably discoverable before work began, unless we failed to take reasonable care. You should notify us of any known hazards, service routes or sensitive features before work starts. Any photographs, descriptions or verbal assurances given before commencement are based on the information available at the time and are not warranties unless expressly stated as such.

To the fullest extent permitted by law, we shall not be liable for indirect or consequential losses, loss of profit, loss of enjoyment, business interruption or delays caused by circumstances beyond our control. Our total liability for any claim arising out of a service, whether in contract, tort or otherwise, shall be limited to the amount paid or payable for the specific work giving rise to the claim, except where the law requires otherwise. Nothing in these terms limits liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, fraud or any other liability that cannot lawfully be excluded.

Waste regulations apply to all works where green waste, rubble, soil, timber, packaging or other debris is removed from site. We will handle waste in line with applicable UK waste management laws, environmental obligations and duty of care requirements. Where we remove waste ourselves, we may transport it to an authorised facility or use a licensed waste carrier or subcontractor where appropriate. We will not knowingly dispose of controlled waste unlawfully or in a manner that breaches environmental regulations.

Unless the quotation states otherwise, the price may include only the removal of ordinary waste arising directly from the agreed works. Unexpected volumes, contaminated materials, hazardous items, fly-tipped material or waste requiring special handling may incur additional charges. You must tell us in advance if the site contains asbestos, chemicals, oil, fuel, sharps, animal waste, invasive species or any other potentially hazardous material. We may stop work immediately if we discover waste that poses a risk to health, safety or compliance.

Ownership of waste passes in accordance with the agreed service and any relevant legal requirements. If you ask us to leave waste on site, store it temporarily or stack it for collection, you remain responsible for its safe storage unless we expressly agree otherwise. You must not require us to dispose of waste in a way that would cause us to breach the law. Where customer-supplied skips, bins or collection arrangements are used, you are responsible for ensuring they are suitable, lawful and available when needed.

Site conditions, materials and plants can affect the progress and durability of landscaping work. Unless expressly agreed in writing, plant sizes, colours and natural characteristics may vary from sample images, catalogues or previous seasons. Living materials are subject to natural variation, and we do not guarantee survival or growth where failure results from weather extremes, drought, inadequate maintenance, pests, disease, vandalism, incorrect watering or use of third-party treatments after handover. Any maintenance obligations must be stated expressly if they are to apply.

Risk in materials supplied by us usually passes on delivery to site or on completion of installation, as appropriate. Title to goods may remain with us until full payment is received, where permitted by law. If you supply your own materials, you are responsible for their suitability, quantity and compliance with any relevant standards, unless we have agreed to inspect or source them on your behalf. We are not liable for defects caused by customer-supplied materials or instructions that are unsuitable.

Where our team needs to work near existing structures, utility points, boundary features or neighbouring land, you are responsible for securing any necessary permissions, consents or approvals unless we have expressly agreed to handle them. You should also ensure that the works do not breach lease terms, planning restrictions, covenant obligations or management rules applicable to the property. If approval is required and not obtained, we may pause or cancel the service until the issue is resolved.

Complaints and rectification should be raised promptly once an issue becomes apparent. We will review any complaint in a fair and reasonable manner and may request photographs, access to site or other information needed to investigate. Where a defect is attributable to our workmanship and is reported within a reasonable time, we may choose to remedy the issue, provide a partial refund or agree another appropriate solution, depending on the circumstances and the nature of the work involved.

We will not be responsible for rectifying issues caused by misuse, ordinary wear and tear, seasonal change, failure to maintain the work, third-party interference or any alteration made after completion by you or another contractor. If we attend to investigate a complaint and the issue is found not to be due to our work, we may charge a reasonable fee for attendance and inspection. This does not affect any non-excludable legal rights you may have.

Where the service involves multiple visits or a continuing arrangement, each visit may be treated as a separate performance of the contract for billing and operational purposes, unless otherwise agreed. Any failure by us to enforce a right under these terms on one occasion shall not prevent us from enforcing that right later. If any part of these terms is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining terms shall continue in full force.

Termination of the contract may occur if either party materially breaches these terms and fails to remedy the breach within a reasonable time after written notice, where remedy is possible. We may terminate or suspend services immediately where continued performance would be unsafe, unlawful, impossible or likely to cause material loss. Examples include abuse of staff, repeated non-payment, refusal of access, or failure to disclose hazards that materially affect the works.

On termination, you must pay for all work properly completed and any non-cancellable costs already incurred up to the effective termination date. If materials have been specially ordered, manufactured or reserved for your project, these may also be chargeable where we cannot return them without loss. Any obligation intended to survive termination, including payment, liability, waste, and dispute handling provisions, shall continue after the contract ends.

Data and records may be retained for administrative, legal and accounting purposes, including quotations, invoices, site notes, photographs and correspondence relating to the service. We will process any personal data in accordance with applicable data protection law. By engaging us, you agree that we may keep reasonable records needed to manage the booking, carry out the work and comply with legal obligations. Records will not be used for unrelated purposes without a lawful basis.

These terms are governed by the law of England and Wales. Any dispute arising from or connected with these terms, the quotation or the services provided shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales, unless mandatory law provides otherwise. If any alternative dispute resolution method is agreed, it will not remove the right to bring a claim before the courts where applicable.

Nothing in these landscaping service terms prevents either party from seeking urgent relief, including injunctive or protective remedies, where necessary to prevent irreparable harm, unlawful conduct or misuse of property. If a court or competent authority determines that any provision is unlawful, the provision will be read down to the minimum extent necessary, and if that is not possible, it will be severed without affecting the remainder of these terms.

By proceeding with a booking, accepting a quotation or allowing works to commence, you confirm that you have read, understood and agreed to these terms in full. These landscaping shortlands terms and conditions form the entire agreement between the parties in relation to the services described, unless amended in writing by both parties. We recommend that you keep a copy for your records.