Terms & Conditions
These Terms and Conditions apply to all garden and grounds maintenance, landscaping and related services carried out by FRESH START GARDEN MAINTENANCE SERVICES
1. Estimates & Invoices
All estimates provided by FRESH START GARDEN MAINTENANCE SERVICES are intended as a guide to the anticipated cost of the work. Estimates are not legally binding and the final cost may vary depending on the actual condition of the site, the time required, materials used, waste generated and any additional work requested or required.
Where the scope of work changes following acceptance of an estimate, any additional requirements will be discussed with the customer where reasonably practicable and may be added to the original estimate or final invoice.
Additional work requested by the customer during a visit may be charged at our applicable labour rate.
Travel time to locations may be included within our applicable hourly rate.
Unless otherwise agreed in writing, invoices are due for payment on completion of the work or upon receipt of the invoice.
We reserve the right to charge interest or pursue recovery of overdue accounts in accordance with applicable UK legislation.
2. Deposits
FRESH START GARDEN MAINTENANCE SERVICES reserves the right to request a deposit before work commences.
The standard deposit may be 20% of the estimated value of the work, although this may vary depending on the size, duration and nature of the project.
Deposits may be required to secure a booking, purchase materials or allocate labour and equipment.
3. Health & Safety Requirements
We are committed to maintaining high standards of health and safety across all gardening, grounds maintenance and landscaping operations.
All work is carried out in accordance with relevant UK health and safety legislation and industry best practice.
Our health and safety arrangements include:
Risk assessments and method statements where required for higher-risk activities or specific sites.
Dynamic risk assessments where site conditions change or unforeseen hazards are identified.
Appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), including safety footwear, gloves, eye and hearing protection, high-visibility clothing and suitable head protection where required.
Safe working procedures when using strimmer’s, hedge cutters, chainsaws, lawnmowers, wood chippers and other powered equipment.
Regular inspection and maintenance of machinery, tools, vehicles and equipment.
Ensuring operatives are appropriately trained and competent for the work they undertake.
Appropriate precautions when working near roads, footpaths, members of the public, vehicles and occupied properties.
Suitable procedures for manual handling, slips, trips, uneven ground, working near water and other site-specific hazards.
Safe handling, loading, transportation and disposal of green waste.
Appropriate controls when using weed-control products, fertilisers or other chemicals, including COSHH requirements where applicable.
Appropriate emergency procedures and access to first-aid provisions.
Recording and reviewing accidents, near misses and hazards where appropriate.
Cordoning off or controlling work areas where necessary to protect customers, members of the public, staff and other contractors.
Safe operation and appropriate maintenance of vehicles, trailers and machinery.
Customers must inform us before work begins of any known hazards, underground services, fragile structures, access restrictions, pets or other circumstances that may affect the safe completion of the work.
4. Cancellation of Appointments
Customers wishing to cancel or rearrange an appointment must contact us by telephone or email and receive confirmation from our team.
We reserve the right to charge a £40 cancellation fee where a gardening or grounds maintenance appointment is cancelled or rearranged with less than 24 hours' notice.
Where a customer repeatedly cancels or rearranges appointments at short notice, we reserve the right to review or terminate future scheduled visits.
5. Green Waste Disposal
Where green waste disposal is included within our estimate or invoice, this covers the collection, loading, transportation and disposal of green waste generated directly from the agreed garden or grounds maintenance works.
Permitted Green Waste
Green waste must consist of normal garden and grounds maintenance materials, including:
Grass cuttings
Hedge trimmings
Branches
Leaves
Weeds
Plants
Shrubs
Small amounts of untreated natural wood
Other similar biodegradable garden materials
Excluded Materials
Our green waste disposal service does not include general household rubbish or non-green waste, including:
Plastics
Soil
Rubble
Concrete
Bricks
Timber
Treated wood
Fencing
Metal
Glass
Household waste
Hazardous materials
Electrical items
Other non-permitted waste
Additional charges may apply where such materials are found mixed with green waste or where their removal has been specifically requested and agreed in advance.
Quantity of Waste
Green waste disposal charges are based on the estimated quantity of waste generated from the agreed works.
Where the quantity of waste is substantially greater than reasonably anticipated, additional labour, transportation or disposal charges may apply.
We will endeavour to notify the customer where additional charges are likely to arise.
Contaminated Waste
Where green waste is mixed with non-permitted materials, it may require separate disposal.
Any additional costs incurred as a result of contaminated or incorrectly separated waste may be charged to the customer.
Disposal Arrangements
Green waste collected by us will be transported and disposed of through appropriate and authorised waste disposal, recycling or composting facilities.
We hold the relevant waste carrier registration required for the transportation of waste generated through our work.
Customer-Supplied or Pre-Existing Waste
Unless specifically agreed in writing, our green waste disposal service applies only to waste generated as part of the garden or grounds maintenance work we have carried out.
We do not automatically accept responsibility for removing pre-existing garden waste, rubbish or other materials already present on the property.
Additional Waste
Any additional waste requested for removal after the estimate has been accepted may incur additional labour, transportation and disposal charges.
Access
The customer is responsible for providing reasonable and safe access to the property for the completion of the work and removal of green waste.
Where restricted access, long carrying distances, difficult terrain or other site conditions significantly increase the time or effort required to remove waste, additional charges may apply.
Final Disposal Cost
Green waste disposal costs included within an estimate are based on the information and site conditions available at the time of the visit.
The final charge may vary where the actual quantity, type or disposal requirements differ materially from those anticipated.
Responsibility for Waste
Waste remains the customer's responsibility until it has been collected by us and accepted for transportation.
Once collected, responsibility for the lawful transportation and disposal of the waste rests with FRESH START GARDEN MAINTENANCE SERVICES.
Changes to Disposal Costs
Disposal facility charges, tipping fees and other waste-related costs may change from time to time.
Where such changes materially affect the cost of disposal, we reserve the right to adjust applicable disposal charges where reasonably necessary.
6. Damage & Hidden Hazards
We take reasonable care when carrying out all garden and grounds maintenance work.
However, we cannot accept responsibility for damage caused by hidden, concealed or previously unidentified hazards, including underground cables, pipes, drainage systems, irrigation systems, foundations, buried objects or other structures that could not reasonably have been identified before or during the work.
Customers are responsible for informing us of any known underground services, hidden hazards, fragile structures or other risks on the property before work commences.
Our public liability insurance does not remove the customer's responsibility to disclose known hazards.
7. Garden & Grounds Maintenance Visits
Maintenance visits may be arranged on a weekly, fortnightly, monthly, seasonal or other agreed basis, depending on the requirements of the property.
For regular maintenance customers, visit frequency and duration will be agreed in advance.
To maintain a property to an appropriate standard throughout the year, we may recommend a minimum number of visits depending on the size, condition and type of garden or grounds.
Weather conditions, seasonal growth and other circumstances may affect the timing and duration of maintenance visits.
We reserve the right to rearrange visits where weather or site conditions make it unsafe or impractical to carry out the work.
8. Garden Access & Site Conditions
Customers must provide safe and reasonable access to the garden or grounds at the agreed time.
Where access is restricted, gates are locked, vehicles prevent access or other circumstances prevent the agreed work from being carried out, additional charges may apply where time or labour is lost.
Customers should ensure that gardens and working areas are reasonably clear of personal belongings, children's toys, garden furniture and other items before our arrival where these may prevent the work from being completed safely.
9. Pets & Animal Waste
Customers must ensure that pets are safely secured where necessary during our visit.
Gardens should be reasonably free from animal faeces before work commences.
If excessive animal waste is present and creates an unsafe or unhygienic working environment, we reserve the right to stop or postpone the work until the area has been made safe.
Customers must also inform us of any known buried pets or other sensitive areas within the garden before work commences.
10. Plants, Lawns, Hedges & Existing Conditions
Garden and grounds maintenance work is dependent on the existing condition of the property and the health of plants, lawns, hedges and other vegetation.
We cannot guarantee the recovery or continued health of plants, lawns, hedges, trees or shrubs that are already diseased, damaged, dying or otherwise in poor condition.
Where vegetation has been allowed to become significantly overgrown, additional time and labour may be required to return the area to a manageable condition. Any additional work required may be subject to an amended estimate or additional charges.
11. Weather & Unforeseen Conditions
Garden and grounds maintenance work is affected by weather and ground conditions.
We may postpone, rearrange or modify work where conditions such as heavy rain, strong winds, frost, waterlogged ground, extreme temperatures or other adverse weather create an unsafe working environment or could cause damage to the property or vegetation.
Where unforeseen site conditions are discovered, additional work or costs may be discussed with the customer before proceeding where reasonably practicable.
12. Complaints
If you experience a problem with our work or wish to make a complaint, please contact us as soon as reasonably possible after completion.
Complaints should be made in writing by email (dnott@freshstart-services.co.uk) and should include details of the issue and photographs where appropriate.
We will investigate complaints fairly and reasonably and will aim to resolve legitimate concerns promptly.
13. Photography & Marketing
From time to time, we may take photographs or videos of gardens, grounds, landscaping projects or completed work for record-keeping and marketing purposes.
Where photographs or videos are intended for marketing purposes, we will take reasonable steps to avoid including identifiable personal information or individuals without appropriate permission.
Customers may contact us if they have specific concerns regarding photography or marketing use.
14. Confidentiality & Customer Information
We take the privacy and confidentiality of our customers seriously.
Information provided to us, including names, addresses, telephone numbers, email addresses and information relating to the property, will be handled in accordance with applicable UK data protection legislation and our Privacy Policy.
We will not knowingly share customer information with third parties except where necessary to provide our services, comply with legal requirements or operate essential business services.
Customers may contact us regarding their personal information and applicable data protection rights.
15. Liability
We will carry out all agreed work with reasonable care and skill.
We will not be responsible for loss or damage resulting from circumstances outside our reasonable control, pre-existing defects, hidden hazards, inaccurate information provided by the customer, or conditions that could not reasonably have been identified before the work commenced.
Nothing within these Terms and Conditions excludes or limits any liability that cannot legally be excluded or limited under UK law.
16. Acceptance of Terms
By accepting a estimate, booking our services or allowing work to commence, the customer confirms that they have read and agreed to these Terms and Conditions.
These Terms and Conditions apply to all agreed garden maintenance, grounds maintenance, landscaping and associated services provided by FRESH START GARDEN MAINTENANCE SERVICES.
We reserve the right to update these Terms and Conditions from time to time. The version applicable at the time of booking will generally apply to the agreed work.
Privacy Policy
FRESH START GARDEN MAINTENANCE SERVICES is committed to protecting your privacy and handling your personal information responsibly.
This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store and protect personal information when you visit our website, contact us, request a quotation or use our garden and grounds maintenance services.
For the purposes of applicable UK data protection legislation, we are responsible for the personal information we collect and process.
1. Information We May Collect
Depending on how you interact with us, we may collect information including:
Your name
Telephone number
Email address
Property or service address
Information about the garden or grounds requiring work
Details provided when requesting a estimate
Details relating to bookings and appointments
Correspondence between you and our business
Photographs or other information you provide to help us assess a job
Payment and invoice information where applicable
We only collect information that is reasonably necessary to provide our services, respond to enquiries and operate our business.
2. How We Use Your Information
We may use your personal information to:
Respond to enquiries and estimate requests
Arrange and manage garden and grounds maintenance appointments
Provide estimates and invoices
Carry out agreed gardening, grounds maintenance and landscaping services
Communicate with you regarding your booking or work
Process payments where applicable
Deal with customer queries or complaints
Maintain appropriate business and financial records
Improve our services and customer experience
Comply with legal, regulatory and insurance requirements
Send marketing communications where you have provided the appropriate consent or where otherwise permitted by law
We will not use your personal information for purposes that are incompatible with those described in this Privacy Policy.
3. Website Enquiries & Forms
If you contact us through a form on our website, we may collect the information you provide, such as your name, telephone number, email address and details of the work you are enquiring about.
We use this information to respond to your enquiry and, where appropriate, prepare a estimate or arrange a site visit.
We do not sell or rent your personal information to third parties.
4. Website Analytics
Our website may use analytics services provided through Squarespace to help us understand how visitors use our website and improve its performance.
Depending on the website settings and your consent, analytics information may include:
Browser and device information
IP address
Pages visited
Time spent on pages
Website interactions
Referring websites
Searches and other website activity
Date and time of visits
Analytics information may be processed by Squarespace on our behalf.
Where applicable, analytics and non-essential cookies will only be used in accordance with our cookie settings and applicable privacy requirements.
5. Cookies
Our website may use cookies and similar technologies.
Cookies are small files stored on your device that help websites function correctly and, where permitted, understand how visitors use the website.
Cookies may be used for:
Essential website functionality
Website security
Remembering preferences
Website analytics and performance
Understanding website traffic and visitor behaviour
Where consent is required for non-essential cookies, these will only be activated where appropriate consent has been provided.
You can also manage or disable cookies through your browser settings, although disabling certain cookies may affect how the website functions.
6. Website Hosting
Our website is hosted by Squarespace.
As part of providing website hosting and related services, Squarespace may process certain information relating to visitors to our website.
This may include information such as IP addresses, browser information, device information and website activity.
Squarespace processes this information in accordance with its own privacy and security practices.
7. Marketing Communications
From time to time, we may send marketing communications about our garden and grounds maintenance services, seasonal services, promotions or other relevant business information.
Where required, we will obtain appropriate consent before sending marketing communications.
You can unsubscribe from marketing emails at any time by using the unsubscribe option provided in the email or by contacting us directly.
Unsubscribing from marketing communications will not prevent us from sending necessary service-related communications, such as estimates, appointment information or invoices.
8. Third-Party Services
Our website may use third-party services and embedded features, such as:
Squarespace
Google Maps
Social media platforms, including Facebook
Website analytics services
Payment providers where applicable
These services may collect or process information in accordance with their own privacy policies.
Where third-party services are used on our website, we recommend reviewing their respective privacy policies for further information about how they process personal data.
9. How We Protect Your Information
We take reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect personal information against unauthorised access, loss, misuse, alteration or disclosure.
However, no method of transmitting or storing information electronically can be guaranteed to be completely secure.
We will only provide access to personal information where it is reasonably necessary for the operation of our business, provision of services or fulfilment of legal obligations.
10. How Long We Keep Your Information
We will retain personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes for which it was collected.
Some information may need to be retained for longer periods where required for accounting, taxation, legal, insurance or other regulatory purposes.
When information is no longer required, we will take reasonable steps to securely delete or dispose of it.
11. Your Data Protection Rights
Depending on the circumstances and applicable UK data protection legislation, you may have rights in relation to your personal information, including the right to:
Request access to the personal information we hold about you
Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information
Request deletion of your information where applicable
Request restriction of processing in certain circumstances
Object to certain types of processing
Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent
Request information about how your personal data is being used
If you wish to exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the details below.
12. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes to our business, website, services or applicable legislation.
Any updated version will be published on this page with the revised date where appropriate.
13. Contact Us
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or how we handle your personal information,
please contact:
FRESH START GARDEN MAINTENANCE SERVICES
Unit 12 Coxleigh Barton
Shirwell
Barnstaple
EX31 4JL
Email:dnott@freshstart-services.co.uk
Last updated: September 2026