The Garden Handyman Service
Terms of Service - 2026

Introduction

These Terms and Conditions ("Terms") govern the agreement between The Garden Handyman Service, operated by Torin Hodgkiss ("we", "us", "our") and any client ("you", "your") who engages our services. By booking or accepting our services, you agree to be bound by these Terms.

These Terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales.

1. Our Services

We provide gardening and handyman maintenance services including, but not limited to, lawn care, hedge and border maintenance, pruning, planting, garden clearance, and general outdoor upkeep.

Work is carried out by Torin Hodgkiss or, on occasion, by our trusted associate Agnes, who works under The Garden Handyman Service. Ladies for Ladies Gardening Service also operates under The Garden Handyman Service. All personnel working under our brand are expected to uphold our standards of care, conduct, and professionalism at all times.

Where Agnes will be attending in place of or alongside Torin, we will inform you in advance wherever possible.

The specific scope of work for each job will be agreed with you before work begins, either verbally or in person.

2. Pricing and Estimates

We operate on an hourly rate basis. Our current rate will be provided to you before work begins. Where possible, we will give you an honest estimate of how long the work is likely to take — however, this is an estimate only and not a fixed or binding quote.

We work with honesty and efficiency:

If the job takes less time than estimated, you will only be charged for the time actually worked
If the job looks likely to take longer than expected, we will stop and discuss this with you before continuing — you will never be charged for additional time without your knowledge and agreement
Where a fixed price has been specifically agreed in advance, this will be confirmed with you before work begins and honoured regardless of time taken

Any materials required (e.g. compost, plant feed, aggregate) will be discussed and agreed with you beforehand and charged at cost unless already included in a fixed price agreement.

3. Payment Terms

Payment is due at the end of each job and is taken in person via card machine. We do not issue invoices for one-off jobs as standard — payment is settled on the day.

For recurring clients, payment by bank transfer may be arranged by prior discussion and agreement. This will be agreed between us directly and confirmed before the arrangement begins.

If for any reason payment cannot be taken on the day, we will agree an alternative arrangement with you directly. We reserve the right to suspend future visits if an outstanding balance is not resolved promptly.

4. Recurring Service Agreements

Where a regular maintenance schedule has been agreed (e.g. weekly, fortnightly, or monthly visits), the following applies:

The agreed schedule will continue until either party gives notice to end or amend it
Either party may end or amend a recurring arrangement by giving at least 7 days' notice (in person, by phone, or by message)
Pricing will be reviewed periodically and any changes communicated to you with at least 30 days' notice before taking effect
We reserve the right to adjust visit frequency during periods of low seasonal demand (e.g. winter months) and will always communicate this to you in advance
Visits may be carried out by either Torin or Agnes depending on availability; we will aim to provide consistency where possible.

5. Cancellations and Rescheduling

You may cancel or reschedule any visit at any time without charge. We simply ask for as much notice as possible so we can manage our schedule.

If we need to cancel or reschedule due to illness, adverse weather, or circumstances outside our control, we will notify you as soon as possible and arrange an alternative date at your convenience.

We are not liable for delays or cancellations caused by circumstances beyond our reasonable control, including severe weather, vehicle breakdown, or personal emergencies.

6. Access to Your Property

You agree to ensure reasonable access to the relevant areas of your property on the agreed date and time. Where access is not possible and we have not been given adequate notice, we reserve the right to charge a call-out fee to cover travel time and costs. Any such charge will be discussed with you.

You are responsible for informing us of any hazards, restrictions, or special conditions on your property (e.g. buried cables, protected trees, pest treatment activity) before work begins.

7. Scope Limitations and Exclusions

We will not undertake work that:

Requires specialist qualifications we do not hold (e.g. tree surgery at height requiring NPTC/LANTRA certification)
Would breach planning conditions, Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs), or any other legal restriction
We reasonably consider to be unsafe

If we identify such a concern on arrival, we will advise you and will not charge for any work we are unable to complete for that reason.

8. Damage and Liability

We take care in all work we carry out. However:

We are not liable for pre-existing damage to plants, structures, or surfaces not identified before work began
We are not responsible for natural horticultural outcomes, such as plants failing to re-establish after pruning or transplanting
If we cause accidental damage during our work, we will notify you promptly and seek to resolve the matter fairly

We carry public liability insurance, which extends to all work carried out under The Garden Handyman Service. Details are available on request.

9. Your Responsibilities

To help us deliver the best possible service, you agree to:

Provide accurate information about the work required and any relevant property conditions
Keep pets away from the working area during our visit
Keep children away from the working area while work is in progress
Let us know of any changes to access or scheduling as early as possible

10. Complaints

If you are unhappy with any aspect of our service, please contact us as soon as possible so we can put things right.

📧 Email: thegardenhandymanservice@gmail.com 📞 Phone: 07360 642319

We will acknowledge any complaint within 3 working days and aim to resolve it within 14 days. If we are unable to resolve a dispute, you may seek independent advice from Citizens Advice or consider alternative dispute resolution.

11. Data Protection

We handle your personal data in accordance with our Data Protection Policy, which complies with UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018. It is available here. We will never sell or share your data for marketing purposes.

12. Changes to These Terms

We reserve the right to update these Terms from time to time. You will be notified of any significant changes before they take effect. Continued use of our services after such notice constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.

13. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales. Any disputes shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.

Signed: Torin Hodgkiss Proprietor, The Garden Handyman Service Date: May 2026

The Garden Handyman Service Terms of Service - 2026​