Terms and Conditions

1. Definitions

1.1. In these Terms of Business the following definitions apply:

“Granary Window Cleaners” refers to GWC.
“Cleaner” means the Cleaner employed/contracted by GWC to undertake cleaning.
“Customer” means the person, organisation or corporate body together with any subsidiary or associated company as defined by the Companies Act 1985 to whom the cleaning services are supplied by GWC.
“Service” means the cleaning services carried out by GWC.
“Cleaning Visit” means the visit to the Customer’s address by the Cleaner(s) to carry out the Service.

2. Contract

2.1. These Terms and Conditions represent a contract between GWC and the Customer.

2.2. The Customer agrees that engaging GWC, including verbally placing an order for services when meeting or by telephone or email and/or website or any other communication medium shall constitute the Customer’s acceptance of these Terms and Conditions.

2.2. Unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Management of GWC, these Terms and Conditions shall prevail over any other Terms of Business or Purchase Conditions put forward by the Customer.

2.4. No variation or alteration of these Terms and Conditions shall be valid unless approved in writing by Management of GWC.

2.5. GWC retain data from customers in the form of Name and relevant contact details. This information is for the use of GWC, and will not be sold or passed on to third parties.

3. Service

3.1. GWC will provide to the Customer a professional quality-assured Cleaning Service at an agreed cost.

3.2 Due to the nature of window cleaning with the water-fed pole, we advise customers that the best results come after the first two or three cleans. During the first clean, we remove a build-up of dirt that may have accumulated over time. However, although the windows have been well cleaned, small amounts of dirt may continue to trickle down and there may be a few spots afterwards.

Over the next couple of cleans, when done regularly, the window cleaning reaches the best standard. We therefore recommend allowing two or three cleans to get a full picture of the good results that can be expected. Tough stains such as bird droppings may take two or three cleans to completely disappear.

3.2. GWC Cleaner will remain courteous and professional at all times. If an Cleaner fails to adhere to this code of conduct, this must be reported immediately to GWC Management via email info@granarywindowcleaners.co.uk This in turn will be investigated internally and GWC will keep the Customer informed of the outcome of their investigation.

3.5 Unless specified or requested at the quoting stage by the Customer, cleaning contracts are for standard Cleaning services and do not include extra-ordinary cleaning such as post-build cleaning and removal of limescale, paint etc. This type of cleaning can be requested, incurring an extra charge.

4. Health and Safety

4.1. GWC takes all issues of Health and Safety seriously. This includes the wellbeing of its Customers, Cleaner, Staff, Customers and members of the General Public.

4.2. Prior to commencing work, a Risk Assessment and Method Statement will be carried out in line with GWC Health and Safety Policy.

4.3. If we deem any conditions unfit or hazardous, work will not continue until conditions are improved. This specifically refers to Hazardous Areas due to Construction Work or Stored Materials, Broken Fences and Perimeters, Overgrown Trees and Plants, proximity to dangerous Chemicals or Fuels or other corrosive substances, surfaces made dangerous by e.g. Algae, Moss etc…

4.4 Areas that are inaccessible will not be cleaned. Our Cleaners are trained to work safely, and if asked will not undertake work that is unsafe.

4.4. All items or obstacles should be removed by the Customer from the areas GWC Cleaner need to access. Our Cleaners need reasonable access to perform their duties safely.

5. Frequency of Cleaning

5.1 GWC will establish the dates for the Cleaning Visits, according to the regularity requested by the
Customer in the terms of the contract.

5.2 For some contracts, GWC incurs exceptional costs prior to the contract, e.g. the cost of hiring equipment, and other costs. For these contracts, the date of the Cleaning Visit will be mutually agreed in advance by both GWC and the Customer. If, after confirming the agreed dates of cleaning,  the Customer then wishes to postpone the cleaning, due notice of at least 48 hours must be given to GWC. If such notice is not supplied, the Customer will be liable for any costs that GWC has incurred in preparing for the contract.

5.3 For some contracts, GWC incurs costs that are not refundable. These include the costs of licences and parking permits and suspensions from the Council, and other costs. In these cases, the date of  cleaning will be mutually agreed in advance by GWC and the Customer. If the Customer then wishes to postpone or cancel the cleaning, the Customer is liable for these non refundable costs.

5.4 If no notice is given by the Customer that a Cleaning Visit cannot go ahead, and on arrival at the site it  becomes apparent to GWC that the contract cannot be carried out e.g. due to other works on the site, no access being made available, scaffolding etc…, the Customer will be liable for all costs GWC has incurred including staff costs.

5.5. GWC may carry out Cleaning Visits during inclement weather. GWC reserves the right to decide if the cleaning services should be carried out or postponed for safety reasons. Weather conditions are not an acceptable reason for the Customer to postpone or cancel services.

5.6 GWC carry out contracts between Monday to Friday. If we are requested to work at weekends, we are to be notified at the quoting stage, or well in advance, so we are able to factor this in to the cost.

6. Access to Premises

6.1. To carry out contracts, GWC Cleaner require to be granted access. It is the responsibility of the Customer to ensure the site is accessible on the scheduled date of each cleaning and in a safe condition for GWC Cleaner to carry out the cleaning.

6.2 If GWC Cleaner cannot gain full access to any area of the property they will clean only what is accessible. If access is not made available during the Cleaning Visit, GWC will not return at a later  date and this portion will be cleaned at the next Visit. The Customer may still be fully charged.

6.2. Due to insurance liabilities, we are unable to move obstacles such as but not exclusive to: furniture,  personal belongings, vehicles, curtains/blinds, ornaments, etc. If these or any other items restrict access to an area of your property/premises, we may be unable to clean it. This includes but is not exclusive to, items left on window sills, items left in communal areas such as plants, pictures on walls, tables, chairs, plant pots etc…

6.4 In order for GWC to carry out the cleaning contract, the Customer must make available at their cost an easily accessible supply of electricity and water.

6.5. When the Customer asks GWC to undertake a contract, it is assumed the Customer thereby gives full permission for GWC to park vehicles at the private property. At private properties where parking restrictions apply and a company is employed to enforce restrictions, the Customer must provide a parking permit and inform the enforcement company of our Visits. Any costs incurred by GWC for parking at the property are to be settled by the Customer.

7. Liability

7.1. GWC shall not be liable under any circumstances for any loss, whether direct, indirect or consequential, which may be incurred by the Customer arising from a late arrival of GWC Cleaner at the service address.

7.2. GWC shall not be responsible for damage due to faulty and/or improper installation of any item. All surfaces e.g. UPVC Frames, Wooden Sash, aluminium frames etc… are assumed sealed and ready to clean without causing harm. GWC will take all reasonable precautions and care not to damage windows but cannot be held responsible for such problems as, but not exclusive to, flaking paint, adhesive leading or UPVC on face of double glazed units, damage to decaying windows, brittle or damaged glass or loose leading in windows. GWC are also not responsible for scratches incurred by previous building work, which may only become visible on cleaning the glass.

7.3. GWC do not accept liability for damage caused by decorative or structural defects, improper construction materials used, or conditions at the property such as, but not limited to, ill-fitting windows, doors, fascias, guttering, window/conservatory trims, unsecured windows and doors, leaking seals, decorative bars stuck on glass, rotting frames, untreated wooden panelling, open trickle vents, etc.

7.4. GWC will not accept liability for water damage to the property or items within the property caused as a result of windows being left open prior to a clean or due to damaged windows or frames causing leakage into the property. It is the nature of cleaning services that water will be applied to surfaces and GWC cannot accept responsibility for water damage.

7.5. In the event of an accident, GWC may instruct an Insurance Assessor to investigate the root cause. GWC will not accept liability for any accident deemed out of GWC control.

7.6. Liability for Key replacement/locksmith fees are paid only if keys are lost by GWC.

7.7. GWC are comprehensively insured under our Public Liability Insurance Policy, and we request that our Customers also have adequate insurances in place.

8. Payment

8.1. Payment for Cleaning Services can be paid directly to GWC by GoCardless, Bank Transfer or cash.

8.2. GWC extend no more than 30 days’ credit at point of Invoice, and request that invoices are paid within this time period.

8.3. GWC reserves the right to charge an administration fee for any reminders that need to be sent in case of late payment.

8.4. Any bank charges incurred due to a Customer’s cheque being returned unpaid will be passed to the Customer.

8.5. Should the Customer claim to have made payment, the onus is on the Customer to prove payment has been received into GWC bank account.

8.6. In the case of Overdue accounts, the matter will be passed to a designated Debt Collection Agency. Note that at such time additional costs will be incurred by the Customer and payable to the Debt Collection Agency along with the initial Cleaning charge and other associated costs (including Court Costs and Fees) in retrieving the overdue amount.

10. Claims

11.1. GWC Public Liability Insurance will cover liabilities that are caused by a GWC Cleaner working on behalf of GWC to a value of up to £5,000,000.00.

11.2. The Customer agrees that due to the nature of cleaning services, GWC guarantees to correct only problems that are reported within a reasonably short period of time, usually 48 hours. If a problem occurs on a Friday it must be reported by Monday in order to be accepted as a valid claim. GWC  may require entry to the location of the claim to correct the problem. Any adjustments to the invoice must be requested to GWC directly and are acceptable only subject to approval by GWC.

11.4. GWC cannot be responsible for breakages of items that have been left in the area for cleaning (see 6.3). However, if other damage is clearly and reasonably the fault of a GWC Cleaner, GWC will investigate the breakage. We will either pay for a replacement, issue the cash value toward a similar item, or make a claim through our insurance. This settlement will be separate from and not relate to the invoice for Cleaning services, which must be paid in full.

12. Termination of Contract

12.1. The Customer may terminate the cleaning contract by giving 30 days prior notice.

12.2. The Customer agrees that GWC will carry out any cleaning that is due within the 30 days notice period, and be paid in full for this service.

13. Equipment

13.1. All Cleaning Equipment and Materials remain the sole property of GWC at all times.

13.2 The Customer shall be liable for any damage to GWC Equipment if caused by the Customer or those the Customer represents.

14. Supplementary Terms

14.1. GWC reserves the right to make any changes to any part of these Terms and Conditions without giving any prior notice. The Managements of GWC may add to or alter these Terms and Conditions from time to time and any alterations or additions will apply to new and existing contracts. Copies of the new Terms and Conditions will be provided.

15. Law

15.1. These Terms are governed by the laws of Scotland, and are subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Courts of Scotland.