Terms and Conditions

Welcome to Handyman Harpenden Solutions - These terms and conditions are designed to ensure a clear, fair, and professional working relationship. By engaging our services, you agree to be bound by these terms and conditions, together with any relevant information, policies, and pricing details stated on our website.

1. Work Area & Client Responsibly

The work area must be safe and fully accessible before work begins or we may have to leave and return at a later date until it is clear.
Flat-pack and general works require adequate space for both the items and our working area.
Please remove any personal or valuable possessions from the area. HHS is not responsible for any damage to your belongings that could have been removed.
Clients are responsible for carrying out their own research and confirming exactly what they want before works begin. Projects should not commence until the client is fully satisfied with the brief. Frequent changes or additions during the job can cause delays and may require us to prioritise other scheduled client commitments. It is normal to have a briefing and discussions before work starts, this is the stage to raise questions, request changes and ensure absolute clarity on what is being delivered.

2. Repairs

Repairs will always be carried out to the best of our ability with the materials agreed upon under a process of elimination - this methodically targets the problem.
Repairs are working with 'existing' parts. These may be broken, unreplaceable or worn through fair wear and tear.
There is no guarantee of success for any repair, as some issues may require new parts or additional work beyond a standard repair.
Parts are not included in labour charges and will be billed separately.
Labour is chargeable even if a repair is unsuccessful and beyond our control. (meaning the part(s) are not functioning as intended and is not repairable without ordering new parts or an entire new part)
Payment cannot be held for an unsuccessful repair.

3. Payments

A deposit may be required to secure a booking or cover material costs.
Payments are due for a minimum call-out of 1 hour (£60.00), regardless of the time spent up to one hour and £40 thereafter for subsequent hours.
Investigation and process of elimination are standard practices for identifying problems and are charged at the hourly rate stated on the website.
Each visit will usually be invoiced separately when undergoing investigation and repair work. .
Invoices are issued upon completion of work unless phased payments have been agreed upon.
Late payments are not acceptable under any circumstances and may result in the termination of the agreement.
Payment is due immediately upon receipt of the invoice or on the agreed dates.
Projects typically follow a 50% deposit with further staged payments. If the client requests changes, additions, or causes delays that alter the original scope or programme, the original staged payments may still fall due as planned. As a result, the project may reach a point where only 10% of the original contract value remains outstanding, even if the original scope is only partially completed due to client-driven changes or delays.
Payments can be made via BACS or cash.
Handyman Harpenden Solutions is not VAT-registered.

4. Materials, Estimates, Quotes, Hours & Rates

Materials purchased by HHS will be retained by HHS.
Online prices are not an indication of what HHS charges. Where we supply materials, it is standard practice to apply a markup, and a sourcing fee may also be charged.
Small, shorter duration or complex jobs that cannot be accurately quoted will be charged at an hourly rate.
Fixed quotes remain valid for the described work only. If completed sooner than estimated, the quoted price still applies.
Hours allotted to the quote may include sourcing, researching materials and collection.
Quoted works include only what is specified in the quote, and this forms the agreement that will be honored.
Unforeseen circumstances or additional work may result in extra charges and this will be determined by hours if the client doesn't propose a new quote.
Material costs are not included in labour charges and will be billable.
If clients choose to supply their own materials, they are responsible for ensuring suitability. A material consultation is charged at £105.00 per hour if needed.
Materials may be delivered to your property in our absence. HHS is not liable for any issues arising from third-party deliveries, including property damage.
While our standard rates apply to general handyman work and materials, certain tasks requiring excessive physical strain, specialised skills, or difficult working conditions such as ad hoc changes and site work versus workshop may be subject to adjusted pricing. For example carpentry and bespoke joinery will usually be billed at £60 an hour.

5. Additional Work & Changes

Any additional work requested after a job has commenced will be charged separately and may extend the completion time.
If additional work prevents or delays the original quoted job, a 50% interim payment of the outstanding balance will be required.
Fixed pricing for additional work will be agreed upon in writing before commencement, which may cause delays.

6. Rubbish Disposal

All waste and rubbish must be disposed of by the client unless agreed otherwise in writing.

7. Cleaning

We take care to clean up after work, but fine dust may settle hours later due to the nature of certain tasks.

8. Weather Conditions

HHS reserves the right to reschedule jobs due to unsuitable weather conditions.

9. Property Considerations

While we take every precaution, minor disturbances such as footprints in gardens or slight marks may occur and are considered reasonable consequences of work being carried out.
Protective measures will be used where appropriate, but HHS is not liable for reasonable impacts to surrounding areas.
We always take care to protect your property during work, restoration, varnishing, staining, and painting etc. However, fair wear and tear is a normal part of aging with any property or furniture. Renovation work can also draw attention to existing imperfections, as freshly restored or painted areas often make you notice details more closely. This is common and does not mean HHS is responsible for those pre-existing or naturally occurring imperfections.
You agree that your services of electricity, gas, and water may be used to complete the job.

10. Scope of Work, Tolerances & Making Good

HHS will only carry out the work explicitly agreed upon. Any additional tasks must be discussed and quoted separately and in most cases there will be an additional cost and schedule extension.
If it is not listed on the estimate or quote, it is not included in the job.
Tolerances (UK Industry Standards)
All works are carried out in line with commonly accepted UK construction tolerances, including those referenced in NHBC Standards, BS 5606:1990 Accuracy in Building, and CIS 300: Tolerances in Construction.Level and straightness tolerances: (plus / minus) ± 3–5mm over 2.5–3.0m is considered within normal UK industry tolerance for joinery, carpentry, and internal finishing works.
These tolerances align with: NHBC Chapter 9.1 finish tolerances (e.g., acceptable deviation up to 5mm over 2m for internal finishes). BS 5606 guidance on dimensional accuracy and measurement. CIS 300 recognised tolerances for fit-out and carpentry. These are the same standards widely applied across UK building sites and by professional contractors. Minor variances within these limits are deemed compliant and not considered defects.

11. Painting, Plastering & Filling Standards

Plastering, Filling & Making-Good Standards (UK Industry Tolerances)All surface-preparation, filling, plastering and making-good works are carried out in accordance with accepted UK industry standards, including BS 5492 (Code of Practice for Internal Plastering), BS EN 13914-2, NHBC Standards Chapter 9.1, and FPDC (Finishes & Interiors Sector) tolerance guidance. Unless otherwise specified:

Surface Flatness & Level

Deviation not exceeding 3–5mm over a 2m straightedge is considered within normal UK tolerance for internal plastered surfaces (NHBC 9.1 & FPDC Guidance).
Minor surface undulations that do not affect decoration or function are not considered defects.

Jointing, Filling & Making-Good

Filled, taped or skimmed areas must present as visibly smooth under normal lighting from 1.5–2m viewing distance, as per usual UK inspection practice.
Slight texture differences may remain due to substrate transitions; these are normal unless excessive and visible after decoration.
Feathered edges that blend into adjacent surfaces are standard practice and accepted within industry norms.

Cracks & Shrinkage

Hairline cracks ≤ 0.5mm are considered normal settlement/shrinkage and compliant with NHBC tolerances.
Only cracks wider than 0.5–2mm (depending on location and material) require making-good under industry standards.

Angles & Corners

Deviations up to 5mm over 2m on internal angles or corners are within accepted tolerances (FPDC/NHBC).

Decoration-Ready Standard

A surface is considered “ready for decoration” when:

No significant ridges, hollows or trowel marks are visible from 1.5–2m under normal lighting.
Minor micro-imperfections only visible under raking/spot lighting do not constitute a defect (NHBC recognises this explicitly).

Painting Standards

All painting work follows BS 6150:2019 and NHBC Chapter 9.3.
Assessment distance: 1.5–2m in normal, non-raking light.
Minor marks only visible under phone torches, grazing light or very close inspection are not considered defects.
A compliant finish shows even colour, no missed areas and proper opacity after the required coats.
Roller texture is normal; minimal brush marking is acceptable unless a specific high-specification finish is quoted.
Cutting-in tolerance: small variations of 1–2mm are within acceptable range.
Touch-ups must blend under normal light, but exact matches on older or porous surfaces cannot be guaranteed.
Full cure time varies between 7–30 days; minor sheen differences or softness during cure are normal.
No guarantee is given when client-supplied paint is used if the material fails to perform.

Note: Despite thorough preparation, slight variations in texture or finish may still be visible due to lighting, humidity, or the nature of the wall surface.

12. Client Communication & Privacy
All communication between Handyman Harpenden Solutions and the client (including messages, emails, photographs and call summaries) is considered private and confidential. Such communication must not be published, shared publicly, or reproduced online without written consent. Handyman Harpenden Solutions reserves the right to reference or summarise relevant communication when responding to disputes, reviews, or legal matters. This clause does not restrict the client’s right to leave an honest review or provide information to regulatory bodies.

13. General Notice

By engaging Handyman Harpenden Solutions, you acknowledge and agree to these terms.
Thank you for choosing us, and we look forward to working with you!