These terms govern all works carried out by Cheyne Trades. By instructing us you agree to these terms. Last updated 2026.
These terms and conditions set out the basis on which Cheyne Trades agrees to provide plumbing, drainage, bathroom installation, carpentry, appliance installation, plastering, roofing, building and other related services, together with the supply of materials and goods necessary to complete those services.
Services are either: (i) Initial Services — where you require us to attend immediately or on an agreed date and we have not previously attended the premises in relation to these works; or (ii) Scheduled Services — where you have received a written estimate and have a pre-booked appointment.
References to "Cheyne Trades", "we", "us" or "our" mean Cheyne Trades Property Maintenance. References to "you" or "your" mean either a Consumer (an individual using our services wholly or mainly outside of their trade or business) or a Business (a company or individual acting in a trade or business capacity). Where these terms differ between Consumers and Businesses, this is made clear.
"In writing" and "written" include email and WhatsApp messages throughout these terms.
You can instruct us by phone, WhatsApp, email or via our booking form. By doing so you agree to these terms.
Initial Services: You will be provided with our applicable hourly rate on booking. The contract becomes binding once you accept the rate and agree to us attending.
Verbal Estimates: Where it is not possible to fully remedy an issue during an initial visit, our operative will provide a Verbal Estimate on site. The contract becomes binding once you accept the Verbal Estimate and make the required deposit payment.
Scheduled Services: Following an inspection of the premises we will provide a Written Estimate by email. The contract becomes binding once you accept the Written Estimate, whether verbally or in writing, and make the required deposit payment.
All estimates are subject to withdrawal at any time before a contract is entered into and shall be deemed withdrawn if the services are not commenced within 28 days of the estimate date.
No modification to these terms is effective unless agreed in writing by both parties. Nothing in this contract confers any right on any third party to enforce its terms under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999.
Consumer right to cancel (Scheduled Services only): Under the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013, if you are a Consumer you have the right to cancel a Scheduled Services contract within 14 days of entering into it without giving a reason. This right does not apply to Initial Services. To cancel, contact us by phone, WhatsApp or email. If you request that works commence during the cancellation period and then cancel, you will remain liable for the cost of any works performed and goods supplied up to that point.
Cancellation of appointments: If you wish to cancel or rearrange a scheduled appointment, you must notify us by no later than 17:00 on the working day before the appointment. Cancellations made less than 2 hours before a scheduled appointment will incur a cancellation fee of £50 + VAT. If a Cheyne Trades operative has already arrived on site before cancellation notice is received, a minimum one-hour charge at the applicable rate will apply.
Goods ordered: If you cancel after we have ordered specific materials or parts on your behalf that cannot be returned to the supplier at purchase price, you will remain liable for the cost of those goods plus any returns fees levied by the supplier and our time in returning them.
Cancellation charges for Scheduled Services outside the cooling-off period:
Less than 14 days before commencement: 5% of estimate value
Less than 7 days before commencement: 10% of estimate value
Less than 2 days before commencement: 20% of estimate value
Where any amount paid is to be refunded following cancellation, a 5% administration charge will be deducted to cover bank and card processing costs.
Initial Services are charged by reference to the total time spent completing the works, including reasonable time spent sourcing non-stocked goods, at the hourly rate advised at the time of booking. There is a minimum charge of one hour. Thereafter, charges are made in 30-minute increments, rounded up to the nearest 30 minutes. Time spent on breaks is not charged.
Verbal Estimates: The charges will not exceed the Verbal Estimate by more than 10%, save in the case of manifest error.
Written Estimates: The charges will not exceed the Written Estimate by more than 20%, save in the case of an increase in the price of goods occurring prior to the services being undertaken.
If during the works it becomes apparent that additional services or goods are required, we will obtain your consent before incurring additional charges. If you do not consent, we may terminate the services and you will only pay for works completed to that point.
All materials and goods are charged at cost price plus a mark-up of up to 50%, reflecting trade discounts obtained by Cheyne Trades. A materials collection fee of £50 + VAT applies where specialist parts are not carried as standard van stock.
All prices are exclusive of VAT, which will be added where applicable. Payment must be made by credit or debit card or bank transfer. Cheques are not accepted.
Deposits: A deposit of 50% of the estimated charges is required on all quoted works before works commence. Payment of the balance is due on completion.
Large projects: Where the estimated value of works exceeds £20,000 excluding VAT, we may require payment in instalments. This will commence with a 50% deposit on entering the contract, followed by further payments invoiced no less than weekly as works progress, with the balance due on completion. Interim invoices are due for payment immediately on receipt.
Late payment: Late payments will accrue interest at 4% above the Bank of England base rate from the due date until payment in full, together with any reasonable collection costs incurred. For Business customers, the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998 will apply.
Cheyne Trades reserves the right to withhold certificates, guarantees and documentation until payment is received in full. Title in all materials and parts supplied by Cheyne Trades remains with Cheyne Trades until payment is received in full.
Cheyne Trades will use all reasonable endeavours to attend at the agreed time. Attendance times are estimates only. We accept no liability for delays caused by circumstances beyond our control including traffic, prior jobs overrunning, or supply chain delays. Time is not of the essence of the contract.
We do not guarantee how quickly any works will be completed. For certain services — such as identifying an electrical fault or a blocked pipe — a number of tests may be necessary to locate the exact cause, and whilst these will be completed as quickly as reasonably practicable, the time required cannot be known in advance.
You must:
— Give us safe, clear and unobstructed access to the premises at the agreed time
— Provide adequate safe working space and facilities
— Provide mains power and a clean water supply where required
— Where possible, provide plans showing drain layouts or electrical wiring of the premises
— Inform us prior to commencement if the premises is a listed building or in a conservation area
— Use reasonable endeavours to provide nearby parking facilities or a parking permit where available
— Inform us prior to commencement of any dangerous gases, liquids, chemicals or hazardous materials present on the premises that could constitute a risk to our operatives
— At your own expense, obtain all necessary consents, permits and permissions required in connection with the works, including building regulation consents, planning permissions, listed building consent, and consents from landlords, neighbours and mortgagees
— Remove all fixtures and fittings from working areas before works commence
If you fail to comply with these obligations and this prevents or delays us from performing the works, we may charge you for any additional costs reasonably incurred as a result. If we are unable to gain access despite reasonable efforts, we may terminate the contract in accordance with clause 10.
Once materials and goods are delivered to the premises, you are responsible for them from that point, including insuring them at replacement value, whether or not they have been installed — except where loss or damage is caused by our negligence.
The Customer shall be liable to Cheyne Trades for all loss or damage suffered as a result of any failure or delay in performing the obligations set out in this clause.
We will provide all services with reasonable care and skill. All goods supplied will be of satisfactory quality, fit for purpose and as described.
We will not accept any liability for materials or products supplied by you, including their suitability for the works.
Subject to the exclusions below, Cheyne Trades provides a 12-month guarantee on all workmanship from the date of completion, provided that works have been paid for in full and any defect is notified to us in writing within that period. We and our insurers must be given the opportunity to inspect the works and, if required, carry out remedial works.
The Customer should inspect works on completion. Any complaint must be notified in writing within 7 days of completion. In the absence of such notice, the works shall be conclusively presumed to be complete and free from any apparent defect.
If a complaint is received, Cheyne Trades must be given reasonable access to inspect and remedy any agreed defect before any third-party contractor is engaged. If the Customer engages a third party without first giving us this opportunity, we shall be entitled to full payment and shall not be liable for the third party's costs.
This guarantee does not cover:
— Manufacturer or supplier defects in parts or materials (covered by manufacturer warranty only)
— Systems, structures or appliances not installed by Cheyne Trades
— Works carried out on installations or appliances in poor condition and/or over 10 years old
— Damage caused by misuse, wilful act or third-party interference
— Defects arising from circumstances known to you but not disclosed to us prior to works commencing
— Works completed on your instruction but against our written or verbal advice
— Where you elected not to proceed with works or goods recommended by us verbally or in writing
— Blockages in waste or drainage systems
— Structural defects including subsidence
— Drain damage caused by root penetration or external forces
— Roofing works where the overall roof condition was assessed as poor prior to works, involving less than 20% of the roof area
— Repairs to existing locks or fitting of any lock not supplied by Cheyne Trades
— Where payment in full has not been received
— Where works were not directly undertaken by Cheyne Trades
We cannot guarantee to clear blockages in frozen pipes or drains, and accept no liability for fractures found in frozen pipes or any damage resulting from them, except where directly caused by our negligence.
Nothing in these terms excludes or limits liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation, or any matter where exclusion of liability is unlawful.
If you are a Consumer: We are responsible for loss or damage you suffer that is a foreseeable result of our breach of these terms or our negligence. We are not responsible for loss or damage that is not foreseeable. We will not be liable in respect of any damage or loss arising because you chose not to proceed with works or goods recommended by us. Nothing in these terms affects your statutory rights under the Consumer Rights Act 2015.
If you are a Business: These terms are in place of all warranties, representations and conditions implied by statute or common law, all of which are excluded to the maximum extent permitted by law. We will under no circumstances be liable for: loss of profits, sales, business or revenue; loss or corruption of data; loss of business opportunity; loss of anticipated savings; loss of goodwill; or any indirect or consequential loss. Our total liability to you in respect of all losses arising under or in connection with any contract shall not exceed the lower of £500 or the total charges paid by you under that contract.
Cheyne Trades will not be liable for damage to any part of the property resulting from a pre-existing defect or weakness, whether or not we were working on that part.
We will not be liable in any way for any delays in scaffolding being erected or removed within any timescale indicated before or after completion of works.
If you are a Business, you shall indemnify and keep us indemnified against all losses, costs and liabilities arising from: your breach of these terms; and any third-party claims arising from our provision of services to you, other than where caused by our negligence.
We may terminate the contract with immediate effect if you materially breach the contract and, where the breach is capable of remedy, you fail to remedy it within a reasonable period of notice given by us.
We may also terminate if you fail to provide access, fail to make payment as required, or if an event outside our control causes substantial delay or hindrance to the works.
On termination we will refund any prepaid amounts for services not yet performed and goods not yet supplied. You will immediately pay all outstanding charges for services delivered and goods supplied up to the date of termination.
Cheyne Trades reserves the right to sub-contract any part of the works to suitably qualified tradespeople. Cheyne Trades remains responsible for the quality of all works carried out under this contract, whether performed directly or by sub-contractors. No guarantee will be provided in relation to works not directly undertaken by us unless we have explicitly confirmed this in writing.
We will not be liable for any failure or delay in carrying out works caused by circumstances beyond our reasonable control, including but not limited to severe weather, industrial action, supply shortages or acts of God. We will contact you as soon as possible and take reasonable steps to minimise the effect of the delay. If there is a risk of substantial delay, either party may terminate the contract, in which case you will only be required to pay for services delivered and goods supplied to the date of termination.
Unless agreed in writing, you are responsible for the removal of all waste materials arising from the works. Our operatives will leave the working area tidy but are not responsible for disposing of waste off-site unless this is specifically included in a written estimate.
If you are dissatisfied with the service received, please contact us at info@cheynetrades.co.uk with details of your complaint. We will endeavour to resolve this in accordance with our internal complaints procedure. If you remain unhappy with our resolution, we will provide you with details of an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) provider. We are not obliged to participate in ADR but will consider it in good faith.
No waiver by Cheyne Trades of any breach by you shall operate as a waiver of any preceding or subsequent breach. No variation to this contract shall be effective against Cheyne Trades unless sanctioned in writing. No forbearance or delay on our part shall prejudice our rights and remedies under this contract.
Each clause of these terms operates separately. If any court or relevant authority finds any clause to be unlawful or unenforceable, the remaining clauses will remain in full force and effect.
Cheyne Trades may assign, novate or transfer any of its rights or obligations under this contract to another legal entity by giving written notice to you. If you are a Consumer and are unhappy with any such transfer, you may cancel the contract within 3 working days of being notified and will receive a full refund of any prepaid amounts for services not yet performed.
You may not assign, transfer or deal in any other manner with your rights or obligations under this contract without our prior written consent.
Cheyne Trades collects personal data (name, contact number, email, postcode) solely for the purpose of managing bookings and communicating about works. We do not sell or share your data with third parties for marketing purposes. Data is retained for 6 years in line with our legal obligations and then securely deleted. You may request deletion of your data at any time by contacting info@cheynetrades.co.uk.
These terms and the contract are governed by the laws of England and Wales. Any dispute arising out of or in connection with these terms or the works shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.