At The Association of Professional Landscapers (APL) we are committed to ensuring that when you have your garden landscaped by one of our Registered Members you are completely satisfied with the experience. To support our aim we have developed a Customer Charter, to which all of our Registered Members must adhere. The Charter signifies a promise that our Registered Members have the necessary skills and experience to meet your needs.
Registered Members of the APL comply with the Government endorsed TrustMark scheme (click here for further details of the scheme) The APL is the only landscaping organisation approved by TrustMark to run this scheme for its members.
As part of our drive to continually improve standards, all APL Registered Members must undergo a rigorous annual inspection process. Our independent inspectors are experienced in the landscaping industry.
The Association of Professional Landscapers’ Customer Charter states that Registered Members must be:
- Trading as a landscape business for a minimum of three years
- Independently inspected annually for conformance to the necessary standards
- Members of the Horticultural Trades Association, the trade body of the garden industry, which was established in 1899
Registered members must also:
- Provide at least six satisfactory customer references of completed work within the past two years
- Supply a minimum of two satisfactory trade references.
- Maintain full Employer Liability Insurance cover
- Maintain full Public Liability Insurance cover
- Follow the agreed complaints resolution procedure
- Offer customers an independently backed warranty
In order to encourage continuing good performance, the Association demands that members:
- Be committed to continuous business development
- Be actively involved in staff training and development
Please note that while APL is committed to promoting high standards of quality and workmanship among its members it is your responsibility ( and not the responsibility of APL) to select a suitable contractor and negotiate the terms on which the contractor works for you. APL recommends that before entering into a contract with any contractor ( whether or not a member of APL) you make all necessary enquiries including, without limitation, as to the contractor's qualifications, experience, guarantees offered and insurance.
