Terms of Hire.

In these Terms, “Lakeside”, “we”, “us” and “our” mean Lakeside Handy Hire. “Customer”, “you” and “your” mean the person named on the booking.

“Equipment” means every item, attachment, accessory, battery, charger, key, guard, hose or component supplied as part of the hire.

“Hire Period” means the agreed period beginning when the Equipment is handed to the Customer and ending when it has been returned and accepted by Lakeside.

• A booking is not confirmed until Lakeside accepts it and any required payment or authorisation has been completed.
• The Customer must provide accurate contact, identity, address and booking information.
• The Customer must check that the selected Equipment is suitable for the intended job and environment.
• Lakeside may decline a booking where the Equipment is unavailable, unsuitable, unsafe to supply or where verification cannot be completed.
• Equipment photographs, specifications and descriptions are intended to help identification. The actual make or model supplied will be confirmed in the booking.

• The hire price, delivery charge and any stated additional costs will be shown before confirmation.
• Payment is normally required before the Equipment is released.
• A card verification, deposit or pre-authorisation may be required depending on the Equipment and booking.
• The Customer authorises Lakeside to request payment for properly evidenced additional sums due under these Terms.
• Additional charges will not be imposed arbitrarily and will reflect the reasonable cost, loss or service involved.
• A pre-authorisation is not necessarily an immediate payment and release times may depend on the Customer’s bank.

• The Customer must be at least 18 years old and legally able to enter the hire agreement.
• Valid photographic identification and proof of address may be required.
• Identification must match the booking and payment information unless Lakeside has approved an alternative arrangement.
• Equipment will only be released to the named and approved Customer.
• Lakeside may refuse handover if identification is unavailable, inconsistent, expired or reasonably suspected to be false.

• The Customer must attend the agreed handover unless another arrangement has been approved in writing.
• Equipment will not be left unattended at a property, doorway, garden or other location.
• The Customer must provide safe and reasonable access for delivery, loading and collection.
• The Equipment’s condition and supplied accessories may be photographed or otherwise recorded at handover.
• The Customer must inspect the Equipment and report any unexpected damage, missing item or concern before use.
• Where the Customer transports Equipment, they are responsible for using a suitable vehicle and securing it safely.
• Collection appointments include the stated 30-minute grace period unless a different arrangement has been confirmed.

• The Equipment must only be used for its intended purpose and in accordance with the supplied instructions.
• The Customer must not sell, sub-hire, lend, pledge or transfer possession of the Equipment.
• The Customer must not remove guards, labels, QR codes, serial numbers or safety devices.
• The Customer must not modify, dismantle or attempt to repair the Equipment.
• Only approved attachments, consumables, batteries and accessories may be used.
• The Equipment must not be used while the operator is affected by alcohol, illegal drugs, medication or any condition that makes safe operation unlikely.
• The Customer must keep the Equipment secure, protected from weather and inaccessible to children or unauthorised persons.
• The Customer remains responsible for the Equipment throughout the Hire Period.

• The Customer must read the Equipment guidance and safety information before use.
• All stated personal protective equipment must be worn.
• The Customer must inspect the work area and remove avoidable hazards.
• People, animals, vehicles and property must be kept outside the stated safe operating area.
• The Customer must not operate Equipment beyond their competence or contrary to manufacturer guidance.
• General website information does not replace the instructions for the specific item supplied.

Normal wear resulting from proper use is treated differently from damage caused by misuse, neglect, unauthorised repair, unsuitable transport or failure to follow instructions.

• The Customer must report damage or an incident immediately.
• Lakeside may inspect and obtain repair or replacement quotations.
• The Customer may be responsible for reasonable repair, replacement, recovery or assessment costs caused by their breach.
• Any claim will take account of the Equipment’s condition, age, value and available evidence.
• Lakeside may also claim reasonable, evidenced loss arising because damaged Equipment cannot be hired.

• Equipment must be returned using the agreed method, date and time.
• All supplied accessories, chargers, batteries, keys, guards, hoses and attachments must be returned.
• The Customer remains responsible until the return handover is completed and accepted.
• Condition and accessories may be checked against the original handover record.
• The Customer should allow Equipment to cool and make it safe for transport where necessary.

Equipment must be returned in a reasonably clean condition, allowing for normal use.

• Excessive mud, grass, waste or debris may result in a reasonable cleaning charge.
• Paint, plaster, cement, adhesive, oil or chemical contamination must be reported.
• The Customer must not use unsafe chemicals or pressure-washing methods to clean Equipment unless instructed.
• Specialist cleaning or disposal costs may be charged where reasonably necessary because of the Customer’s use.

• An extension is only valid once Lakeside has approved it.
• The Customer must request an extension before the original return deadline.
• An extension may be refused where the Equipment is already reserved or operationally required.
• Additional hire charges may continue until the Equipment is returned and accepted.
• Reasonable collection or rearrangement costs may apply where an agreed appointment is missed.
• Repeated or serious late returns may result in future bookings being refused.

• The cancellation policy and any applicable statutory cancellation information will be provided before booking.
• The Customer should cancel as early as possible.
• Where Lakeside retains part of a payment, the amount will reflect reasonable losses or costs resulting from the cancellation.
• Costs may include preparation, reserved availability, delivery work already completed or other direct booking expenses.
• Lakeside will take reasonable steps to reduce avoidable losses, including making Equipment available to another customer where practical.
• A missed handover without notice may be treated as a no-show.
• Refunds are not automatically due solely because the Customer chose not to use the Equipment.

Lakeside may refuse handover or end the hire where there is a reasonable safety, fraud, payment or misuse concern.

• Required identification or payment cannot be verified.
• The intended use appears unsafe, unlawful or unsuitable.
• The Customer appears unable to operate the Equipment safely.
• The Equipment is being misused, transferred or placed at serious risk.
• The Customer has provided materially false booking information.
• The Customer commits a serious or repeated breach of these Terms.

Any financial outcome will depend on the circumstances, work already completed and losses reasonably incurred.

Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits liability where it would be unlawful to do so, including liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, fraud, or statutory rights that cannot legally be excluded.

• Lakeside is responsible for supplying Equipment that meets applicable legal obligations.
• The Customer is responsible for losses reasonably resulting from their misuse, negligence or breach.
• Lakeside is not responsible for a Customer selecting unsuitable Equipment where adequate information was provided and no specific recommendation was requested.
• Customers hiring for business purposes must tell Lakeside before booking.
• Neither party is responsible for losses that could not reasonably have been anticipated when the contract was made, except where the law provides otherwise.

• Lakeside may record booking, identity, payment, handover and Equipment-condition information.
• Photographs may be taken to document the Equipment and supplied accessories.
• Personal information will be handled in accordance with the Privacy Policy.
• Information may be shared where reasonably necessary for payment processing, fraud prevention, delivery, legal compliance or enforcing the agreement.
• Customer data will not be sold as a marketing database.

• If part of these Terms is found unenforceable, the remaining terms continue to apply.
• A delay in enforcing a right does not automatically waive that right.
• Changes to an individual booking must be agreed by Lakeside.
• The booking confirmation, Equipment information and these Terms together form the hire agreement.
• These Terms are governed by the applicable law of England and Wales, without removing any mandatory consumer right to use another competent court.