The British Association of Landscape Industries is a voluntary trade association for garden professionals, not a legal requirement. No UK law says a landscaper must belong to a trade body to work on your garden. Membership is a useful way to compare firms and check their trading history, but it is not a guarantee that your specific project will go perfectly.
What the British Association of Landscape Industries is
Founded in 1972, the British Association of Landscape Industries describes itself as the leading trade body for UK landscape professionals, setting industry standards for over 50 years. It represents people working across the entire landscaping sector and currently reports over 900 active members in the UK. The association is one of the main industry bodies you will come across when planning a garden project, alongside others like the Association of Professional Landscapers.
The membership covers a wide range of trades involved in outdoor work. BALI describes its members as professionals from garden designers and landscape contractors to suppliers and maintenance specialists. Because no law requires a landscaper to belong to a trade body, membership is one way to compare firms, not a test every landscaper must pass.
Membership categories and what accredited means
The association has several different levels of membership depending on what the business does and how it operates. When you are looking to hire someone to build a new patio, lay a lawn or redesign your garden, you will mostly be dealing with the accredited contractor category.
The full list of membership categories includes:
- Accredited contractor
- Accredited designer
- Accredited supplier
- Accredited group
- Accredited DSO
- International
- Associate
- Training provider or student
Accredited contractor membership is specifically for businesses whose main work involves hard landscaping, soft landscaping or grounds maintenance. To hold this level of membership, the contractor must have been trading for at least two years.
What vetting an accredited contractor goes through
To become an accredited contractor, a landscaping firm goes through vetting, which involves both internal checks of the documents it submits and an external visit. Membership is activated once the membership fee invoice is paid.
The applicant must first supply a detailed set of documents. This includes ten client references and two trade references. They must also provide a copy of their public liability insurance (plus employers liability insurance if applicable), proof of their company turnover and company letterhead. If the company has more than five employees, they must submit a full health and safety policy.
Once the paperwork is submitted, internal vetting checks the documents and contacts the referees. After this, the external vetting begins. The external vetting includes a visit from a Vetting Officer, who checks the firm's internal processes and performs site visits. Listed benefits include use of the accredited logo, entry to the National Landscape Awards and access to the Dispute Resolution Service.
What BALI accreditation proves and what it does not
Seeing a trade logo on a van or a website is reassuring, but it helps to know exactly what that badge means. Membership shows that a firm has been through specific checks, but BALI's own pages do not describe a guarantee of any firm's work.
The table below shows what an accredited contractor membership proves and what it does not cover.
|
What it proves |
What it does not prove |
|---|---|
|
A trading history of at least two years |
A workmanship guarantee |
|
Ten client references and two trade references were supplied and followed up by BALI's internal vetting |
A fixed price for your project |
|
A copy of public liability insurance was supplied |
That your particular job will be flawless |
|
A Vetting Officer visit and site visits took place |
That the firm is the cheapest option |
|
Access to the BALI dispute service, which is free for consumers |
That they are available to start immediately |
BALI's own pages do not describe a workmanship guarantee, so do not assume your money is protected if the firm ceases trading. The ombudsman service also excludes members that have ceased trading.
How to find a BALI landscaper
If you want to hire an accredited firm, the safest route is to search the official directory. The association's website has a public directory where you can find your nearest landscape professional.
The directory has separate categories for designers, contractors, suppliers and training providers. There is also a search all option if you want to see every member in your area. Using the directory on the BALI site is a better check than a claim on a van or a firm's own website.
How to check a landscaper is a current member
A claim on a van or a website is not proof of current membership. You should always verify a firm's status yourself before agreeing to any work.
- Go to the members directory on the BALI website.
- Search for the company name to confirm they are a current member.
- Check their profile to ensure they are listed in the accredited contractor category, rather than just being an associate or supplier.
- Ask the landscaper to include their membership details in writing on your quote.
- Keep a copy of the written quote and your final contract in case you need to raise a dispute later.
Taking these steps before you pay a deposit gives you a record if the work goes wrong. The dispute service only covers work by an accredited designer or contractor who is a current member.
What happens if something goes wrong
Even with vetted professionals, disagreements can happen over the quality of the finish, the timeline or the final bill. If you have a problem with an accredited contractor or designer, your first step is always to complain directly to the firm in writing and give them a chance to put things right.
If you cannot reach an agreement, you can use the association's alternative dispute resolution service. From 1 July 2024, the Dispute Resolution Ombudsman provides this service. The ombudsman states that accessing its service is free for consumers. The consumer must first have given the contractor or designer the chance to resolve the matter.
The ombudsman process usually starts with conciliation, and, if needed, adjudication. If you accept the outcome, the decision is binding on the contractor or designer. You are not bound by the decision and you can withdraw from the process at any time.
Possible remedies listed by BALI include remedial works, an explanation or goodwill gesture, a full or partial refund, or compensation, where losses must be evidenced. The ombudsman also says it will not be sufficient to make unsupported allegations or statements.
Time limits and what the ombudsman cannot help with
The dispute service has strict rules on what it can and cannot investigate. It only covers work carried out by an accredited designer or contractor who is a current member.
The ombudsman cannot help with contractors or designers who are not currently accredited, or members that are in administration, liquidation or have ceased trading. They will not take on complaints that are already before a court or another ombudsman scheme. They also exclude disputes where a full and final settlement was accepted.
There are strict time limits for bringing a complaint, though the association's published guidance gives two different figures. The Dispute Resolution Ombudsman's BALI page lists an exclusion if it has been more than 12 months since you received the final response about your complaint from the BALI member. BALI's own dispute resolution FAQ lists an exclusion if it has been more than 3 months since the customer has received a final response. A time limit applies, so act quickly and check the exact deadline with the ombudsman as soon as you receive the firm's final response. Complaints can be made through their online portal, by phone on 0333 241 3209 or by email to info@disputeresolutionombudsman.org.
Questions to ask any landscaper before you hire them
Whether a landscaper is a trade association member or not, ask the right questions during their site visit and get the answers in writing.
Before you ask for quotes, decide exactly what you want the finished space to do, and ask each firm to put the materials and the work in writing. A written specification makes it easier to compare landscaping quotes like for like.
Ask whether the quote includes waste removal and whether VAT is included in the final figure, and agree a written contract before you pay a deposit. Keep the quote and the contract, because they are the record you would rely on if a dispute arises.
Common questions
Do I need a landscape designer or a contractor?
A garden designer produces the plan and the layout for your new garden. A landscape contractor is the person who actually builds it, doing the heavy lifting, paving and planting. Some larger firms offer both services in house, while others prefer to work from a plan you have already commissioned. Once the garden is finished, you would hire a gardener to maintain it.
Does the association protect deposits?
BALI's own pages do not describe a deposit protection scheme or a guarantee, so do not assume a deposit is protected. Agree the payment terms in a written contract and keep a copy.
Can I use the BALI directory to find a garden designer?
The BALI member directory has designer, contractor, supplier and training provider categories and a search all option, so a designer can be searched for separately from a contractor. Check the firm's current membership in the same way as for a contractor.
Is the ombudsman service free?
The ombudsman states that accessing its service is free for consumers. The consumer is not bound by the decision and can withdraw at any time.
What if the firm has ceased trading?
The ombudsman service excludes members in administration, liquidation or that have ceased trading, so do not assume it can help in that case.
What references does an accredited contractor supply?
Applicants for accredited contractor membership supply ten client references and two trade references. Internal vetting checks the submitted documents and contacts the referees, and the contractor must have been trading for at least two years.
How many members does BALI report?
BALI's about page reports over 900 active members and says it has represented, supported and accredited professionals across the UK landscaping sector since 1972.
Your next steps
Hiring a landscaper is a large investment, so take your time to check their credentials and get everything in writing before work begins.
- Decide on your budget and what you want the garden to achieve before contacting any firms.
- Search the official directory to find accredited members in your area.
- Ask more than one company to visit your garden and provide a written quote.
- Check that the quotes name the materials and the work and say whether waste removal and VAT are included.
- Verify that any firm you choose is a current member in the accredited contractor category.
- Agree a written contract and a payment schedule before handing over a deposit.
Reading up on how the industry works is the best way to choose a landscape gardener you can trust and avoid expensive mistakes. When you are ready to start gathering quotes and comparing written specifications, you can find a landscaper near you to discuss your plans.
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