I've, been maintaining the grounds on a small block of flats for 6 years on a fortnightly basis throughout the year and been doing a good job of it, 3 weeks ago a resident who I have never met before decided to email the managing agent complaining about our service, saying that 1 gardener comes over and not 2 gardeners, not spending enough time, doing the bare minimum and to top it off can you assign my preferred gardener being her partner, when the agent told me this I told her that it was all lies and she had told me to carry on with the work and that probably she had nothing better to do, I decided to post her a note with my details to contact me so that we can walk round the grounds and go over any issues, she never contacted me but decided to call the agent 2 weeks later shouting down the phone why did you give the gardener my details, however a week later a letter came in the post terminating the garden contract that a meeting was held with the 4 directors that they had assigned a new gardener and found out that its her partner, I have writing to all the director mentioning this whole issues and it is now being discussed and I am waiting to hear, has anyone come across a similar experience.
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I'd move on, personally, as you've been replaced with the new team and that's their decision.
One thing I've done is to send a message to the managing agents to reinforce their duty to employ people with all the correct policies in place. If they don't have anything from proper PL insurance, to spraying certificates, the managing agent will be liable.
List what you can offer: all staff CRB-checked and trained, all licenses up-to-date such as waste transfer and chemicals. A gentle nudge to the managing team that it's their responsibility to have all this in place and they might reconsider.
Sometimes you have to accept you lose work when a family member or friend takes over. Keep it on good terms, and the chances are you'll get a call when it all goes wrong....
Go and secure contracts to replace it and don't get too bothered by it. It's easy to get annoyed, but the factors are going to do what it takes to keep their contract and if that means sacking a subbie to keep the clients happy that's what they will do.
I had £20k of grass cutting confirmed for this summer. Got the contract terminated after week one with no notice and the client won't enter in to a discussion. Taking them to court for breach of contract as he's clearly got a mate in. Feeling bitter.