What if my builder isn't willing to use escrow?

It's optional for both sides. If your builder objects, talk to them about why — most reputable builders welcome escrow because it protects them from the homeowner-disappears-after-completion risk. If they refuse outright, that's a useful signal.

Where are the funds actually held?

In a Stripe-held account ring-fenced for your project. Stripe is regulated by the FCA. We can't release the funds without your milestone approval; if you cancel the project mid-flight, the unreleased balance is refunded to you.

What is mediation actually?

An independent reviewer from a panel of UK construction professionals (surveyors, ex-builders, contract specialists) reviews the evidence — photos, written exchanges, the original spec — and decides. Both sides see the decision and the reasoning.

Project Protection covers the contract: did the work get done, was it to the spec, was the payment schedule honoured. It does not cover defects discovered years later (use your builder's insurance for that), unauthorised scope changes you signed off verbally (always get a written variation order), or disagreements about taste.

Can I add this to a project that's already started?

Yes — as long as no funds have been transferred to the builder outside the escrow yet. The escrow is forward-looking: anything from the moment of purchase is protected.

Project Protection · Optional escrow

The builder doesn’t
get paid until you’re
happy with the work.

You fund the project into escrow. The builder draws against signed milestones. If anything goes wrong, an independent mediator steps in. £99 / £199 / £299 — one off, per project.

Optional. Always your call.

Coming later — Project Protection isn’t on sale yet. This is how it will work when it opens.

How it works

Four moments, four releases. You approve every one before the builder is paid.

Agree milestones

Builder and homeowner sign off a milestone schedule — usually 3–6 stages tied to physical progress on site.

Fund the escrow

You pay the project total into a Stripe-held escrow account. Funds are ring-fenced until each milestone is signed.

Approve releases

When the builder reaches a milestone, they request a release. You inspect, you approve, the funds move.

Dispute mediation

If you and the builder disagree, an independent mediator from our panel reviews the evidence and decides.

Pick the tier that fits

Same mechanism, three depths of support. Pick the tier that matches your project budget.

£99

Jobs up to £25k

Milestone-based escrow
Up to 4 milestone releases
Email-based dispute mediation
Stripe-held funds (refundable)

Most common

£199

Jobs £25k – £100k

Milestone-based escrow
Unlimited milestone releases
Phone + email mediation
Stripe-held funds (refundable)
Snagging hold-back built in

£299

Jobs £100k +

Milestone-based escrow
Unlimited milestone releases
Priority mediation (24h response)
Stripe-held funds (refundable)
Snagging + retentions managed
Independent surveyor referral available

Coming later. Project Protection isn’t on sale yet, so there’s nothing to buy today — these are the tiers it will launch with. Projects that already have it keep everything they bought.

Honest questions

What happens if X.

What if my builder isn't willing to use escrow?: It's optional for both sides. If your builder objects, talk to them about why — most reputable builders welcome escrow because it protects them from the homeowner-disappears-after-completion risk. If they refuse outright, that's a useful signal.
Where are the funds actually held?: In a Stripe-held account ring-fenced for your project. Stripe is regulated by the FCA. We can't release the funds without your milestone approval; if you cancel the project mid-flight, the unreleased balance is refunded to you.
What is mediation actually?: An independent reviewer from a panel of UK construction professionals (surveyors, ex-builders, contract specialists) reviews the evidence — photos, written exchanges, the original spec — and decides. Both sides see the decision and the reasoning.
What's NOT covered?: Project Protection covers the contract: did the work get done, was it to the spec, was the payment schedule honoured. It does not cover defects discovered years later (use your builder's insurance for that), unauthorised scope changes you signed off verbally (always get a written variation order), or disagreements about taste.
Can I add this to a project that's already started?: Yes — as long as no funds have been transferred to the builder outside the escrow yet. The escrow is forward-looking: anything from the moment of purchase is protected.

Project Protection

Lock the money
to the milestones.

Project Protection isn't on sale yet. When it opens, your builder will get paid in stages as each milestone is signed off, not upfront.

Coming later

The builder doesn’tget paid until you’rehappy with the work.