Trusted Payments and Renopay: how they compare
How Trusted Payments, the app named in the government’s cowboy builder announcement, compares with Renopay on payments, disputes, warranty and fees.
Toby Millward
Renopay Founder
Renopay blog
Stories, playbooks, and renovation insights.
Practical guidance for homeowners, builders and partners on paying for building work stage by stage.
Escrow for home renovations in the UK: how it works and what to check
What escrow means for building work, how it differs from a deposit or stage payments by bank transfer, and the checks to make before you use an escrow service.
Toby Millward
Renopay Founder
Cowboy builder scheme 2026: what it means for homeowners
The government’s August 2026 crackdown explained for homeowners: the Approved Code, milestone payments, what they don’t cover, and how to protect yourself now.
Toby Millward
Renopay Founder
Cowboy builder crackdown: what the 2026 government scheme actually means for builders
Staged payments are now the national expectation on UK renovations. Here is the test any payment scheme must pass to protect builders, not just homeowners.
Toby Millward
Renopay Founder
Snagging and the final payment: avoiding a stand-off
What snagging is, why the final 10% causes most renovation disputes, and how partial release and independent assessment close a project without a fight.
Toby Millward
Renopay Founder
Kitchen renovation payments: structuring a £30k to £80k job
How to structure payments on a £30,000 to £80,000 kitchen renovation: supplier deposits, installer milestones, lead times and a template schedule.
Toby Millward
Renopay Founder
Payment terms that win work: what to put in your quotes
Payment terms sell or sink a builder's quote. Why big deposits lose jobs, how offering escrow wins them, and example wording to copy into your quotes.
Toby Millward
Renopay Founder
Builder gone bust mid-project: what happens to your money
When a builder goes into liquidation you become an unsecured creditor, and deposits rarely come back. The steps to take, and how escrow funds stay yours.
Toby Millward
Renopay Founder
Loft conversion payment schedule: what to expect
A stage by stage payment schedule for UK loft conversions: typical costs, five payment stages, and what to check before releasing each one.
Toby Millward
Renopay Founder
Late payment law for builders: what actually works
Statutory interest, fixed compensation, letters before action and small claims: what UK late payment law really gets builders, and where it falls short.
Toby Millward
Renopay Founder
How to compare builder quotes properly
Compare builder quotes like for like: scope, provisional sums, exclusions and payment terms. Then run each quote through our free quote analyser.
Toby Millward
Renopay Founder
Refer a builder to Renopay, earn £1,000: how it works
Know a good builder? Refer them to Renopay and earn £1,000 when they complete five projects on the platform. No account needed. Here's how it works.
Toby Millward
Renopay Founder
Retention payments explained: the 5% problem
What retention payments are, why 5% of your money is routinely paid late or never, where reform has stalled, and the funded milestone alternative.
Toby Millward
Renopay Founder
Do I need a contract with my builder? A UK guide
No UK law requires a written building contract, but verbal deals fail. What a contract must cover, JCT Minor Works in plain English, and where escrow fits.
Toby Millward
Renopay Founder
Deposit protection insurance vs escrow: what actually protects your money?
Section 75, deposit protection insurance, retention or escrow? A fair comparison of the four ways to protect your money on a UK building project.
Toby Millward
Renopay Founder
Builder asking for a big deposit? What's normal and what's a red flag
What's a normal builder deposit in the UK, when a big ask is a red flag, and how to respond, including the alternatives to handing over cash.
Toby Millward
Renopay Founder
Driveways, garden rooms and outdoor builds: who else can use escrow?
Escrow isn't just for extensions. Driveways, garden rooms, orangeries and outdoor builds all carry payment risk. Here's how milestone payments apply.
Toby Millward
Renopay Founder
Stage payments for building work: how to structure them
How to structure stage payments for building work: fair deposits, stage triggers tied to inspections, and what to check before releasing each stage.
Toby Millward
Renopay Founder
Paying for garden landscaping: how to protect a £20k to £100k project
Major landscaping projects fail on payments more than plants. How to structure payments for garden builds, and why escrow works for landscaping.
Toby Millward
Renopay Founder
Alternatives to paying a builder a deposit
Don't want to hand your builder a deposit? Five alternatives compared honestly: stage payments, paying suppliers direct, Section 75, insurance and escrow.
Toby Millward
Renopay Founder
How to protect yourself against non-payment as a builder
Vet clients, structure stage payments, ask for proof of funds and get each stage funded before you start. A practical playbook for UK builders.
Toby Millward
Renopay Founder
How to pay for a swimming pool installation safely (UK guide)
Pool installations cost £40k to £150k or more, and deposits are often 30% or higher. Here's how to structure pool payments so your money is protected.
Toby Millward
Renopay Founder
Getting paid faster: milestone payments vs traditional invoicing
Milestone payments vs traditional invoicing: which is better for builders? Compare cash flow, risk, and speed.
Toby Millward
Renopay Founder
How to check if a builder is legitimate in the UK
How to check if a builder is legitimate in the UK: Companies House, insurance, trade bodies and more.
Toby Millward
Renopay Founder
How to protect yourself from scope creep on renovation projects
Scope creep costing your building firm money? Learn how to protect yourself with clear contracts and milestone payments.
Toby Millward
Renopay Founder
Renopay vs traditional escrow: what’s the difference?
Traditional legal escrow is built for corporate skyscrapers, not your kitchen knock-through. Discover how Renopay offers a modern renovation escrow alternative.
Toby Millward
Renopay Founder
How much deposit should you pay a builder in the UK?
How much deposit should you pay a builder in the UK? Learn what's normal, what's excessive, and how to protect yourself.
Toby Millward
Renopay Founder
Cash flow management tips for small construction firms
Cash flow killing your construction business? Practical tips for small builders to stabilise finances and get paid faster.
Toby Millward
Renopay Founder
How to structure stage payments for a home extension
Learn how to structure stage payments for your home extension. Protect your budget and keep your builder on track.
Toby Millward
Renopay Founder
How to self-manage a £50k renovation
Learn how to act as your own project manager effectively using escrow techniques to protect your budget.
Toby Millward
Renopay Founder
How to stop chasing invoices as a builder
Tired of chasing clients for payment? Learn how milestone payments help builders stop chasing late invoices.
Toby Millward
Renopay Founder
How to pay a builder safely in 2026
Learn the safer ways to pay a builder in 2026, from escrow to stage payments. Protect your renovation budget.
Toby Millward
Renopay Founder
Why you are turning down profitable work
Stop acting as the bank for your clients. Verify funds upfront and secure your cash flow with Renopay.
Toby Millward
Renopay Founder