Aligned with UK Government Trusted Payments Scheme · Aug 2026
Project Sign-Off & Milestone Payments

Protect your clients. Guarantee your payment. Work is submitted with evidence, reviewed and signed off before each milestone releases — aligned with the government's new Trusted Payments framework.

Government Scheme
Approved
Trusted Payments · FHIO · CTSI Code
Payment Method
Milestone
Funds held, released on client sign-off per stage
Dispute Route
FHIO
Furniture & Home Improvement Ombudsman
Your Projects
Loft Conversion
Mr & Mrs Patel · Windsor
● In Progress
Rear Extension
J. Harrison · Maidenhead
◐ Awaiting Sign-Off
Kitchen Refurb
D. Okonkwo · Slough
✓ Complete
Loft Conversion
Client: Mr & Mrs Patel · Windsor · OCC-BGP-001
Milestone Payment Schedule — Funds Held in Escrow
Stage 1 — Structural opening & steel beams
Completed 14 Aug 2026 · Signed off by client
£4,200Released
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RSJ steel beams installed to structural engineer's specification (drawing 2026-101 Rev B). Building control sign-off obtained 12 Aug. Roof opened and temporary weather protection in place. Client attended and approved 14 Aug 2026.
Stage 2 — Roof structure, insulation & Velux
Submitted for sign-off · 27 Aug 2026 · £5,800 in escrow
£5,800Held — Pending
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New roof structure complete to engineer's spec. 150mm PIR insulation between rafters (0.18 W/m²K — compliant with Approved Document L). Three Velux FK06 rooflights installed. EPDM membrane to flat section. Building control inspection booked 30 Aug. Please review photos and notes above, then approve to release payment.
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Stage 3 — First fix carpentry, electrics & plumbing
Unlocks after Stage 2 sign-off
£6,500Held
Stage unlocks once Stage 2 is approved. Scope: staircase first fix, partitions, first fix electrical circuits, bathroom rough-in, mechanical ventilation to Approved Document F.
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Stage 4 — Second fix, finishes & snagging
Not yet started
£4,500Held
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Practical Completion & Retention Release
5% retention — 6-month defects liability period
£1,000Retention
Retention held for 6-month defects liability period. Released on satisfactory post-completion inspection. FHIO dispute service available under the Approved Code Scheme.
Total Contract
£22,000
Released
£4,200
Pending Sign-Off
£5,800
In Escrow
£12,000
New Project
Aligned with Trusted Payments Approved Code Scheme · OCC
Payment Milestones — Held in Escrow Until Each Signed Off
How escrow works: The client funds the full contract value into a protected account before work starts. Funds are NOT released to the builder until each milestone is signed off in this app. A 24-hour review period applies before each payment releases. Disputes go to the FHIO Ombudsman under the Approved Code Scheme.
Announced 28 August 2026 · GOV.UK
The Government's Cowboy Builder Crackdown
CS
Colin Stacey
Founder & CEO · Online Construction Consultants · 35+ Years Experience
"I started as an apprentice bricklayer at Eton College. I've seen the damage cowboy builders do first-hand — to families, finances, and the industry's reputation. The government's new scheme is a step in the right direction, and OCC's BuildGPT platform is built to help everyone navigate it with confidence."

On 28 August 2026, Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced two interlocking measures to eliminate rogue builders. In 2024, people lost over £10.3 billion on home maintenance. More than 1 in 4 adults who carried out home improvements experienced problems, with over 37% facing extra costs averaging £750.

Live Sep 2026 Voluntary scheme 100,000+ traders Dept for Business, Innovation, Science & Trade
Two Interlocking Measures
Approved Code Scheme

Delivered by the Furniture and Home Improvement Ombudsman (FHIO) with the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI). Builders who sign up must demonstrate higher standards of customer service, transparency, dispute resolution access and compliance.

Approved businesses display the CTSI Approved Code logo. Fully live December 2026. Voluntary — no compulsory licensing.

Trusted Payments System

Built by Trusted Payments Limited (the Resolver team). App live September 2026. Client and builder agree scope and milestones upfront. Client funds each stage into a protected account. Builder submits evidence. Client reviews within 24 hours. Payment releases via Stripe on approval. Disputes go to FHIO.

For Builders

Payment guaranteed before work starts
Market differentiation via Approved Code badge
→ Stop being undercut by rogue traders
Paper trail of sign-offs in disputes
Fairer dispute resolution via FHIO

For Clients

No large upfront payments
Sign-off control before each payment releases
24-hour review period built in
Evidence required per stage
Free FHIO ombudsman access
Warranty on completed works

OCC's E-Book — Avoiding the Cowboys

OCC Founder Colin Stacey wrote the definitive guide to avoiding cowboy builders long before the government caught up. 11 practical chapters — from choosing the right builder to staying on budget and avoiding delays. Written with 40+ years of real site experience.

Get the E-Book — £7 → Free 30-Min Consultation →