Specialist Escrow & Payment Services
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Are escrow agents regulated in the UK?

TL;DR

Escrow agents in the UK don’t need specific licensing, but most are regulated anyway - because they also operate as solicitors, trustees, payment service providers, or banks.

Are escrow agents regulated in the UK?

Being an escrow agent in the UK is not itself a regulated activity. However, most providers are regulated because they perform related activities - such as legal, trustee, banking, or payment services - and thus fall under regulatory oversight through those roles.

Why that matters

  • Regulation ensures client funds are properly safeguarded and handled in compliance with legal standards.
  • Many escrow providers are FCA-authorised payment service providers or are regulated as solicitors handling client money under the SRA Accounts Rules.
  • At dospay, all GBP escrow and TPMA funds are segregated and held at the Bank of England, adding an extra layer of security.

Examples of regulated providers

  • Law firms handling escrow as part of legal services.
  • Trustees managing funds for structured deals.
  • FCA-authorised fintech or banks offering escrow or TPMA services.

How dospay ensures trust and compliance

  • Licensed by the Financial Conduct Authority under the Payment Services Regulations 2017.
  • Funds are held in safeguarded, segregated accounts at the Bank of England.
  • Offers transparent, regulated, and secure escrow services across sectors such as construction, M&A, marine, and more.

Our Escrow Accounts

We provide specialist escrow accounts, from the everyday to the exotic, adding trust and transparency to your transaction.

Our Payment Accounts

Our managed third-party payment services support regulated and unregulated clients in managing their own client funds.

FCA-Regulated

We're regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority for the provision of payment services.

Digital Accounts Portal

Access your account, view your transactions and documents and provide read-only access to all of your relevant stakeholders.

White-Glove Service

Your named account manager can help you manage your accounts at any time, by email, phone or WhatsApp.

High-Speed Account Opening

We can open escrow accounts in as little as a day - our systems and processes are built for speed.

Ultra-Secure Deposits

We deposit all pound sterling sums at the Bank of England, offering the lowest-risk escrow service in the United Kingdom.

Any duration, any value

We can hold funds for as little as a few hours, for many years, or even longer depending on your specific requirements.

What our clients say

Don't just take our word for it - hear from our clients who have added trust and security to their escrow and payment requirements.
Escrow Accounts

UK Escrow Accounts

Private escrow accounts provide security, trust and transparency to ongoing or ad-hoc payment requirements.

Pension Deficit Escrow

This strategic tool allows employers to balance short-term financial flexibility with long-term funding obligations, aligning both corporate and trustee interests.
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Mergers & Acquisitions ('M&A') Escrow

Escrow is often used in M&A transactions to provide security for the deal and protect the parties before and after completion.
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Marine Sale & Purchase Escrow

We provide escrow services for ship and yacht sale and purchase, supporting lawyers and owners in their maritime transactions.
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Jet Card Escrow Accounts

Our jet card escrow accounts provide all of the benefits to charterers but without the insolvency risks associated with traditional jet card programmes.
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Aircraft Purchase Escrow (UK)

Acting as a trusted neutral third party for the completion of an aircraft purchase transaction, we hold the aircraft papers and the deposit.
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Construction Retentions Escrow

Retentions exist to incentivise contractors to complete the contracted Works. The idea behind them is that by agreeing to withholding some of each monthly payment, this amount of money acts as a significant carrot to complete the Works to the required standard.
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Construction Escrow

Construction Escrow accounts de-risk the construction contract for both parties and offer a lower-cost alternative to performance bonds.
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Party Wall Escrow

Party Wall Escrow Accounts provide security for neighbouring building owners while you carry out construction works.
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TPMA's

Third-Party Managed Accounts

Third-Party Managed Accounts (TPMA's) are a convenient way to manage complex, high-value or even routine payment operations.

Corporate PayMaster Accounts

Supporting new businesses, international businesses and streamlined back offices with outsourced accounts payable.
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Probate & Executor Accounts

Executors and lawyers collecting estate property can use our Probate & Executor Accounts to collect estate funds and hold them safely at the Bank of England.
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TPMA's for Legal Fees on Account

Third-Party Managed Accounts to handle your fees on account.
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Household PayMaster Accounts

Supporting house managers and family offices in single- and multi-residence households with outsourced payment and accounting services.
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FF&E Procurement Accounts

As many interior designers aren't regulated to carry out payment services or hold client money, our procurement accounts offer a safe, transparent alternative for large FF&E projects.
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Project Bank Accounts

Our Project Bank Accounts provide project-specific, pre-funded, ring-fenced bank accounts to protect Funders, consultants and Contractors engaged in high-value and/or long-term Works.
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dospay Escrow & Payments

Fixed-Price Escrow & Payment Schemes

We operate a number of zero-fee or fixed-price escrow and payment schemes to deliver the best value on our Bank of England escrow services.

UK Retention Deposit Scheme

We hold construction retentions, free of charge at the Bank of England for the whole supply chain. Secure, FCA-regulated service with Bank of England deposits.
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UK Security for Expenses Scheme

Deposit your Party Wall Security for Expenses, free of charge, at the Bank of England. As safe as houses. Secure, FCA-regulated service with Bank of England deposits.
Find out more...
dospay Escrow & Payments

Articles

Information, guides and blogs about specialist escrow and third-party managed payment services.