On construction projects, part of each payment is withheld until the end of the defects liability period. That money routinely sits in the client’s treasury for months, untracked and producing nothing. SafeYield holds it instead, as a third party accepted by both sides, keeps it visible, and makes it work.
What construction companies live with today
Your cash is locked, and it produces nothing.
As an example, on a 300,000 euro contract with a 5 percent retention, that is 15,000 euros withheld for months. For a construction SME running several projects at once, tens of thousands of euros sit frozen precisely when working capital is tightest.
Getting it back is a claim, not a trigger.
Once the defects liability period ends, nothing is released automatically. You write, you chase, sometimes you escalate. Many companies simply give up on the smaller amounts, which is exactly what the mechanism should never allow.
Nobody can see where the money is.
The withheld amounts usually stay in the client’s general treasury, mixed with everything else, with no segregation and no traceability for the company that earned them.
What SafeYield changes
SafeYield acts as a holder accepted by both parties. The withheld funds leave the client’s treasury, are segregated and held in Europe, and become visible to the company bearing the retention. The return generated during the retention period goes back to the depositor. The yield is variable and not guaranteed, indexed to prevailing money-market rates.
Two distinct benefits, for two audiences. For the construction company: traceable funds, a committed release process, and a return where there was nothing. For the client: retention handled by a neutral third party, at no cost.
How it works, concretely
The retention, at acceptance of the works
The withheld amount is transferred to SafeYield instead of staying in the client’s treasury.
Tracking, during the defects liability period
Both parties follow the amount and the return it generates in the same dashboard, in real time.
Defects resolved, reserves lifted
The parties record that the works are accepted and any defects have been fixed, as they already do today.
Release, on dual approval
Both confirm, and the retention plus its return goes back to the company immediately. In case of disagreement, mediation opens before anything moves.
Frequently asked questions
Who earns the return on the retention?
The return generated while the funds are held goes back to the depositor at release. It is variable and not guaranteed, and both parties can watch it accrue in real time.
Does it cost the client anything?
No. SafeYield is free for both parties. The service takes a commission on the return generated by the funds, never a fee.
What if the client claims defects at the end?
Neither party can move the funds alone. We open a space for mediation to help you reach an agreement, and if agreement stays impossible, it is up to a judge to rule before any funds are released.
Retention money, finally visible
SafeYield holds construction retention money as a third party accepted by both sides: segregated, tracked in real time, released on dual approval. See how SafeYield works or browse our articles on construction retention.