What does it mean that my payment is held in escrow?

When you pay for a job, your money is held in escrow by Stripe (a regulated payments provider) through Stripe Connect — not by Get Trady. KT Partners Ltd, which operates Get Trady, never holds your funds at any point. Payment is released to the tradesperson only once the work is complete and you've had your review window to check it; until then it stays protected in escrow.