Retention Track normally divides the retention withheld on a contract between Practical Completion and Defects using a single percentage — the PC Retention Release %. For how that split works, see PC vs Defects Retention Splits.
Sometimes a percentage isn't precise enough. This article covers reallocating — moving a fixed dollar amount of withheld retention from one portion to the other while leaving the PC Retention Release % unchanged.
Important: All monetary fields are entered and shown exclusive of sales tax (GST/VAT).
When to use it
A common example: at Practical Completion the head contractor pays out less than your PC share, and you want the shortfall held over until the end of the Defects Liability period so you can still recover it. You could work out a new PC Retention Release % to match, but that often lands on an awkward figure with several decimal places. Reallocating lets you move the exact dollar amount instead, and keep your headline split clean.
How to reallocate
Open the contract from the Contracts menu in the left sidebar.
On the Retentions Breakdown card, click Reallocate in the top-right corner.
Choose a Direction — PC → Defects or Defects → PC.
Enter the Amount (exclusive of sales tax) you want to move. Retention Track shows how much is available to move out of the source portion.
Click Save reallocation.
The card keeps its PC: X% | Defects: Y% badge unchanged and adds an Adjusted marker so it's clear a manual reallocation is in place. Hover the info icon next to Total Retentions Withheld to see the new PC and Defects amounts.
Good to know
Only the split moves, not the total. Reallocating shifts money between the PC and Defects portions of the withheld retention. The total retention withheld and your overall outstanding balance don't change.
You can only move what's still held. The amount is capped at the source portion's outstanding balance, so you can't move more than is actually sitting in that portion.
It's a single figure you can edit or clear. Reallocating again replaces the previous amount; set the amount to 0 to remove the adjustment and return to a straight percentage split.
Every change is recorded on the contract's timeline, so there's a clear history of what was moved and when.
Note: Reallocating isn't available while a claim is open on the contract — the Reallocate option is replaced with a link to contact support. If you need to move retention between portions part-way through a claim, get in touch and we'll help you through it.
Common questions
When should I change the PC Retention Release % instead?
Use the PC Retention Release % when your contract genuinely specifies a split other than 50/50 (for example a 60/40 release) — it's the headline rule for the contract. Use a reallocation for one-off, dollar-precise adjustments on top of that rule, such as holding back a specific shortfall to the Defects date.
Can I undo a reallocation?
Yes. Open the Reallocate option again and set the amount to 0 (or enter a new amount). The split returns to whatever the PC Retention Release % produces, and the Adjusted marker disappears.