/ Web design
Who owns my website and domain?
You should. Your name on the domain registration, your access to hosting, your copy of the files. If the agency owns it, you have a problem.
/ 01
The short version
This catches out a lot of UK small businesses when they try to switch providers.
/ 02
What actually matters
- • Domain must be registered to you or your company, with you as admin contact.
- • You should have hosting login details, even if someone else manages it.
- • Ask for the site files or CMS export in writing.
- • Avoid 'website as a service' deals where leaving means losing the site.
- • Keep your own backup of content and images.
/ 03
The bit most people get wrong
Being 'the contact' isn't the same as being the registrant. Check the registrar record, not just who gets the renewal email.
/ 04
What to do next
Look up your domain on a WHOIS lookup today. If it isn't your name or company, ask for a transfer.
/ 05
Where RIOT fits in
We're a small Colchester studio helping UK SMBs get ownership and hosting right without agency waste or freelancer flake. If you've read this far and you want a second opinion on your specific setup, book a 20-minute call and we'll tell you honestly whether it's worth doing anything at all.
We work with clients across Essex, Suffolk, London and the wider UK — and remotely with brands abroad. No lock-in, no monthly retainer minimums, no pretending your problem is bigger than it is.
/ FAQs
Common questions
Can an agency hold my site hostage?
If they own the domain and hosting, effectively yes. Fix it before you need to leave.
How do I transfer a domain?
Request the auth code from the current registrar and transfer it to your own account.
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