A SAIL (Single Alternative Inspection Location) is an alternative site where a company or LLP can store its statutory records for public inspection. While not legally required, a SAIL address offers convenience by providing an alternative to keeping these records at the registered office.

If you choose to use a SAIL, it must be located in the same UK jurisdiction as your registered office. You must notify Companies House and provide a list of the statutory records held at the SAIL.

If you do not use a SAIL, you are legally required to keep all statutory records at your registered office. Alternatively, since 30 June 2016, you may opt to store certain registers at Companies House instead.

What is the difference between a SAIL address and a registered office address?

A registered office is a mandatory requirement. It serves as the official address of a limited company, where all mail and legal notices from UK government agencies, including Companies House and HMRC, are sent. This address is publicly listed on the Companies Register.

All statutory records must be kept at the registered office and made available for public inspection there unless a SAIL address is used or the company opts to store the information at Companies House instead.

A SAIL (Single Alternative Inspection Location) is optional. It is an alternative address where a company’s statutory records can be kept and inspected. If you choose to use a SAIL, you must provide its address details to Companies House and inform them of the records stored there. This information will also be made public.

Can a SAIL address be anywhere in the world?

A SAIL address must be located in the same jurisdiction as the registered office. This jurisdiction is the UK country where your company is incorporated, whether that’s England and Wales, Wales only, Scotland, or Northern Ireland.

You can change your SAIL address at any time, provided it remains within the same UK jurisdiction.

What records and registers can be kept at a SAIL address?

At a SAIL address, private limited companies can store and make available for public inspection the following company records and registers:

• Register of members (shareholders or guarantors)
• Register of directors
• Register of company secretaries
• Register of debenture holders
• Register of People with Significant Control (PSCs)
• Register of charges and instruments creating charges
• Directors’ service contracts
• Directors’ indemnities
• Copies of company resolutions (including members’ ordinary and special resolutions, board resolutions, and written resolutions)
• Minutes of general meetings
• Documents related to the redemption or purchase of own shares

Do I have to make my company records available for inspection?

Private limited companies must make their statutory records available for inspection every working day between 9am and 5pm. Members of the company can access these records for free, while members of the public are typically charged a fee set by the company.

According to the Companies (Company Records) Regulations 2008, any person wishing to inspect a company’s records must submit a formal request including:

• If the requester is an individual, their name and address
• If the requester is an organization, the name and address of the person making the request on its behalf
• The intended purpose or use of the information gathered during the inspection
• Whether the information will be disclosed to others. If so, the name and address of the individual or representative receiving the information, and how it will be used
• The specified date and time of the inspection

Applicants are typically required to give the company at least 10 working days’ notice before the specified inspection date. However, only 2 working days’ notice is needed if:

• The notice is given during the notice period for a general meeting or class meeting, or
• The company is circulating a written resolution during that period

The applicant must also specify the time they wish to start the inspection, which can be any time between 9am and 3pm, and the inspection must last for at least 2 hours, ending no later than 5pm.

Under the Companies Act 2006 (section 117), within 5 working days of receiving a request to inspect the statutory records, the company must either:

• Comply with the request, or
• Apply to the court for permission to refuse the request if the company believes the inspection is not being sought for a proper purpose

Will Companies House send my company mail to a SAIL address?

Companies House and other government agencies will send all statutory mail to the registered office address, not the SAIL address. Official government mail and legal notices will continue to be delivered to your registered office.

If you wish to have your company’s official government mail delivered to a different address, you can change your registered office to that address. To do this, notify Companies House using form AD01.

How to register or change a SAIL address at Companies House

You can register or update a SAIL address with Companies House by submitting form AD02 through WebFiling. Additionally, you need to file form AD03 to specify which records have been moved to the new location.

Alternatively, use HopeTex’ free Online Company Manager to notify Companies House. Our secure software filing system will process the information instantly.

Log in to your existing account on our website or create a new one to import your company. You can also use this platform to report other changes to Companies House, view and update company details, and file Confirmation Statements.