The first set of changes introduced by the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (ECCT Act) came into effect on 4 March 2024. One of the new measures requires every company (and incorporated partnership) to use an ‘appropriate address’ as their registered office.

This guide details the new requirement, its potential impact on your company, and the consequences of not using an appropriate address.

What is an ‘appropriate address’?

Part 6, section 86(2) of the Companies Act 2006, as amended by the ECCT Act, defines an ‘appropriate address’ for a registered office as follows:

An address is considered ‘appropriate’ if, in the ordinary course of events:

1. A document addressed to the company and delivered there by hand or by post would be expected to come to the attention of a person acting on behalf of the company, and
2. The delivery of documents to that address can be recorded by obtaining an acknowledgment of delivery.

This means that companies can no longer use a PO Box as a registered office address, even if they provide the full postal address.

Changes to UK Company Law – Effective from 4 March 2024

Failure to use an appropriate registered office address may lead to serious consequences. Without a valid reason for non-compliance, both the company and its officers (e.g., directors) could be committing an offence.

To ensure your registered office meets all requirements, you must select an address that is:

• A physical address in the UK
• Located in the same country (or jurisdiction) where your company is incorporated
• An ‘appropriate address’ as defined in the Companies Act 2006

You can use either a residential or non-residential (commercial) address for your registered office, provided it meets these conditions and you have permission to use it for this purpose. However, a non-residential address is generally the preferred choice.

Failure to use an appropriate address  

If Companies House (the ‘registrar’) determines that a company’s existing registered office address is not appropriate, they will:

1. Change the company’s registered office to a default address held at Companies House without prior notice, or
2. Provide the company with 14 days to either prove that the existing address is appropriate or to update the registered office to a new address.

If the registrar opts to move the company’s registered office to a default address without notice (and the company does not object), the company will have 28 days to provide details of a new, appropriate address. The company must also include evidence that it has the right to use the new address.

If a company fails to provide notice of a new address within the specified timeframe, the registrar may initiate the strike-off process to remove the company from the register.

The most recent guidance on the registrar’s rules and powers can be accessed online at GOV.UK.

What is the Companies House default address?

As of 4 March 2024, the Companies House default addresses are as follows:

1. For companies incorporated in England and Wales: Crown Way, Cardiff, CF14 3UZ, United Kingdom
2. For companies incorporated in Scotland: 4th Floor, Edinburgh Quay 2, 139 Fountainbridge, Edinburgh, EH3 9FF, United Kingdom
3. For companies incorporated in Northern Ireland: Second Floor, The Linenhall, 32-38 Linenhall Street, Belfast, BT2 8BG, United Kingdom

These addresses are maintained by Companies House and may be assigned as a company’s registered office address if its existing address is deemed inappropriate.

Companies incorporated in England & Wales (and ‘Welsh companies’)

Companies House Default Address
PO Box 4385
Companies House
Crown Way
Cardiff
CF14 3UZ

Companies incorporated in Scotland

Companies House Default Address
PO Box 24238
Edinburgh
EH7 9HR

Companies incorporated in Northern Ireland

Companies House Default Address
Companies House
2nd Floor
The Linenhall
32-38 Linenhall Street
Belfast
BT2 8BG

When the registrar moves a company’s registered office to a default address, several legal duties of the company will be suspended for 28 days. These include the duty to:

• make certain statutory register and company records available for inspection
• display company details (e.g. the company name) at the registered office address
• include information about the registered office on business documents and communications
• provide information about the registered office address to a person in the course of business

The company can still receive statutory correspondence at the default address and arrange to collect it. However, the registrar is under no obligation to notify the company or open any mail delivered there.

When the company changes its registered office to an appropriate address, the registrar does not have to forward any retained mail to the company.

Is HopeTex Registered Office Service an appropriate address? 

Our London Registered Office Address Service meets the definition of an ‘appropriate address’. We provide the full, physical postal address of our Covent Garden office building, not a PO Box.

As a London address, this service is suitable for new and existing companies incorporated in England & Wales. It is not applicable for companies formed in Scotland or Northern Ireland, nor is it suitable for a ‘Welsh company’.

If you currently use a registered office service from another provider, ensure that it complies with the new ‘appropriate address’ rules and continues to meet your company’s requirements.

How to change your registered office address

Our London Registered Office Address Service meets the definition of an ‘appropriate address’. We provide the full, physical postal address of our Covent Garden office building, not a PO Box.

As a London address, this service is suitable for new and existing companies incorporated in England & Wales. It is not applicable for companies formed in Scotland or Northern Ireland, nor is it suitable for a ‘Welsh company’.

If you currently use a registered office service from another provider, ensure that it complies with the new ‘appropriate address’ rules and continues to meet your company’s requirements.

If the registrar has moved your registered office to a Companies House default address, you will need to submit form AD01 by post rather than online. Although the process is the same, it will take longer due to postal delivery times.

If you can file online, you can use HopeTex Online Company Manager to notify Companies House of a change of registered office address. There is no requirement to be an existing customer to use this free service. Simply register an account and import your company details into our system.