Before, during, and after setting up a UK limited company, you will encounter various company addresses:

• Registered office
• Director’s service address
• Correspondence address
• Residential address
• SAIL address
• Business address

Understanding each of these addresses can be overwhelming.

In this blog post, we will explain what each address is and provide the information you need.

It’s important to note that the registered office, service address(es), and residential address(es) must be provided during the company HopeTex process. We will also explain how to change these addresses. The SAIL address, if you choose to have one, is provided after the company is formed, so we will guide you on how to select one as well.

What is the registered office address?

The registered office is the official address for a UK limited company and, as the name suggests, it must be located in the UK.

The company does not need to conduct any trading activity from this address, nor is there a requirement for any officers or staff to be based there, as long as any official company documents (such as mail from Companies House and HMRC) are received by the company officers.

Any address can be used as the registered office, provided you have obtained permission from the landlord.

Is the registered office address on the Companies House public register?

Yes. This means someone can view the address within a matter of seconds using the Companies House research tools.

Can I use my home address as a registered office?

Yes, you can use a residential address as the registered office, provided you live in the UK and have permission from the landlord if you’re renting.

However, we do not recommend using a residential address for this purpose because it will be listed on the Companies House public register.

Using a residential address as the registered office may expose you to unwanted visitors, junk mail, and potential identity fraud. Additionally, it might undermine your company’s corporate image, as potential customers, clients, suppliers, and business partners will see that you operate from a home address.

How to change a registered office address

There are several ways to change the registered office address:

• Directly with Companies House using WebFiling.
• Directly with Companies House using the AD01 Change of Registered Office Address form.
• Through our free Online Company Manager, accessible to anyone with your company number and authentication code.

The registered office address jurisdiction

The registered office address can be located in England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, or Wales, and it determines a company’s jurisdiction.

• A company formed in England has its jurisdiction as England and Wales.
• A company formed in Scotland is under the jurisdiction of Scotland.
• A company formed in Northern Ireland falls under the jurisdiction of Northern Ireland.
• If a company is formed in Wales, its jurisdiction is either England and Wales or just Wales.

Once the jurisdiction is set by the location of the company’s first registered office, it cannot be changed. This means that while the registered office can be updated, it cannot move between jurisdictions. For example, a company formed in Scotland cannot change its registered office to an address in England.

What is a service address?

Also known as the correspondence address, the service address is the official address for the company directors, shareholders, secretaries, and people with significant control (PSCs).

Unlike the registered office address, the service address can be located anywhere in the world.

Similar to the registered office address, the company does not need to conduct any trading at the service address, nor do any company officers need to be based there—provided they receive any official government mail sent to that address.

Is the service address on the Companies House public register?

Yes, anyone can quickly and simply find the address using the companies address research tools.

Can I use my home address as the service address?

You can use a residential address as the service address; however, we do not recommend this. As mentioned, the service address is listed on the Companies House public register.

Using a residential address for the service address can expose you to unwanted visitors, junk mail, and potential identity fraud.

How to change a service address

You can change the service address in the following ways:

• Directly with Companies House using WebFiling.
• Using the CH01 Change of Director’s Details form for a director.
• Using the CH03 Change of Details of a Secretary form for a secretary.
• Using the PSC04 Change of Details of Individual Person with Significant Control form for a PSC.
• Through our free Online Company Manager, accessible to anyone with your company number and authentication code.

What is the residential address?

When adding your directors and people with significant control, you must provide both a service address and a residential address.

The residential address must be the actual home address of the person in question and can be located anywhere in the world.

Is the residential address on the Companies House public register?

The residential address is not published on the public register unless it is also used as the registered office or service address.

Companies House collects this address for their own records and will only disclose it to credit reference agencies and official bodies, such as the police in cases of suspected criminal activity, under specific circumstances.

How to change a residential address

You can change the residential address in the following ways:

• Directly with Companies House using WebFiling.
• Using the CH01 Change of Director’s Details form for a director.
• Using the PSC04 Change of Details of Individual Person with Significant Control form for a PSC.
• Through our free Online Company Manager, accessible to anyone with your company number and authentication code.

The SAIL address (single alternative inspection location address)

The SAIL (Single Alternative Inspection Location) address is where a company’s statutory records are kept and made available for inspection, as an alternative to the registered office.

While having a SAIL address is optional, if you choose to have one, it must be in the same jurisdiction as the company’s registered office.

Is the SAIL address on the Companies House public register?

If you choose to have a SAIL address, it will be listed on the public register and accessible via the Companies House search tool.

How to register a SAIL address

You can select a SAIL address in the following ways:

• Directly with Companies House using WebFiling.
• Directly with Companies House using the AD02 Notification of Single Alternative Inspection Location (SAIL) form.

You will also need to inform Companies House about the documents that have been moved. This can be done in the following ways:

• Directly with Companies House using WebFiling.
• Directly with Companies House using the AD03 Change of Location of the Company Records to the Single Alternative Inspection Location form.

What is the business address?

Unlike the other addresses mentioned, the business address is not an official Companies House address.

Instead, the business address is the location provided to banks, customers, suppliers, partners, and other business contacts, typically through the company’s website and marketing materials.

A company does not need to conduct any trading from the business address, nor do any officers or staff need to be based there.

Our address services

We offer company address services that enable you to use our London address for your company’s registered office, service address, and business address.

These services are ideal if you wish to protect your residential address from public view and create a professional corporate image.

• Use our address as your company’s registered office address.
• Use our address as a company officer’s service address.
• Use our address as your company’s business address.