A registered office address is a formal correspondence address that every limited company (and limited liability partnership) must provide during the incorporation process. Companies are required to maintain a registered office for the duration of their existence, although the address can be changed at any time.

The purpose of a registered office is to offer Companies House, HMRC, and other government bodies a secure address for delivering statutory communications and legal notices. Additionally, it is the location where companies should make their statutory registers available for public inspection, unless an alternative location is designated for this purpose.

• A Colvant Garden registered office address.
• The SAIL address explained.
• Services address for company directors.

A registered office address must be located in the same UK country or jurisdiction where the company is registered (England and Wales, Wales only, Scotland, or Northern Ireland). It does not, however, need to be in the same country where the business conducts its main trading activities.

Only full, physical postal addresses can be used as registered offices. They must also comply with the ‘appropriate address’ requirements outlined in the Companies Act 2006. Both residential and non-residential (commercial) addresses are allowed (excluding PO Boxes), but many people choose commercial addresses to protect their privacy.

Why do I need a registered office for my limited company?

All limited companies incorporated in the UK are required to have a registered office because:

• It is a legal requirement under the Companies Act 2006.
• An official contact address is needed for receiving and sending government communications and notices.
• Maintaining a registered office on the public register at Companies House promotes transparency and openness in corporate affairs.
• It is the location where statutory company registers should be stored and made available for public inspection.

Companies also have the option to use a SAIL (Single Alternative Inspection Location) address for inspection purposes. Alternatively, they can choose to keep some statutory register information at Companies House instead.

Do I need a registered office for a limited liability partnership?

Yes, to form a limited liability partnership (LLP), you must have a registered office in the UK jurisdiction where the LLP is incorporated—England and Wales, Wales, Scotland, or Northern Ireland.

Can I use my home as a registered office?

You can use your home as a registered office address, but it’s generally not recommended. A non-residential address is ideal for several reasons:

• Privacy: Using a residential address could lead to unwanted visitors and unsolicited mail at your home due to the public disclosure of corporate information.
• Professionalism: A non-residential address in a prestigious location can attract a larger consumer base and appeal to discerning investors.
• Credibility: Having a professional registered office address can enhance your company’s image as an established, credible, and trustworthy business.
• Separation: It helps maintain a clear distinction between work and personal life.

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

A registered office is the official address of a limited company or LLP where correspondence and legal notices from UK government agencies are sent.

A service address, on the other hand, is the official contact address for individual directors, LLP members, company secretaries, subscribers (founding shareholders), and people with significant control (PSCs). Personal statutory mail from government agencies, such as Companies House and HMRC, is sent to the individual’s service address.

Both are required under UK company law and are listed on the Companies House register. However, unlike a registered office, a service address can be located anywhere in the world. You can, if you prefer, use the same postal address for both your registered office and service address.

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

As the official address of your company, the registered office is used exclusively for receiving statutory mail from government agencies. A business address, however, serves as the contact point for all other types of correspondence, including communications from clients/customers, suppliers, utility providers, and other third parties.

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Companies that operate in various regions of the UK or internationally may have multiple business addresses to establish a local presence in each area. This approach is effective for maintaining contact points in different locations.

While there is no legal obligation for a business address to match the registered office address, you can use the same address for both if it meets the criteria for a registered office. Many businesses operating from commercial premises, such as shops or restaurants, often opt for this arrangement.

Can I use my council house address as a registered office?

Companies House will accept any residential or non-residential address (excluding PO Boxes) as a registered office, provided that the full postal address is given and it is located within the same UK jurisdiction as the company’s incorporation.

If you rent your home from a private landlord or local authority, you must obtain their permission before using your home as a registered office. This is necessary because the address will be publicly recorded.

This should generally not be an issue unless the activities conducted at the property could disturb neighbors, pose risks to the property, or involve frequent visits at all hours.

Such business use might be deemed unreasonable and could be refused by your landlord or local authority. Additionally, you are likely to be prohibited from placing advertisements at the property.

Applying for permission

To apply to your local council, you will need to send a written request to the head of the relevant housing authority and provide full details of (where applicable):

• planned business use
• any planned changes or alterations to the property
• the erection of sheds or outbuildings
• any commercial vehicles that you will use
• the hours and level of noise resulting from business use

You should not start running a business from your council property until you have received written permission from the head of your housing service and, if applicable, the head of the planning department.

You may also have to pay business rates if you use any part of the property exclusively for business use, or if you have modified a section of the property for this reason. However, each case is considered on an individual basis and will depend on the regulations of your local authority or housing association.

What happens if your request is denied?

If you are unable to use your home as a registered office, you can obtain one through an online company formation service, such as HopeTex. Many people choose this option to maintain privacy and project a more professional image for their business.

Can I move my company’s registered office to a different country?

Although Companies House serves as the Registrar of Companies across the UK, it operates within three distinct jurisdictions: England and Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, each governed by its own legal system.

If a company is involved in legal proceedings, the case will be handled by the court of the relevant jurisdiction, in accordance with the Companies Act 2006. Therefore, a registered office must be located in the country where the company is incorporated.

In England and Wales, which is a single jurisdiction, you can move a registered office from England to Wales or vice versa. However, if you register a “Welsh company,” the registered office must be in Wales.

In all other cases, you can change your registered office address as needed, but you cannot move it to a different country after incorporation. Companies can trade in all three jurisdictions, so if you want to expand your business activities geographically, consider setting up additional business addresses in other parts of the UK or abroad.

Can I change my registered office address?

Yes, you can change your registered office address at any time and as often as needed, provided it remains within the same UK jurisdiction. You must notify Companies House of any changes as soon as possible.

The address details will be updated on the public register within approximately 24 hours. Ensure that all statutory records are transferred to the new registered office unless you use a SAIL address instead.

How to change a registered office

To change a registered office, the company directors must approve the change. Complete Companies House form AD01 (for companies) or form LLAD01 (for LLPs) and submit it to the Registrar via WebFiling. This can also be done using 1st Formations’ free Online Company Manager.

Companies House will verify the new address against the Post Office database, so make sure to provide the full address and the correct postcode. If the new address is valid, the change will be approved, and the public register will be updated within approximately 24 hours.

The new address will not take effect until Companies House updates its database. Once this occurs, you’ll need to update your stationery and move your statutory records (if applicable).

How many companies can be registered to one address?

Companies House does not impose a limit on the number of companies that can share the same registered office address. It is common for multiple companies to use the same address, and this is not an indication of fraudulent activity.

Furthermore, there is no requirement for these companies to be part of a group or to have any relationship with each other. Completely independent companies with different owners can share the same registered office address.

What about space limitations?

A company does not need to conduct trading activities or have personnel, such as directors, secretaries, shareholders, or employees, based at its registered office address. Therefore, there are no restrictions on the amount of space required for the registered office.

The main consideration is managing mail. Any official correspondence sent to the registered office address, including communications from Companies House, HMRC, and court documents, must be reviewed by the company directors.

Before selecting a registered office address (if it is not your residential address), ensure that you have arrangements in place to access and handle any official mail that may arrive.

Can a registered office address be removed from public view?

Once a registered office address is submitted to Companies House, it will remain publicly visible on the register. Therefore, it is crucial to choose your address carefully when forming a company.

When can a home address be removed from the public register?

Since 2018, the Companies (Disclosure of Address) (Amendment) Regulations 2018 have allowed most residential addresses to be removed from the public register. This regulation, now part of section 1088 of the Companies Act 2006, enables company directors and certain other individuals to request the removal of their home addresses from public inspection if they appear on company documents. However, this does not apply to registered office addresses.

New provisions under the Economic Crime & Corporate Transparency Act 2023 will soon allow individuals to request the removal of home address details from historical filings on the register, including where the address was previously used as a registered office. This change is expected to be implemented within the next few years.

To avoid these issues, it is advisable to use a non-residential address for both registered office and service addresses. If you do not have your own commercial premises, consider using a professional address service provided by a company formation agent.

Where to display registered office details

You are required to display your company’s registered office address on all official stationery, including emails, brochures, and websites.

Additionally, unless the registered office is primarily a residential address or the company has been dormant since incorporation, you must clearly and continuously display your company’s full name on a sign at the registered office.

Statutory records you must keep at a registered office address

Private limited companies must keep some or all of their statutory records at their registered office, unless they are maintained at a SAIL address or Companies House.

Statutory records include:

• Register of members
• Register of company directors
• Register of company secretaries
• Register of people with significant control
• Directors’ service contracts
• Directors’ indemnities (security against liability claims or legal costs)
• Copies of resolutions
• Minutes of meetings
• Contracts related to the purchase of own shares
• Documents related to the redemption or purchase of own shares out of capital by a private company
• Register of debenture holders
• Instruments creating charges and register of charges

These records can be kept in hard copy (bound or loose-leaf book) or in digital format. Any additional registers your company maintains, such as the register of allotments, should also be kept at the registered office.

HopeTex London Registered Office Service

HopeTex offers a prestigious London Registered Office Address located in the heart of Covent Garden, suitable for any company or LLP registered in England and Wales. This service is available for £39.00 per year. All official government mail will be scanned and emailed to you within 1 working day of receipt at no additional cost.

Many of our company packages include this service as standard, but it can also be purchased separately for new or existing companies in England and Wales.

Our central London address is also available as a Service Address for £26.00 per year and as a Business Address Service for £96.00 per year. Both services are suitable for companies registered across all UK jurisdictions.