Do I Need a Registered Office Address Service for my Company?

Every company registered in the UK requires a designated registered address where official correspondence from entities like Companies House, HMRC, or other government agencies are received.
An appropriate registered office address is part of a measure to guarantee all mail sent to it reaches a designated company officer, typically a director or other authorised personnel.
Failure to maintain an accurate and up-to-date registered office address may result in missed communications, non-compliance with legal requirements, and potential penalties.
The official correspondence address must be a physical address in the same UK country/jurisdiction where the company is registered (England and Wales, Wales, Scotland, or Northern Ireland).

Can I Use a PO Box?

No. Using a P.O. Box as your company's registered office address is prohibited. The registered address must be a physical location where documents can be delivered and signed to confirm receipt.

The requirement is crucial for statutory letters sent by state agencies like Companies House or HMRC. These agencies need assurance that their communications are received by someone within the company who can promptly address regulatory or tax-related matters.

Further reading: New 2024 Companies House Requirements for Registered Office Address

What if I need to change the Registered Office Address?

If your company's registered office address needs to be changed due to a change of premises, you can easily do so through the Companies House website using form AD01. There is no fee for this service, but you'll need your email address and Webfiling authentication code.

Here's how you can update your registered office address:

Visit the Find and update company information page on the Companies House website.
Locate your company and click on the 'file for this company' tab.
Follow the instructions provided on the page.
Enter your new building name or number and postcode. You can either find the address or manually input it.
Submit your changes.
Companies House will promptly send you a confirmation email.

Remember to update your company's address on your website, order forms, receipts, and business cards to ensure consistency.

Displaying your Registered Company Address

It's essential to display your company's registered address on all official stationery, such as emails, brochures, and websites. Furthermore, your company's full name must be visibly displayed on a sign at your registered office at all times unless it's mainly used as a residential address or your company has been dormant since its incorporation.

Get a Prestigious London Registered Office Address

A London address lends credibility to your company and conveys professionalism and trustworthiness to clients, partners, and stakeholders.

With a prestigious London address, you position your business as a serious player in the market, setting it apart from competitors and instilling confidence in potential customers. Open up new opportunities for networking and collaboration within the vibrant business community of the UK's capital city.

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

A registered office address is mandatory for newly formed companies in the United Kingdom. Its primary function is to handle official correspondence from government entities like Companies House. Conversely, a business address is the point of contact for communications from partners, banks, suppliers, customers, and other stakeholders, excluding governmental bodies.

See the table below for key differences.

Difference	Registered Office Address	Business Address
Legal Requirement	Mandatory for all registered companies in the UK (including limited partnerships and limited liability partnerships); required by law for statutory communications.	It is not legally mandated but is chosen by businesses for operational purposes.
Purpose	Specifically designated to receive official government communications, including mail from Companies House, HMRC, and other regulatory bodies.	Used for general business operations, such as receiving client, supplier, and stakeholder correspondence.
Scope of communication	Limited to government-related correspondence, legal notices, and regulatory filings.	Encompasses a broader range of communications, including customer inquiries, marketing materials, and business-to-business correspondence.
Acknowledgement	Often requires acknowledgement of receipt, such as signing for mail deliveries.	Typically, it does not require acknowledgement of receipt, although businesses may have internal procedures for handling incoming mail.
Disclosure	Address details are publicly available on official registers, providing transparency and legal compliance.	Address details may or may not be publicly disclosed, depending on the company's privacy policies and preferences.

Statutory records you must keep at a registered office address

As a private limited company, the law requires that you maintain the following records at your registered office address unless you prefer to store them at your SAIL address or Companies House.

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