Every UK limited company must have a registered office address. This is a legal requirement under the Companies Act 2006 — you cannot form a company without one. But many new business owners aren't entirely clear on what a registered office actually is, how it differs from a trading address, and what the implications of different choices are.
This guide explains everything you need to know, including the privacy implications of using your home address and how to use a professional service address instead.
Legal Definition and Requirement
A registered office is the official address of a company as recorded on the Companies House register. It is the address to which all formal and legal correspondence is sent by government bodies, regulatory authorities, and courts. Under Section 86 of the Companies Act 2006, all UK companies must have a registered office at all times.
The registered office address is publicly visible on the Companies House register — anyone in the UK (or anywhere in the world) can look it up for free. This is an important consideration when choosing your registered office address.
The address must be a physical UK address (not a PO Box) in the appropriate jurisdiction for your company. It does not need to be where you actually work or trade.
What Correspondence Is Sent to Your Registered Office?
The following bodies will send important correspondence to your registered office address. It is critical that mail is checked regularly and not ignored.
Companies House
Confirmation statement reminders, penalty notices, filing deadline letters, strike-off warnings, compliance requests
HMRC
Corporation Tax payment reminders, CT600 notices, VAT correspondence, PAYE notices, Unique Taxpayer Reference letters
Courts
County Court judgements (CCJs), legal proceedings, winding-up petitions
Creditors
Statutory demands, formal debt recovery notices sent by solicitors
Pension Regulator
Auto-enrolment duties letters if you employ staff
Banks & Lenders
Formal correspondence related to company accounts or credit agreements
Important: Ignoring correspondence sent to your registered office is not a valid legal defence. If Companies House sends a strike-off notice and you don't respond because you missed the letter, the company can be dissolved regardless.
Registered Office vs Trading Address vs Business Address
These terms are often confused. Here's a clear explanation of each:
| Address Type | Purpose | Public Register? |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Office | Official legal address for formal correspondence from Companies House, HMRC, courts | Yes — publicly visible |
| Trading / Business Address | Where you actually conduct business — shown on invoices, website, email footer | No (unless same as RO) |
| Director Service Address | An alternative address for the director's public record — can shield home address | Yes — but separate from home |
| Director Home Address | Director's residential address — held by Companies House but can be protected | Partially protected since 2015 |
Your registered office and trading address can be the same address, or they can be different. Many small businesses use a professional registered office address and a separate trading address for day-to-day operations.
Your Three Options for a Registered Office
| Option | Cost | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your home address | Free | No extra cost; simple | Home address is publicly searchable; potential privacy and security risk; may breach tenancy agreement or mortgage terms |
| Office / commercial premises | Included in rent | Professional; matches trading address | Not available if you work from home; may not be suitable if you move |
| Professional registered office service | £50–£150/yr | Privacy protected; professional London or city address; mail scanning/forwarding available | Annual cost; need to ensure mail is checked and forwarded promptly |
Privacy Implications of Using Your Home Address
Using your home address as your registered office is legal and common, but it comes with significant privacy implications you should consider before making the decision.
Your home address becomes publicly visible on the Companies House register, accessible to anyone in the world.
Once set, it can be difficult to have removed from historical records — even if you later change it.
Creditors, debt collectors, or disgruntled clients may visit or send mail to your home.
Check your mortgage or tenancy agreement — some explicitly prohibit using the property for business purposes, which 'registered office' may count as.
If your business grows and you employ staff, HMRC and the Pension Regulator will also have your home address on file.
For most people, the small annual cost of a professional registered office service is well worth the privacy protection it provides. See our Registered Office service for more details.
How to Change Your Registered Office After Formation
You can change your registered office at any time by filing form AD01 with Companies House. This can be done online via WebFiling for free. The new address must be in the same jurisdiction as your current address (England & Wales, Scotland, or Northern Ireland).
Log in to Companies House WebFiling.
Select your company and choose "Change registered office address".
Enter the new address (must be in the same UK jurisdiction).
Submit form AD01. No fee is charged for this change.
The change takes effect immediately on the register. Inform HMRC separately.
Jurisdiction Rules
UK companies are registered in one of three jurisdictions, and your registered office must remain within that jurisdiction:
England & Wales
The most common jurisdiction. Covers all of England and Wales. If you register here, your registered office must be in England or Wales.
Scotland
Separate legal jurisdiction. If you register in Scotland, your registered office must be at a Scottish address.
Northern Ireland
Separate jurisdiction. If you register in Northern Ireland, your registered office must be at a Northern Irish address.
Related Resources
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