What is a registered office address?
Every UK limited company is legally required to have a registered office address. This is the official address at which the company is registered with Companies House — the UK government's company registrar — and where all statutory and legal correspondence is delivered.
Unlike a business address (which is where you operate day-to-day), a registered office is specifically for receiving official correspondence from Companies House, HMRC, and courts. The registered office address appears on the public Companies House register, meaning it can be looked up by anyone.
Because it is publicly visible, many company directors choose not to use their home address as their registered office. Instead, they use a professional registered office service — which provides a professional-looking address while forwarding all statutory mail to them.
Legal requirements for a registered office
- Must be a physical address in England and Wales, Scotland, or Northern Ireland
- Cannot be a PO Box (unless there is also a physical address in the same jurisdiction)
- Must match the jurisdiction where the company is registered
- Must be able to receive statutory mail from Companies House and HMRC
- Will appear on the public Companies House register and all official documents
- Any changes must be filed with Companies House within a reasonable time
Important note on jurisdiction
A company registered in England and Wales must have its registered office in England or Wales. A company registered in Scotland must use a Scottish address. You cannot, for example, register in England with a Scottish registered office.
Your registered office options
Your home address
✓ No additional cost
✓ Simple and convenient
– Publicly visible on Companies House
– May appear unprofessional
– Less privacy for directors
Your office / premises
✓ Professional appearance
✓ Consistent with trading address
– Only works if you have commercial premises
– Must be available long-term
Professional service
✓ Professional London/UK address
✓ Privacy protection for directors
✓ Mail forwarding included
– Annual subscription cost
– Mail forwarding may take a day or two
Registered office and privacy
One important consideration when choosing your registered office is privacy. Because the address is publicly visible on Companies House, anyone — including marketing agencies, cold-callers, and members of the public — can look up and see the address you provide.
For home-based founders, this means your home address could receive unsolicited marketing mail or, in rare cases, unwanted personal visits. Many directors opt to use a professional registered office address service for this reason — it puts a commercial address on the public record while all statutory mail is securely forwarded to them.
Director privacy: the SCDD register
Since 2015, company directors can apply to have their home address suppressed from the public Companies House register and replaced with a service address. This is separate from the registered office — it applies to individual directors' personal addresses. You can use the registered office as your service address.
Related pages
Frequently asked questions
What is a registered office address?
A registered office address is the official legal address of a UK company. It must be a physical address in the UK (not a PO Box), and it appears on the public Companies House register. All formal correspondence from Companies House and HMRC is sent here.
Can I use my home address as my registered office?
Yes — your home address can be used as a registered office. However, it will appear on the public Companies House register, viewable by anyone. Many directors prefer to use a professional registered office service to maintain privacy and give their company a more professional appearance.
Does a registered office address have to be where the business operates?
No. Your registered office does not need to be where you actually work or conduct business. It is simply the address Companies House uses for official correspondence. Your business can operate from anywhere.
Can I change my registered office after formation?
Yes. You can change your registered office address at any time by filing a change with Companies House online. The change takes effect immediately but must be in the same part of the UK (England & Wales, Scotland, or Northern Ireland) as your original registered office.
What happens if Companies House cannot deliver mail to my registered office?
If Companies House cannot contact your company at its registered office, they may begin striking-off proceedings. It is important to ensure your registered office address is accurate and that someone monitors correspondence sent there.
Is a registered office the same as a business address?
No. A registered office is specifically for legal and statutory correspondence (Companies House, HMRC). A business address is used for day-to-day operations — on invoices, websites, and marketing. A company can use the same address for both, or different addresses for each purpose.