What Address Can I Use When I Register a Limited Company?

You’ll need to provide a registered office address when you register a limited company with Companies House, but you don’t have to use your actual place of work or home address if you don’t want to. The requirements for using a registered address are fairly strict though, so we’ll walk you through what your options are.

What is a registered office address?

Your registered office address is the official, publicly available address of your limited company. It’s where Companies House and HMRC will send any formal correspondence, so it’s important you provide an address where you’ll actually receive or be able to access your post. Each company shareholder and director must also supply an official contact address – it’s not just the company itself.

Companies House requirements for a registered address

Companies House say you must use an ‘appropriate address’ which means:

• Any documents must have the attention of the person acting on your behalf (whether that’s you, an accountant, an agent, or someone else)
• Any document deliveries can be recorded and acknowledged
• It’s in the same part of the UK as your company (for example, if your company is registered in Scotland, it must be a Scottish address)

Does my registered office address have to be in the UK?

Yes. Your registered office must be located in the same part of the UK your company is registered in. For example, if you register your company in England or Wales, your address needs to be in England or Wales. Scottish companies need a Scottish address, and so on.

Can I use my home address to register a limited company?

Yes, you can use your home address as your registered office. It’s actually pretty common, given that it’s free, straightforward, and somewhere you know you’ll receive any important documents.

What should I know about using my home address?

The address you provide will be published on public record with Companies House, where anyone can look it up if they want to. This can be an issue for company owners and directors who prefer to protect their privacy.

Not only that, but having your home address publicly listed can make you a target for unsolicited mail, cold callers, and in some cases even fraud. Some directors have found themselves on the receiving end of scam letters designed to look like official Companies House correspondence – sent directly to their home.

It’s not a reason to panic, but it is worth thinking about before you decide. Fortunately there are other alternatives to consider if you’d rather keep your home address private.

Using a virtual office address

A virtual office address is a service that gives you a professional business address to use for your company, without you needing to rent or own a physical office there. These services typically receive post on your behalf and either forward it to you or scan and send it digitally.

They’re a popular option for small businesses and sole directors who work from home but don’t want their home address on public record. Costs vary, but you can usually find a basic registered office service for a fairly modest monthly fee.

Using your accountant’s address

You can use your accountant’s address as your registered office, but don’t assume it’s included in your fee so be sure to check. They might not be too happy to deal with your admin otherwise!

This can be a great option though, since your accountant is already handling correspondence related to your finances anyway.

Can I use a PO Box as my registered office address?

Not on its own, no. Companies House require an ‘appropriate address’ where documents can actually be delivered, so a PO Box alone won’t cut it. You could still use one for other correspondence, but not as a standalone.

How do I change my registered office address?

If you need to update your registered office address, you can do this through Companies House. You’ll need to file an AD01 form, which you can do online. The change usually takes effect pretty quickly once it’s been processed.

Bear in mind that your new address still needs to be in the same part of the UK as your original registration.

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