- Your registered office address must be a physical address in the same UK jurisdiction where your company is registered, and it appears on the public Companies House register.
- Using a registered office service protects your home address from public view while keeping your company fully compliant.
- You can change your registered office address at any time by filing with Companies House, but it must remain within the original jurisdiction of incorporation.
Every UK company needs a registered office address from the moment it is incorporated, and the address you choose affects your privacy, your professional image, and your compliance with Companies House.
Your registered office is the official address on the public register. It receives statutory mail from HMRC and Companies House, and it must be a real physical location in the same UK jurisdiction where your company was formed. Most directors are surprised to learn their home address goes on permanent public record if they use it at incorporation.
A registered office service gives you a legitimate business address without any of that exposure. Or, if you’d prefer the full package, Sleek’s end-to-end company registration and company incorporation services include a registered office address for free.
What is a registered office address?
A registered office address is the official legal address of your company as recorded at Companies House. Every limited company incorporated in the UK must have one from the day it is formed, under the Companies Act 2006.
It is not the same as your trading address or the place where you actually run your business. A trading address is where customers interact with you. A director service address is where personal correspondence for directors is sent. Your registered office is specifically for statutory mail from Companies House and HMRC, and it sits permanently on the public register.
If you want a full picture of what setting up a company involves, our company registration guide covers the whole process from start to finish.
What are the legal requirements for a registered office address in the UK?
Your registered office must meet several legal conditions set out by Companies House. Getting any of these wrong can put your company’s compliance at risk.
The rules are:
- Must be a physical street address, not a PO Box or virtual mailbox with no physical presence
- Must be located in the same UK jurisdiction where your company was incorporated (England and Wales, Scotland, or Northern Ireland)
- Must be able to receive and acknowledge statutory mail from Companies House and HMRC
- Must be displayed on all company stationery, your website, and business emails
- Must be kept accurate and up to date on the Companies House register at all times
The jurisdiction rule catches many directors out. If your company is registered in England and Wales, your registered office must be an address in England or Wales. You cannot use a Scottish address, even if that is where you operate. Scotland and Northern Ireland each have their own separate registers, and the same restriction applies to companies formed there.
GOV.UK sets out the full registered office requirements if you want to check the official rules directly.
What are your options for a registered office address?
There are four main options available to UK companies. The right choice depends on your budget, how much privacy you want, and the image you want to project.
Option | Typical cost | Privacy | Best for |
Home address | Free | None, appears on public record | Directors with no privacy concerns |
Accountant or solicitor address | Varies, often included in fees | Yes | Companies with existing professional advisers |
Registered office service | From around £30 to £100 per year | Yes | Most limited companies |
Commercial office space | High | Yes | Companies with physical premises |
For most new limited companies, a registered office service is the most practical and cost-effective option. It gives you a real street address, handles your statutory mail, and keeps your home address off the public register from day one.
Can I use my home address as a registered office?
Using your home address is legally permitted, but it means your full residential address is visible to anyone who searches the Companies House register. That record is permanent unless you actively take steps to change it.
This has become a more pressing issue since Companies House introduced new identity verification requirements. The register is increasingly accurate and harder to obscure, which makes the decision to use a home address at incorporation one worth thinking through carefully. Once it is on the register, it stays there even after you change it, as historical filings remain publicly accessible.
For most directors, the small annual cost of a registered office service is well worth avoiding that exposure.
What is a registered office service and what does it include?
A registered office service gives your company a legitimate physical address, typically in a business district, that you can use for all Companies House and HMRC correspondence. Providers receive your statutory mail and forward it to you, usually by email or post.
A London registered office address is a popular choice for companies across the UK, not just those based in the capital. It carries professional weight with clients and investors, and many providers offer central London addresses for a modest annual fee.
The LTD Companies registered office service includes a real London street address, statutory mail handling, and same-day email forwarding, which covers everything Companies House requires.
What is the difference between a registered office address and a director service address?
These two addresses serve different purposes and appear in different places on the Companies House register. Many directors need both, but they are separate products.
Function | Registered office address | Director service address |
Purpose | Official address for the company | Personal correspondence address for the director |
Appears on | Companies House company record | Companies House director record |
Receives | Statutory mail from HMRC and Companies House | Personal filings and correspondence for the director |
Required | Yes, for all companies | Strongly recommended if using a home address |
If you use your home address as your director service address, it also goes on the public register under your personal director filing. Using a separate service address keeps both your company record and your personal record free from your home address.
For more on the role of a company secretary and how address responsibilities fit into your compliance setup, see our guide to appointing a company secretary.
What happens if your registered office address is wrong or out of date?
Keeping an inaccurate or outdated registered office address on the Companies House register is a compliance failure with real consequences.
The risks include:
- Statutory mail from Companies House and HMRC goes undelivered, meaning you miss filing deadlines and penalty notices without knowing
- Late filing penalties for your confirmation statement and annual accounts stack up while you are unaware
- In serious cases, Companies House can begin the process of striking off your company for failure to respond to correspondence
- Directors can be held personally liable if the company is struck off and continues to trade
The registration charge guide explains what fees and charges apply when companies fall behind on their compliance obligations.
If you are changing your registered office as part of a broader company refresh, update your director service address at the same time. Keeping both records consistent avoids confusion and reduces the risk of missing important correspondence.
How do you change your registered office address?
You can change your registered office address at any time by filing with Companies House. The change takes effect immediately on submission.
- Log in to Companies House WebFiling, or instruct an authorised agent to file on your behalf
- Complete and submit form AD01
- The new address is live on the register immediately
- Update your company stationery, website footer, and business email signatures to reflect the change
- Notify HMRC separately if the change affects where they should send correspondence
One important restriction: you cannot move your registered office out of its original jurisdiction. A company registered in England and Wales must keep an address in England or Wales. The same applies to Scottish and Northern Irish companies.
Do non-UK residents need a UK registered office address?
Every company incorporated in the UK must have a UK registered office address, regardless of where the director or shareholders live. There are no exceptions for overseas founders or non-resident directors.
This is one of the first practical steps for anyone setting up a UK company from abroad. A registered office service solves the problem immediately without requiring a physical presence in the UK.
If you are based outside the UK and thinking about incorporating here, our guide to starting a UK company as an overseas resident walks through what you need to know.
How Sleek helps with your registered office address
Sleek’s end-to-end company incorporation service includes a registered office address on Regent Street, London and a director service address as standard, starting from £245 + VAT.
That means your home address stays off the public register from day one, with no separate service to set up or manage. For companies that want ongoing accounting, compliance, and filing handled in the same place, Sleek covers that too.
Disclaimer: The preceding information is not legal advice. This content is aimed to provide general guidance. For more formal or legal advice, contact Sleek directly.
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FAQs on registered office address UK
Is a registered office address public in the UK?
Yes. Your registered office address is publicly visible on the Companies House register, and anyone can search for it for free. This is why many directors choose a registered office service rather than using their home address. Your home address, once filed, remains on historical records even after you change it. Using a professional address from day one is the cleanest way to keep your personal details off the public register.
Can a PO Box be used as a registered office address in the UK?
No. Companies House does not accept a standard Royal Mail PO Box as a registered office address. Your address must be a physical location capable of receiving and acknowledging statutory mail. Some providers advertise PO Box-style services, so it is worth confirming that any provider you use offers a genuine street address with physical mail handling before you sign up.
Do sole traders need a registered office address in the UK?
No. The registered office requirement applies only to limited companies and LLPs registered at Companies House. Sole traders are not incorporated entities, so there is no legal obligation to have a registered office. Sole traders do need to provide a business address to HMRC for self-assessment purposes, but this is a separate requirement and does not appear on a public register.
What documents are sent to a registered office address?
Your registered office receives all official statutory correspondence, including confirmation statement reminders, annual accounts filing notices, penalty notices from Companies House, corporation tax correspondence from HMRC, VAT notices if your company is VAT registered, and any formal legal notices served on the company. This is why keeping the address accurate and actively monitored matters. Missing a filing reminder because mail went to an old address is not accepted as a reason to waive late filing penalties.
How much does a registered office address cost in the UK?
Registered office address services typically cost between £30 and £100 per year for a basic package. London addresses tend to sit at the higher end of that range. More comprehensive packages that include mail forwarding, a director service address, and additional business address use can cost more, usually between £100 and £200 per year. The cost is modest relative to the privacy and compliance benefits, and it is a legitimate business expense.
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Can accountants provide a registered office address?
Yes. Many accountants offer their office address as a registered office for clients, either as a standalone service or included within an accounting package. The advantage is that statutory mail arrives directly with your accountant, who can act on filing reminders immediately. If your accountant does not offer this, a dedicated registered office service is a straightforward alternative.
What is the difference between a registered office address and a correspondence address in the UK?
A registered office address is the legal address of your company filed at Companies House. A correspondence address is simply where you prefer to receive general business post, and it has no legal standing. Any company can nominate a correspondence address for day-to-day mail, but this does not replace the registered office for statutory purposes. Companies House and HMRC will always use the registered office address for formal notices, regardless of any separate correspondence address you provide.
