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Service and Registered Address: The Differences

When becoming a limited company, you might feel confused by seemingly simple terms. After all, an address is an address; what could go wrong when entering it?

The first thing to be aware of is that companies can have two addresses held at Companies House: their registered address and their service address.

Your Registered Address

The company's registered address is the main one Companies House uses to contact the company.

While you might work from home or think its easier to have your home address as the main point of contact, you need to remember that the registered address is publicly available on the Companies House website. This is still the case even if the address is later changed or the company is dissolved.

Are there any limitations?

Yes, there are limitations:

  • It can't be a PO Box
  • It has to be in the UK
  • It has to be in the same jurisdiction where the company is registered

Does it have to be my business address?

No. The address has to be somewhere the directors and secretaries can access to collect any mail sent there. However, some companies use their accountant's address or even a third-party address.

It doesn't even have to be a business address. You could use your home address if that's more convenient for you. However, remember that this address is public. So if you're uncomfortable with your home address being shown on the Companies House website, don't use it. A better alternative would be a forwarding address where mail can be sent and forwarded on to you; this usually costs a monthly or annual fee but allows you to use a third-party address.

Am I stuck with it?

The registered address can be changed at any time, just remember to update this with Companies House. If you incorporated your company through us, then we can do this for you. Simply view your company details, and click the 'File a Change' button to start the process. Simple!

Your Service Address

A service address is the address of a director or secretary within that company. You will normally register two addresses for a director when incorporating a company, although they can be the same if applicable. The two addresses are a Service Address, and the other is a Residential Address.

What is a Service Address compared to a Residential Address?

The Service Address was introduced in October 2009 for directors and persons with significant control (PSCs), and enables them to state an address they can access for statutory mail, in a similar way that a registered address acts for a company. This doesn't have to be their home address, but it does appear on public record.

A residential address is exactly that - it's the residential address for the director. But this one is kept out of public view. It may, however, be viewed by public authorities if required.

Are there limitations?

Unlike the Registered Address, these are a little bit more flexible, which means:

  • It can be anywhere in the world
  • It can be a residential or commercial address
  • It can either be the same as, or different to, the Registered Address

As with the registered address, it can be changed at any time too, and even through Company Wizard - just to make life that little bit simpler for you.

So there you have it. That's the difference between a Registered, Service and Residential Address. But if you still have questions, please give us a call during your application, and we'll try our best to help.

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