What Is A Company’s Registered Address?

When you set up a limited company, you must provide a registered address to Companies House, HMRC and any other government body that requires it. But what is a registered address, and are there any rules regarding which address can be used?

Why do you need a registered address?

A registered address is the place Companies House, HMRC, and any other government body will send official written communication about your business.

It is also the physical location where your statutory registers should be available for public inspection, unless you’re using an alternative location for them, known as a SAIL address.

What statutory records need to be kept at the registered address?

At the basic level, you need to keep the following at the registered address:

• Certificate of incorporation
• The memorandum and articles of association
• Share certificates (if applicable)

Additionally, you may need to keep the following records and registers for inspection purposes:

• Register of members
• Register of directors
• Register of secretaries (if applicable)
• Register of people with significant control (PSCs)
• Directors’ indemnities (securities against liability claims or legal costs)
• Copies of resolutions
• Minutes of meetings

While this sounds like a lot of paperwork you need to keep around, it is possible to keep them in a digital format as long as they can still be accessed for inspection when required.

Does it matter where the registered address is?

The registered address of your company must be in the same jurisdiction as where your company is registered. For example, if you registered your company in England, your registered address must be in England.

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

The short answer is no; you cannot use a PO Box Number as your registered address. However, the long answer is that you can use a PO Box as your registered address as long as you provide Companies House with the full physical address and postcode.

Can I use my residential address as my registered address?

There’s nothing explicitly wrong with using your residential address as your registered address. However, keep in mind that your registered address is on a public register, so anyone searching the Companies House register will be able to see your registered address.

Can I change my registered address?

Yes, you can change your registered address as many times as you need to as long as the new address still meets the requirements. 

You must notify Companies House as soon as possible when your registered address changes by using Form AD01. If the new address is suitable, the change will be approved and appear on the public register within 24 hours.

Once this happens, you will need to ensure your statutory records have been moved to the new address.

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