What is a Registered office address?

A registered office address, also known as registered address is the official correspondence address of a company given to Companies House, which is the UK’s registrar of incorporated companies.

This means that if you’re a private limited company by shares (Limited or LTD), private limited company (PLC) or limited liability partnership (LLP), then you’ll be required to provide a registered address for your business during your company formation.

The purpose of having a registered address for your company is to serve as the official point of contact, enabling government agencies such as Companies House, HMRC, and other similar entities to communicate with you, send notices, and provide reminders regarding your company in a formal manner.

If you’re registering your company in England or Wales, it’s important to note that the registered address must all be located in those counties. You should be careful and considerate when choosing the address, as it will be displayed on a public record.

Can I use my home address as my registered office address?

The short answer is yes, you can use your home address as your registered address (totally legal), provided that it’s in the same jurisdiction where your company is incorporated. However, it may not always be the best idea for your business.

Here’s the thing.

You should think twice before using your home address as your registered address on Companies House. It’s not just privacy – it’s also family safety, uninvited guests, and professionalism.

It’s important to remember that a company’s registered address is a matter of public record, which means that anyone can access it. Even if you update your registered address in the future, your previous address will still be visible on the Company’s filing history.

That’s not all, though.

If you choose to use your home address as your registered address, be aware that any company can easily add your home address to their database, which can lead to an increase in unwanted junk mail being sent to your home address. Therefore, using your home address can often be seen like an easy option, but we would not recommend it.

Can I change my registered office address?

Yes, you can change your registered address on Companies House without any hassle. There are no limits or restrictions, however, you must ensure that the new address is located in the same jurisdiction where your company is incorporated. Moreover, it’s important that you update Companies House immediately when you change your address so that you don’t miss out on any important correspondence.

How to change the address?

Companies House maintains records of all registered addresses, if you wish to update your address at any time, you must submit an AD01 Form online or file a paper version.

What is the difference between a registered office address and a director’s service address?

As previously mentioned, the registered address serves as the official address of a company, where all official letters, notices, and communications from Companies House and HMRC will be sent.

In the UK, a director’s service address is the official address provided by a company director to Companies House for official communication. This means that any communication for the director or people with significant control from Companies House and HMRC will be delivered there.

Both the registered address and the director’s service address are required when forming a limited company. While the registered office address is restricted to the UK, the director’s office address can be anywhere in the world.

Where to display your registered address?

There is a lot to consider when setting up a limited company in the UK. It is essential that you fully comply with the rules under the Companies Act 2006, which includes an obligation on how and where to display your company name.

Here are some examples where your registered address and company number should be displayed:

• Your emails, letters, and other correspondence
• Business cards, brochures and other marketing materials
• Your website
• Invoices
• Letterheads

What is the difference between a registered office address and a business address?

The main difference between a registered address and a business address is the purpose of use. The registered address is the official address of the company on Companies House. Government agencies use it to communicate with you in a formal manner.

On the other hand, a business address, also known as a trading address is usually where the business chooses to receive non-statutory mail from customers, banks, suppliers, utility providers, and other third parties. The business address can be the same as the registered address or a different location. There is no requirement for them to be the same. Unlike your registered office address, your business address does not need to be provided to Companies House or HMRC, and it won’t be disclosed on the public record.

Registered address vs business address

Registered address:
• You must provide this address to Companies House during company formation.
• This will be your address for receiving legal letters and notices.
• It is the point of contact for official agencies such as Companies House and HMRC.
• It is regarded as the authoritative address for the company
• It is a live address, meaning it is publicly available

Business address:
• The is the location where the business conducts its operation.
• It is used for banks, clients, suppliers, and other third parties.
• It’s not a live address and not publicly available
• It can be the same as the registered address or a different address from where the business operates.

What does London Virtual Address provide with a registered office address?

At London Virtual Address, we offer prestigious virtual addresses in London. When you purchase our registered office address service, you can enjoy the following benefits:

• We offer multiple virtual addresses in London that you can choose from. Visit our registration page for full details on our available addresses.
• Our registered office address package includes the forwarding of all official mail from Companies House and HMRC to you free of charge.
• You can choose to have all official mail forwarded to you by post or scan service.
• Our registered office address package is a 12-month service.
• We offer affordable and cheap virtual offices in London with a price match guarantee.

Conclusion

In conclusion, when incorporating a company in the UK, providing a registered address is a mandatory requirement. The registered address must be in the same jurisdiction where your company is incorporated, whereas the director's address can be anywhere in the world.

While using your home address is a legal option for your company, it may not be the best option as your address will become live on a public record. Fortunately, a virtual address offers a great alternative for those who want to keep their personal home address private or cannot afford a physical office space.