How Can You Change Your Address at Companies House?

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When incorporating a company in the UK, you are legally required to provide a registered office address for your business. The address must be a physical location within the same jurisdiction as your company is registered. That is where all your official correspondence will be sent, including those of Companies House and Her Majesty Revenue & Customs (HMRC).

A business might need to change its address and must inform the Companies House of all the changes to your company. 

How can you update your address at Companies House?

This guide will highlight how you can change your registered address at Companies House and which addresses do not need to be changed.

Which addresses do companies have to provide to Companies House?

Registered office address

Every company in the UK is legally obligated to provide a registered office address that is physically in the same jurisdiction where the company is registered and cannot be a P.O. Box. The address is essential for registering the company and receiving official correspondence from government bodies such as Companies House and HMRC.

The registered office address is uploaded publicly on the Companies House register, meaning anyone can look up your company’s registered address.

An effective way to avoid using your home address when registering with Companies House is to use a virtual office address which offers registered office addresses without incurring huge costs relating to paying rent and maintaining them.

Virtual office addresses are usually found at company formation agents and are typically located in a prestigious area. This arrangement allows you to enjoy the advantages of a professional registered business address at a significantly lower cost than leasing a physical office space.

Director’s service address

Every director must furnish a correspondence address, which may either coincide with the registered office address or be a distinct location where they can receive official communications.

Director’s residential address

In addition to their correspondence addresses, each company director shall give their residential address to Companies House. Only official purposes are served by keeping these residential addresses and they are not available for public access. If a director changes his/her new residential address, the Companies House needs to be informed so that the recorded addresses may be modified accordingly.

SAIL address

A SAIL address, which stands for Single Alternative Inspection Location is an optional place where a registered company or Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) in the UK may keep its formal records for public inspection instead of at the registered office address. This place can hold different files such as members’ registers, directors’, company secretaries’, and other important documents.

When a company opts to designate a SAIL address, it is required to be situated within the same jurisdiction as the registered office, and the Companies House must be notified accordingly. This arrangement offers flexibility and can assist in preserving the confidentiality of specific records.

What guidelines apply when a registered office address has to be changed?

When updating your registered office address online or via postal service, it is essential that the new address remains within the same region of the UK as the original registration and does not use a PO box. If these conditions are met, the process is straightforward, and the address change will adhere to the standard procedures outlined later in this article.

Consequently, should you wish to relocate to a different jurisdiction, such as moving from England to Northern Ireland, the procedure will differ. In this scenario, your business must be re-incorporated in the jurisdiction corresponding to your new address. Therefore, if you are changing your business address to Northern Ireland from England, it is necessary to re-incorporate your business in Northern Ireland.

What documents are required to change address?

Company authentication code:

This code is crucial for gaining access to your company's online account and facilitating modifications.

Form AD01:

This document notifies Companies House of the change. It can be completed and submitted online or by postal mail.

Board resolution:

If mandated by your company's articles of association, a board resolution must be passed to authorise the change of address.

New address details:

The new registered office address must include both the building name or number and the postcode.

How to update the registered office address at Companies House

Access the Companies House online platform:

To log in to your account, you will require your company authentication code.

Locate your company:

Utilise the search feature to find the details of your company.

Submit a filing for the company:

Select the “file for this company” option and follow the instructions to update your address.

Input the new address:

Enter the new building name or number along with the postcode. You may either retrieve the address from the postal address database or input it manually.

Finalise the changes:

After entering the new address, proceed to submit the changes. Soon after, you will get a confirmation email.

It is important to note that a document may be sent to the company at its former registered office for 14 days, following the registration of a change of registered office with Companies House.

The updated registered office address must be displayed on all company stationery, email signatures, and websites. Additionally, clients and other pertinent parties should be notified.

Following a change in the registered office address, who must you notify?

Changing a registered office address for the company requires notifying several entities to ensure compliance and smooth operations. The following are some of the entities that you ought to notify:

Companies House (or the equivalent in your country) - This is usually the first step. For example, in the UK, you must notify Companies House within 14 days.

Tax authorities - Inform your local tax office to ensure your tax records are up to date.

Banks and financial institutions - Update your address with any banks or financial institutions your company uses.

Clients and suppliers - Notify your clients and suppliers to avoid any disruptions in communication or deliveries.

Insurance providers - Update your address with your business insurance providers.

Professional bodies - If your business is part of any professional bodies or associations, make sure they have your new address.

Employees - Ensure all employees know the new address, especially if it affects their commute or work location.

In conclusion, it is possible to change your registered office address if it is in the same physical jurisdiction as where a business is registered. Businesses that want privacy in their home address can use a virtual address which can be used to register a company.

Icon Offices offer virtual office solutions to businesses to incorporate their companies. This address can be used as the official registered office address and directors’ service address.

Company directors who would typically be required to utilise their residential addresses for correspondence can benefit from our service address. This option serves as the statutory correspondence address for receiving official government correspondence.

After registering for a professional address with Icon Offices, you can proceed with a change of address at Companies House, utilising the newly acquired commercial address.