The different United Kingdom company addresses explained

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The different United Kingdom company addresses explained

When setting up a UK limited company, you’ll encounter several different types of company addresses. From the registered office and director’s service address to the correspondence, residential, SAIL, and business addresses – it can be quite a lot to grasp.

In this blog post, we’ll break down what each address is and provide you with all the essential information you need to know.

Before we dive in, it’s important to note that the registered office, service address(es), and residential address(es) must be provided during the company formation process.

In this article, we guide you through changing these addresses and selecting a SAIL address if needed. Since the SAIL address is chosen after company formation, we provide clear instructions on how to set one up effectively.

What is the registered office address?

The official address for a UK limited company must be located within the UK, as the name implies. This address serves as the company’s registered office.

A company doesn’t need to conduct any trading activities from its registered office. In fact, there’s no requirement for officers or staff to be based at this location, as long as company officers can access any official documents or mail received there, such as correspondence from Companies House or HMRC.

You can use any address as the registered office, as long as you have permission from the property owner or landlord to do so.

Is the registered office address on the Companies House public register?

This means that anyone can easily find the address within seconds using the Companies House search tool.

Can I use my home address as a registered office?

Yes, you can use your residential address as the registered office, provided you live in the UK and have permission from your landlord (if you are renting).

However, we advise against using a residential address as your registered office since, as noted earlier, it becomes publicly visible on the Companies House register.

This could expose you to unwanted visitors, junk mail, and even the risk of identity fraud. Additionally, using a home address might undermine the professional image of your company, as potential customers, clients, suppliers, and other business partners will see that you operate from a residential location.

How to change a registered office address

There are several ways to change the registered office address:

The registered office address jurisdiction

The registered office address for a UK limited company can be located in England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, or Wales. The location of the registered office determines the company’s jurisdiction.

  • If a company is formed in England, its jurisdiction is England and Wales
  • If a company is formed in Scotland, its jurisdiction is Scotland
  • If a company is formed in Northern Ireland, its jurisdiction is Northern Ireland
  • And, somewhat confusingly, if a company is formed in Wales its jurisdiction is either England and Wales or just Wales

Once a company’s jurisdiction is established through its initial registered office, it cannot be changed. Although you can update the registered office within the same jurisdiction, it cannot be relocated across different jurisdictions.

For example, a company formed in Scotland cannot change its registered office to an address in England, as it must remain within the same jurisdiction.

What is a service address?

The service address, also known as the correspondence address, is the official address for company directors, shareholders, secretaries, and people with significant control (PSCs).

Unlike the registered office address, the service address can be located anywhere in the world. Similar to the registered office, the company does not need to conduct business at this address, and no company officers need to be physically present there, as long as they receive and review their official government correspondence sent to the address.

Is the service address on the Companies House public register?

Yes, anyone can easily and quickly find the address using the Companies House search tool.

Can I use my home address as the service address?

While it’s possible to use a residential address as your service address, we don’t recommend it because, as mentioned earlier, the service address appears on the Companies House public register.

Using a residential address as your service address exposes you to risks like unwanted visitors, junk mail, and potential identity fraud.

How to change a service address

You can change the service address in several ways:

What is the residential address?

When adding directors and people with significant control, you will need to provide both a service address and a residential address. The residential address must be the actual home address of the individual and, as the name implies, it can be located anywhere in the world.

Is the residential address on the Companies House public register?

Your residential address won’t appear on the public register unless you use it as the company’s registered office or service address.

Companies House collects this address for its internal records and only shares it with credit reference agencies or official bodies under specific conditions. For example, the police may receive this information if there is suspicion of criminal activity.

How to change a residential address

You can update the residential address in several ways:

The SAIL address (single alternative inspection location address)

This location serves as an alternative to the registered office for storing a company’s statutory records and making them available for public inspection.

A SAIL address is optional, but if you choose to have one, it must be in the same jurisdiction as the company’s registered office.

Is the SAIL address on the Companies House public register?

If you decide to use a SAIL address, it will be added to the public register and made accessible through the Companies House search tool.

How to register a SAIL address

You can select a SAIL address in the following ways:

You will also need to inform Companies House about the documents that have been moved. Here are the available ways to do this:

What is the business address?

Unlike the other addresses we’ve discussed, the business address is not an official Companies House address.

Businesses use the business address to communicate with banks, customers, suppliers, partners, and other contacts. They typically list this address on their website and in marketing materials.

A company doesn’t need to conduct any trading activities at its business address, nor do its officers or staff need to be physically based there.

Startxpress Services

We offer a London address for your registered office, service address, and business address needs.

These services are ideal for protecting your residential address from public exposure while also creating a strong corporate image. They’re especially beneficial if you’re not based in the UK.

Do you have any other questions?

So, in the UK, companies must have different addresses for various purposes. These include the registered office address, which serves as the official address for government correspondence, and the director’s service address, where directors receive official documents. Additionally, businesses may choose a business address for daily operations and a SAIL address (Single Alternative Inspection Location) for storing statutory records.

For more information, visit the Startxpress Help Center and Blog. If you have questions, reach out at support@startxpress.io!

Start your company in the UK with Startxpress!
Start your company in the UK with Startxpress!

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