Changing your registered office address is one of the simpler updates a UK limited company can make at Companies House. It can usually be completed online, there is currently no Companies House filing fee for the standard change, and you do not normally need to create a new company.

However, the address is legally important. It is the official address where a company receives statutory correspondence and legal documents, and it appears on the public Companies House register. Since March 2024, companies must also maintain an appropriate registered office address that can reliably receive and acknowledge official documents.

Whether you are moving offices, switching from a home address to a professional registered office, or relocating your business to another part of the UK, this guide explains how to change your registered office address, what rules apply, how long it takes and what you should update afterwards.

What Is a Registered Office Address?

A registered office is the official address of a UK company. It is not necessarily where the company's day-to-day business takes place. A company can have its operations, employees and customers somewhere completely different from its registered office. The registered office is primarily used for receiving:

• Official Companies House correspondence
• Legal documents
• Notices and other statutory communications
• Documents that need to be formally served on the company

The address is publicly visible on the Companies House register. This is why choosing the right address matters, particularly for founders who work from home or operate their business remotely.

Why Do Companies Change Their Registered Office Address?

There are several common reasons for changing a registered office.

Moving to a new business premises

A growing company may move from a small office to a larger commercial property and decide to make the new location its registered office.

Moving from a home address

Some founders initially use their home address when incorporating a company. As the business grows, they may prefer a commercial or professional address.

Changing accountants or company service providers

A company may previously have used its accountant's address or a company formation provider's registered office service and later move to another provider.

Relocating the business

A company may move from one city or region to another while continuing to operate as the same legal entity.

Privacy considerations

Because the registered office is public, some business owners prefer not to use their home address.

This is particularly relevant for freelancers, consultants, online businesses and overseas founders who may want a professional UK address for their company.

What Are the Rules for a Registered Office Address?

Before changing your address, make sure the proposed location satisfies Companies House requirements.

It must be in the correct part of the UK

Your registered office must be located in the same jurisdiction in which the company is registered. The relevant jurisdictions are:

• England and Wales
• Wales
• Scotland
• Northern Ireland

For example, an England and Wales company cannot simply move its registered office to Scotland using the standard registered-office change procedure. Moving the company's registered-office jurisdiction involves a different process. Companies House guidance confirms that a registered office must remain within the appropriate part of the UK.

It must be an appropriate address

Since 4 March 2024, companies must have an appropriate address at all times. In practical terms, an appropriate address is one where:

1. Documents delivered to the company should reasonably come to the attention of someone acting for the company; and
2. Delivery can be recorded by obtaining an acknowledgement of delivery.

This requirement is important when using a third-party registered office provider. You cannot simply choose an address where company mail will never be seen.

Can You Use a Home Address as Your Registered Office?

Yes, a home address can be used if it meets the applicable requirements. However, there is an important privacy consideration. Your registered office address appears on the public Companies House register. If you use your home address, members of the public can potentially find it through the company's record.

Companies House also states that a home address used as a registered office cannot simply be removed from the historical public register later. Previous registered office addresses remain on the public record for the lifetime of the company and for 20 years after dissolution. For that reason, founders who value privacy may prefer a suitable commercial or professional registered office address.

Can You Use a PO Box?

A standalone PO Box cannot be used as a registered office address. The post-2024 rules require an appropriate physical address where documents can reach someone acting for the company and delivery can be acknowledged. A business can use a third-party address service, provided the address meets the legal requirements. This distinction matters because a postal address that looks professional is not necessarily an acceptable registered office.

How to Change Your Registered Office Address

For most companies, the process is straightforward.

Step 1: Choose the new address

Before filing, confirm that the new address:

• Is in the correct UK jurisdiction
• Is a physical, appropriate address
• Can receive official correspondence
• Has arrangements for important documents to reach someone acting for the company
• Is suitable for the company's ongoing needs

If you are using an accountant, solicitor or registered-office provider, confirm that they have agreed to the arrangement before submitting the change.

Step 2: Sign in to Companies House

Use the official Companies House service to find your company and access its filing options. The online process allows you to update the registered office address electronically. Companies House specifically recommends changing the address online for standard companies because online filings are processed more quickly than paper submissions.

Step 3: Select the registered office change

Find your company and choose the option to change the registered office address. You will be asked to enter the new address details. Depending on the address, the system may allow you to search for the address using the postcode or enter the details manually.

Step 4: Submit the change

Review every part of the address carefully before submitting. Check:

• Building number or name
• Street
• Town/city
• County or region, where applicable
• Postcode

A simple typographical error can cause problems with official correspondence.

Step 5: Wait for Companies House to register it

The new address does not become legally effective merely because you have submitted the form. Companies House must register the change first. Once the change has been registered, check the company's public record to make sure the new address appears correctly.

Which Form Is Used to Change a Registered Office?

For a standard UK limited company, the relevant filing is AD01 – Change of registered office address. Companies House provides an online route for submitting the change. An LLP uses a different form, LL AD01, so business owners should not confuse the two.

Special situations can also require a different process. For example, companies that are in liquidation, being restored to the register or have had their registered office defaulted to the Companies House address may need to use a paper process. If your company falls into one of these categories, check the specific Companies House guidance before filing.

How Much Does It Cost to Change a Registered Office Address?

For the standard online change of registered office address, Companies House does not charge a filing fee. However, you may have other costs if you choose to use a professional registered-office service. For example, a provider might charge an annual fee for:

• Use of the address
• Receiving company mail
• Scanning correspondence
• Forwarding documents
• Handling official communications

These are commercial service costs rather than Companies House filing fees. For a company that operates remotely, the additional cost can be worthwhile if it provides a reliable UK business address and ensures important correspondence is handled properly.

How Long Does It Take to Change a Registered Office Address?

Online applications are generally the quickest option. Companies House says that changing the address online is quick and easy and that a confirmation email is normally sent within a few minutes. However, the address does not officially change until Companies House registers the notice. Do not assume that the address has legally changed simply because you clicked "submit." Check the company's record after filing.

Do You Need Your Companies House Authentication Code?

For many online company filings, you will need the company's Companies House authentication credentials. If you cannot access the online filing service because you have lost your authentication code, you may need to request a new one. Companies House explains that authentication codes are sent to the company's registered office address.

This creates an important practical issue: If you have moved and can no longer access your old registered office, changing the address may require additional steps. This is one reason businesses should keep their Companies House login and corporate records under proper control.

What Happens to Your Old Registered Office Address?

Changing the address does not erase the old address from the company's history. Previous registered office addresses remain on the public record for the lifetime of the company and for 20 years after it has been dissolved.

This means you should not assume that moving to a new address makes your previous address disappear. It is particularly important for founders who previously used their home address. If your home address has already been used as the company's registered office, changing it to another address prevents it from being the current registered office but does not automatically remove the historical record.

What Should You Update After Changing the Address?

Changing Companies House records is only one part of the process. Once the new address is registered, create a short administrative checklist.

Update your bank

Tell your business bank about the new registered address. The bank may request evidence of the change.

Update HMRC and tax records

Check that your tax and government records contain the correct business information. Do not assume that changing Companies House automatically updates every organisation that holds your company's address.

Update your accountant

Your accountant should have the new address for correspondence and records.

Update your website

Review your:

• Website footer
• Contact page
• Terms and conditions
• Privacy policy
• Legal notices

Update invoices and quotations

Make sure new invoices display the correct company information.

Update suppliers and customers

Important customers and suppliers should know where formal correspondence should now be sent.

Update insurance

Check business insurance policies and contact the insurer if the registered address is part of the policy information.

Update payment providers

Review services such as payment processors, merchant accounts and accounting platforms.

Registered Office vs Trading Address: What's the Difference?

These addresses are often confused.

Registered office

The registered office is the company's official address for statutory and legal correspondence. It is publicly visible at Companies House.

Trading address

A trading address is where the business actually operates. The two can be identical, but they do not have to be. For example, an online consultancy might have:

Registered office: Professional business address in London
Trading address: Founder working from home in Manchester

There is nothing inherently unusual about this arrangement, provided the registered office satisfies the legal requirements. This flexibility is particularly useful for remote businesses and international founders.

Can You Change the Registered Office to Another UK City?

Yes, provided the new address remains within the same part of the UK in which the company is registered. For example, an England and Wales company can generally move its registered office from Birmingham to London using the standard process.

But moving from England and Wales to Scotland is different because Scotland is a separate company registration jurisdiction. If your intended move crosses jurisdictions, check the Companies House procedure rather than simply filing an ordinary AD01.

What If Your Registered Office Is No Longer Appropriate?

This is more serious than simply having an outdated address. Companies are required to maintain an appropriate registered office address at all times. If Companies House determines that an address is not appropriate, it can take action, including moving the company to a default address.

The company may then have to provide an appropriate replacement address and evidence of its connection to that address within the specified period. Failure to comply can potentially lead to strike-off action. For that reason, companies should treat their registered office as an ongoing compliance responsibility rather than a one-time incorporation detail.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Choosing an address without permission

If another person or business owns the premises, obtain permission before using it.

Using a PO Box incorrectly

A standalone PO Box is not an appropriate registered office.

Forgetting the correct jurisdiction

The registered office must be in the appropriate part of the UK for the company.

Assuming submission means completion

The change takes effect only when Companies House registers it.

Forgetting the old address remains visible

Changing the address does not erase the company's historical registered office information.

Not arranging mail handling

A professional address is only useful if official correspondence actually reaches someone responsible for the company.

Updating Companies House but nowhere else

Banks, HMRC, insurers, suppliers and customers may all need to be updated separately.

Registered Office Change Checklist

Before filing:

• Choose an appropriate physical address
• Confirm the address is in the correct UK jurisdiction
• Obtain permission if necessary
• Confirm mail will reach someone acting for the company
• Ensure delivery can be acknowledged
• Have your Companies House authentication details available
• Submit the change online where eligible

After filing:

• Confirm Companies House has registered the change
• Check the public company record
• Notify your bank
• Review HMRC records
• Notify your accountant
• Update insurance
• Update invoices and quotations
• Update your website
• Update payment providers
• Notify key customers and suppliers
• Arrange forwarding of mail from the old address

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my registered office address online?

Yes. Most companies can change their registered office address online through Companies House. Online filing is generally quicker than submitting a paper form.

Is there a fee to change a registered office address?

There is currently no Companies House fee for the standard change of registered office address. You may, however, pay a commercial fee if you use a professional registered-office or mail-handling service.

How quickly does a registered office change take effect?

The change becomes effective when Companies House registers the notice, not simply when you submit it. Companies House says online changes are generally quick to process.

Can I use my home address as my registered office?

Yes, provided it meets the requirements. However, the registered office is publicly available, so using your home address can expose your residential location on the public register.

Can I use a virtual office as my registered office?

Potentially, provided the service supplies an address that meets the legal requirements for an appropriate registered office and ensures documents reach someone acting for the company. A virtual-office label alone does not make an address compliant.

Can I use a PO Box as my registered office?

You cannot use a standalone PO Box as a registered office. The address must meet the requirements for an appropriate address.

Will my old registered office address disappear from Companies House?

No. Previous registered office addresses remain on the public record for the lifetime of the company and for 20 years after dissolution.

Does changing my registered office change my company number?

No. Changing the registered office does not normally create a new company or change its company number.

Do I need to tell HMRC when I change my registered office?

You should check and update your HMRC records where necessary. Companies House and HMRC maintain separate records, so you should not assume that changing the Companies House address automatically updates every government record.

Can I change my registered office from England to Scotland?

Not through the ordinary registered-office change process. England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are separate registration jurisdictions, so moving between them can involve additional company-law requirements.

Conclusion

Changing your registered office address is usually a straightforward Companies House filing, but the address itself carries important legal and practical responsibilities. For most companies, the process is simply to choose an appropriate address in the correct UK jurisdiction, submit the change through Companies House and confirm that the new address has been registered. The standard online change currently carries no Companies House filing fee.

The bigger issue is choosing an address that will work properly for the company. It must be an appropriate physical address where official documents can reach someone acting for the business and where delivery can be acknowledged. For founders working from home or running businesses remotely, a professional registered office can also provide greater separation between personal and business life. For international entrepreneurs, it can offer a practical UK base for receiving official correspondence.

Whatever address you choose, remember that Companies House is only one part of the update. Banks, HMRC, insurers, accountants, customers, suppliers and digital platforms may also need to know about the change. A registered office is not just an address on a form. It is part of the company's legal infrastructure, and keeping it accurate is a basic but important responsibility of running a UK company.