Maintenance of Statutory Books: What Is It, and How Does It Work?

Statutory books are the official record of your company's key details, directors, shareholders, and share capital among them. Since November 2025, though, part of what used to sit in your own company records now lives centrally with Companies House instead, which is worth understanding before assuming the old rules still apply in full.

Key Takeaways

• Statutory books record your company's core details: registered office, directors, secretaries, shareholders, share capital, and PSCs.
• Since 18 November 2025, companies no longer have to keep their own local register of directors, PSCs, and residential addresses, since Companies House now holds this centrally.
• Companies still need to keep accurate records of shareholders and share capital, since Companies House doesn't hold this centrally in the same way.
• If your company's details change, a director appointment or share transfer, for example, it's worth updating your own records and syncing them with Companies House promptly.
• If you formed your company with us, your statutory information is stored digitally and accessible directly through your account.

What Are Statutory Books?

Statutory books are the official record of your company's key legal details. Traditionally, this covered:

• Company name, company number, and registered office
• Accounting reference date
• Directors and their service addresses
• Company secretaries and their addresses, if appointed
• Shareholders and how many shares each holds
• Overall company share capital
• People with Significant Control (PSCs)

What's Changed Since November 2025?

This is the part worth knowing if you haven't checked in a while. Since 18 November 2025, companies no longer have to maintain their own local register of directors, PSCs, and residential addresses, since Companies House now holds this information centrally instead. This was part of a wider set of reforms under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act, which also introduced identity verification requirements for directors and PSCs.

This doesn't remove the need to keep your company's records accurate, it shifts some of the record-keeping responsibility onto Companies House itself rather than requiring you to maintain a parallel local copy. You still need to keep proper records of shareholders and share capital, since this isn't something Companies House holds centrally in the same way, and keeping your own copy accurate remains good practice regardless of what's changed.

What Happens if My Company's Details Change?

Things change fairly often for small businesses, a share transfer, a new director appointment, a change of registered office. Whenever this happens, it's worth updating your own records and making sure the change is properly reflected with Companies House too, typically through the relevant filing or your next Confirmation Statement.

How Do I View My Statutory Information if I Formed My Company With You?

If your company was formed with us, your statutory information is stored digitally and accessible through your account:

1. Log in with your username and password
2. Select the relevant company under "My Companies"
3. Click on your company name to open your company portal
4. Select "Download Company Statutory Info" in the top right corner
5. View your company's statutory information

FAQs

What are statutory books?

The official record of your company's core details, including its registered office, directors, shareholders, share capital, and PSCs.

Do I still need to maintain a local register of directors and PSCs?

Not in the same way. Since November 2025, Companies House holds this information centrally, though keeping your own accurate records is still good practice.

Do I still need to keep records of shareholders and share capital?

Yes, this isn't held centrally by Companies House in the same way director and PSC details now are, so accurate records still matter.

How do I update my statutory information if something changes?

Update your own records and make sure the change is properly reflected with Companies House, typically through the relevant filing or your next Confirmation Statement.

Where can I view my company's statutory information if I formed with you?

Through your account, under "My Companies," using the "Download Company Statutory Info" option in your company portal.

This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Companies House requirements can change, so it's worth checking current guidance on GOV.UK or Companies House before relying on the details above.