The Director: Appoint, Resign & Edit

You can appoint a new director, resign an existing one, or update director details directly through Companies House, or through an online portal like the one Companies MadeSimple provides. The whole thing usually takes a few minutes to submit, and changes are typically processed within a few working hours once Companies House receives them.

This guide walks through each process step by step, plus what information you'll need to have ready before you start.

Key Takeaways

• Appointing or resigning a director through Companies MadeSimple is a paid service, £19.99 +VAT for appointment and ID check, with resignation and a combined bundle also available.
• New directors need their identity verified as part of the appointment process, a requirement tied to Companies House's wider crackdown on fraudulent filings.
• You'll need full personal details for any new director: name, date of birth, nationality, occupation, residential address, and service address.
• Resigning a director still requires the resignation date and the appropriate filing (form TM01), now handled through our paid Director Resignation Service.
• Companies House usually confirms appointments and resignations within 24 working hours, though this isn't guaranteed and can vary.
• You're legally required to notify Companies House within 14 days of any director change, including edits to existing director details.
• Editing an existing director's details can still be done without going through a paid service.

How to Appoint a New Director

To appoint a director, you now go through our Director Appointment Service, which costs £19.99 +VAT and includes the ID check and AP01 filing on your behalf.

What information you need

Before you start, get this together for the new director:

• Full legal name
• Date of birth
• Nationality
• Occupation
• Residential address (private, never shown on the public register)
• Service address (this one's public)

The actual steps

Order the service and fill in the new director's details on the webform. The director then completes a secure digital ID check, uploading a government-issued photo ID and proof of address through our verification partner.

Once the ID check clears, Companies House emails the new director their personal code. They pass that code on to us, and we file the AP01 form on your behalf. Companies House usually confirms the appointment within 24 working hours.

Identity verification now matters here

This ID check isn't just us being cautious, it's tied to Companies House's wider identity verification requirements for directors and PSCs. Getting it done properly as part of the appointment avoids delays further down the line. If you just need a personal code for an already-existing officer, we also offer a separate Identity Verification Service.

How to Resign a Director

Our Director Resignation Service covers preparing and filing the resignation paperwork (form TM01) with Companies House on your behalf.

You submit the resignation date and any relevant details, and our Company Secretarial Team takes it from there. Companies House usually confirms the resignation within 24 working hours.

If you're replacing one director with another, the Director Appointment & Resignation Bundle handles both at once, filing the AP01 and TM01 together, which works out more cost-effective than doing them separately.

One thing worth knowing: if the resigning director is your only director, you'll need to appoint a replacement first. Every UK limited company must have at least one director at all times, and Companies House won't process a resignation that leaves you with none.

How to Edit a Director's Details

If a director's name or address changes, you're legally required to update Companies House within 14 days. This part can still be done directly, either through Companies House yourself or via your Companies MadeSimple portal if editing functionality is available there, rather than as a paid one-off service.

Update the relevant field, whether that's name, service address, or residential address, and submit the change. As with appointments and resignations, updates are typically reviewed and accepted within a similar working-hours timeframe, though it's worth checking current processing times directly with Companies House.

FAQs

How long does it take to appoint a new director with Companies House?

Once the ID check is complete and we've submitted the AP01 form, Companies House usually confirms the appointment within 24 working hours. This isn't a guaranteed timeframe, processing can vary depending on Companies House workload.

Do I legally have to update Companies House when a director resigns or changes their details?

Yes. You're required to notify Companies House within 14 days of any director change, whether that's an appointment, resignation, or update to their name or address. Missing this deadline is a compliance failure, even if it's unintentional.

Can I resign as a director if I'm the only one on the company?

No. UK limited companies must have at least one director at all times. If you're the sole director and want to step down, you need to appoint someone else first. Our Director Appointment & Resignation Bundle is built for exactly this situation, handling both changes in one go.

What's the difference between a director's residential address and their service address?

Your residential address stays private and never appears on the public register. Your service address does appear publicly and is where official company correspondence gets sent. Many directors use a registered office address as their service address to keep their home address off the public record.

Does appointing or resigning a director cost anything?

Yes. Appointing a new director through Companies MadeSimple costs £19.99 +VAT and includes the ID check and AP01 filing. Resigning a director is a separate paid service. If you're doing both at the same time, for example replacing one director with another, the combined bundle works out cheaper than ordering each separately.

Can I appoint a director myself instead of paying for the service?

You can file directly with Companies House yourself if you prefer, since appointments and resignations aren't exclusively handled through paid third-party services. Our service exists to take the admin off your hands, handle the ID verification correctly, and reduce the risk of a filing being rejected for incomplete or incorrect information.

This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Companies House requirements, processing times, and identity verification rules can change, so it's worth checking current guidance on GOV.UK or speaking to a qualified professional if you're unsure how a change applies to your company.