Last Updated: 14/05/2026

Key Takeaways

• A registered office address is required by law and must be a physical address based in the UK. It’s used for official government correspondence and is listed on the public register.
• The service address is the official address for your company’s director, which can be anywhere in the world. It is compulsory and also listed on the public register, though it can be the same as the registered office address.
• A residential address is the personal home address of your company director. It must be a valid residence and is not publicly available unless used as the registered office or service address.
• You can use a proxy address for both the registered office and service address, helping to protect personal privacy while still meeting legal requirements.
• The registered office and service addresses appear on the public Companies House register, but residential addresses are kept private unless specifically used for one of the other addresses.
• From March 2024, registered office addresses must be able to acknowledge the receipt of mail, and P.O. Boxes are no longer permitted.

Registered Office Address Explained

This is the ‘official’ address of your business, it is the one to appear on your Companies House Register and is publicly available. It is compulsory to have a Registered Office Address. This is also the address of your official government correspondence. This means that all letters from HMRC, UK Courts, Companies House etc, will make their way to this address.

Following the recent Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act, from March 4th 2024 this address may no longer be a PO box. The mail delivered to this address must be met with proof of delivery and acknowledgement.

Key Facts About the Registered Office Address:

• It is the official address of your company
• It can be a residential address
• Must be based in the UK
• The company does not need to be based/ trade from this address
• It is compulsory
• It is available on the public register

A lot of entrepreneurs and business owners chose to opt for a Registered Office service which allows them to use a proxy address in place of highlighting their residential address on Companies House. A registered Office service will forward all official communication to you and is compliant with the new changes at Companies House. 

• What is The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act?
• How Can I Stop My Home Address From Being Viewed on the Companies House Public Register? 

Service Address Explained

The service address is the official address for your company director held by Companies House. This address is compulsory and available on the public register. It is the address that Companies House and HMRC use to contact your director. Unlike the registered address this address can be based anywhere in the world. Similar to the registered office it can be a residential address too. 

Key Facts About the Service Address:

• The official address for your director
• Can be a residential address
• Can be based anywhere in the world
• The company does not have to be based / trade from here
• It can be the same as your Registered Office address
• It is available on the Public Register
• Compulsory 

Similar to a registered office, you can use a proxy address for your service address, as long as you make sure your mail is received and sent to you.

• Our residential address services include the director’s service address too.
• Changing your Director’s Service Address.

Residential Address Explained

The residential address refers to the residential address of your director. This is not available publicly unless you choose to use the same address as your registered office or service address. This address must be a home address, it can not include a PO Box, Unit or suite unless you can prove you live there. Similar to the other addresses, it is compulsory to provide Companies House with this address.

Key Facts About the Residential Address:

• A residential address for your company’s director
• Must be a valid residence
• It can be your registered office address
• It can be your service address
• It can be based anywhere in the world
• The company does not have to be based/trade from here
• It is compulsory
• It is not public

And there you have it. Everything you need to know about addresses at Companies House.

FAQs

What is a registered office address?

A registered office address is the official address of your company, which must be a physical location within the UK. This address is used for government correspondence from entities like HMRC, Companies House, and UK courts. It must be kept up to date and is publicly visible on the Companies House register.

Can my registered office address be my home address?

Yes, you can use your home address as your registered office address. However, keep in mind that it will be publicly available on the Companies House register. If you’re concerned about privacy, you may want to use a registered office service, which provides a proxy address.

What is the difference between a registered office address and a service address?

A registered office address is used for official company correspondence and must be within the UK. A service address, however, is used for communications with the company’s directors and can be located anywhere in the world. Both addresses are publicly available on the Companies House register.

Can I use a PO Box for my registered office address?

No, from March 2024, Companies House no longer accepts PO Box addresses for the registered office. It must be a physical address capable of receiving and acknowledging statutory mail.

Do I need a separate service address for my director?

Yes, a service address is required for your director. It can be the same as the registered office address, or it can be different. The service address can be anywhere in the world and is also publicly available on the Companies House register.

Is a residential address required for the company director?

Yes, you must provide a residential address for your director. This address is not made public unless it’s also used as the registered office or service address. It must be a valid residential address and can be located anywhere in the world.

Can I use a proxy address for my registered office or service address?

Yes, you can use a proxy address for both your registered office and service address. Many business owners opt for a registered office service to keep their personal or residential address private while complying with Companies House requirements.

What are the benefits of using a registered office service?

A registered office service allows you to use a professional address instead of your home address. This ensures your business remains compliant with Companies House regulations while offering privacy and convenience, as the service will forward any official communications to you.