When setting up a UK limited company, you will encounter two address requirements that are often confused: the registered office address and the director service address. While both are legally required and both appear on the Companies House public register, they serve very different purposes. Understanding the distinction is essential for staying compliant and protecting your personal privacy.
What Is a Registered Office Address?
A registered office address is the official address of your limited company. It is the address that Companies House, HMRC, and other government bodies use to contact your business. Every UK limited company must have a registered office address, and it must be located in the same country where the company is incorporated — England and Wales, Scotland, or Northern Ireland.
Your registered office address appears publicly on the Companies House register and must be a physical address where official correspondence can be received. It cannot be a PO Box.
What Is a Director Service Address?
A director service address is a personal address provided by each director, secretary, and person with significant control (PSC) of a UK limited company. It is the address where Companies House and HMRC will send official correspondence addressed to the individual — not the company.
Under the Companies Act 2006, every director must provide a service address. If no separate service address is provided, Companies House will display the director's residential address on the public register by default. Our Companies House Services can help you get both addresses set up correctly.
Key Differences at a Glance
| Registered Office | Director Service Address | |
|---|---|---|
| Belongs to | The company | The individual director/PSC |
| Purpose | Official company correspondence | Official personal correspondence |
| Who provides it | The company | Each director individually |
| Must be in same country? | Yes | No — anywhere in the UK |
| Publicly visible? | Yes | Yes |
| Can protect home address? | For the company | For the director personally |
Can They Be the Same Address?
Yes — and many directors choose to use the same professional address for both. Using a single provider like Spectre Offices for both your registered office and director service address simplifies administration, ensures consistency on the Companies House register, and means all official correspondence is handled in one place.
What Happens if You Use Your Home Address?
If you use your home address as either your registered office or director service address, it will appear on the public Companies House register — visible to anyone who searches for your company. This is a significant privacy concern, particularly for home-based business owners, sole directors, and anyone who wants to keep their personal and professional lives separate.
How Spectre Offices Can Help
Spectre Offices provides both registered office addresses and director service addresses at professional business locations across the UK. Our services include:
- A professional UK business address for your company's registered office
- A separate or combined director service address for each director
- Mail handling and forwarding of all official correspondence
- Full compliance with Companies House requirements
- Locations across multiple UK cities
Whether you need one or both addresses, Spectre Offices makes it simple to stay compliant while keeping your home address private. Visit our Companies House Services page to find out more.
Explore our registered office and director service address packages →
Conclusion
A registered office address belongs to your company; a director service address belongs to you personally. Both are legal requirements for UK limited companies, and both appear publicly on the Companies House register. Using a professional address provider for both gives you privacy, compliance, and a consistent professional presence — without your home address ever appearing on public record.
Spectre Offices provides address and administrative support only. We do not provide legal, tax, accountancy or financial advice. Clients remain responsible for ensuring their company records are accurate and up to date.
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