When you form a limited company in the UK, certain addresses must be provided to Companies House and placed on the public register. For many directors and business owners, this raises an immediate concern: does my home address have to be publicly visible? The good news is that with the right setup, you can keep your personal address completely off the public record.
Why Is Your Address on the Public Register?
Companies House maintains a public register of all UK limited companies, which includes the company's registered office address and the service address of each director, secretary, and person with significant control (PSC). This information is publicly accessible to anyone — including competitors, cold callers, and members of the public.
If you use your home address for either of these purposes, it will appear on that public register by default.
The Two Addresses You Need to Protect
There are two distinct addresses associated with your company that could expose your home address if not managed correctly:
1. Registered Office Address
This is the official address of your limited company. It must be a physical UK address in the same country where your company is registered. If you do not use a professional registered office address, your home address will appear here.
2. Director Service Address
This is the personal address of each director and PSC. Under the Companies Act 2006, every director must provide a service address. If you do not provide a separate one, your residential address is used by default and displayed publicly.
How to Remove Your Home Address From the Register
If your home address is currently showing on the Companies House register, here is what you need to do:
- Appoint a professional registered office address — update your company's registered office to a professional business address. This can be done via Companies House WebFiling or by instructing a registered office provider.
- Update your director service address — file a change of service address (form CH01 for directors) with Companies House to replace your home address with a professional service address.
- Apply to suppress your home address — if your home address has previously appeared on the register, you can apply to Companies House to have it suppressed from public view using form SR01. This is a separate step and is not automatic. In certain circumstances — such as if you face a risk of violence or harassment — you can apply to have your address suppressed on those grounds, which requires evidence of risk.
Our Companies House Services can support you through the process of updating your registered office and director service address correctly.
Can You Use a Virtual Office or PO Box?
A virtual office address from a reputable provider is fully acceptable as both a registered office and a director service address, provided it is a real physical address where mail can be received. A PO box alone is not acceptable for a registered office or director service address under Companies House rules — you must use a physical UK address.
What Happens to Your Mail?
When you use a professional address service like Spectre Offices, any official correspondence sent to your service address is either forwarded to you or scanned and sent digitally — so you never miss important letters from Companies House or HMRC.
Ongoing Compliance
Once you have updated your addresses, it is important to keep them current. Companies House must be notified of any address changes promptly. Failure to maintain accurate records can result in penalties and compliance issues.
How Spectre Offices Can Help
Spectre Offices provides professional registered office addresses and director service addresses at business locations across the UK. Our service ensures:
- Your home address never appears on the Companies House public register
- All official correspondence from Companies House and HMRC is received and forwarded to you
- Your addresses remain compliant with Companies House requirements at all times
- Coverage across multiple UK cities, so you can choose a location that suits your business
Conclusion
Keeping your home address off the public register is straightforward with the right provider. By using a professional registered office address and director service address, you can protect your personal privacy, maintain a professional image, and stay fully compliant with Companies House requirements — all 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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