Company formation

What is a registered office address and can I use my home?

The registered office is your company's official public address. Home is allowed but public. Appropriate address rules and the alternatives.

Written and reviewed by Waqas Sagar Member of ICAEW, Fellow of ACCA, Fellow of AAT, a double graduate and entrepreneur at heart, helping startups grow and serving thousands of businesses nationwide with an excellent team. Published by LimitedCompany.Accountants, 12 London Road, Morden, London SM4 5BQ. Reviewed 12 September 2026 against 2026/27 UK rates and current Companies House and HMRC guidance.

What this means for your company

The registered office is the company's official address for legal notices, shown publicly on the Companies House register. You can use your home, but it becomes public, and it must be an appropriate address where post is delivered and acknowledged.

01

Appropriate address rules

02

Alternatives to your home

Short answer

The registered office is the company's official address for legal notices, shown publicly on the Companies House register. You can use your home, but it becomes public, and it must be an appropriate address where post is delivered and acknowledged.

Appropriate address rules

Under ECCTA, the registered office must be an appropriate address, meaning documents delivered there come to the attention of someone acting for the company and delivery can be recorded. PO boxes alone no longer qualify. Companies House can change a non-compliant address to a default one and start strike off action.

You also need a registered email address for Companies House communications, which is not published on the register.

Alternatives to your home

A service address from your accountant or a formation agent keeps your home address off the public register and handles official post. We provide a registered office at 12 London Road, Morden, for clients who want that separation.

Directors can also use a service address separate from their residential address, and can apply to suppress a previously published home address in limited circumstances.

Before you act

Rates, thresholds and deadlines quoted here reflect the 2026/27 UK position and current Companies House and HMRC guidance. Check GOV.UK, or ask us, before relying on them for your own company.

Related answers

More on company formation

Every answer in this cluster is written for UK limited company directors and reviewed against current HMRC and Companies House guidance.

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Frequently asked

What is a registered office address and can I use my home?: questions directors ask

Does the registered office have to be where I trade?

No. It is an administrative address and can differ from your trading address.

Can it be in a different UK country?

It must be in the jurisdiction the company is registered in, England and Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland.

Can I change it?

Yes, free of charge, filed at Companies House and effective when registered.

What records are needed for what is a registered office address and can i use my home?

Keep bank statements, sales and platform reports, purchase invoices, payroll records, VAT workings, finance agreements and Companies House correspondence. We confirm the exact list at onboarding and identify gaps before a filing deadline becomes urgent.

How much does help with what is a registered office address and can i use my home cost?

The fee depends on transaction volume, record quality, VAT and payroll requirements, historic catch-up and the level of reporting needed. We agree a fixed scope and price before technical work starts, with published packages available on our fees page.

Can you take over what is a registered office address and can i use my home from another accountant?

Yes. We request professional clearance, collect the prior records and authorities, check the next Companies House and HMRC deadlines, and give you one clear handover list. The process is normally completed remotely.

Can what is a registered office address and can i use my home be handled online?

Yes. We work through secure cloud records, scheduled reviews and digital approvals, while keeping a named team available by phone, video call and email. Clients can also visit our Morden office by appointment.

Which accounting software works best for what is a registered office address and can i use my home?

We regularly work with Xero, QuickBooks, FreeAgent, Sage and connected sales or expense apps. The right setup depends on transaction volume, integrations and the reports you need, not simply the software brand.

What tax deadlines matter for what is a registered office address and can i use my home?

The relevant calendar may include annual accounts, Corporation Tax payment and return dates, confirmation statements, VAT returns, payroll submissions and Self Assessment. We map the dates from your company year end and registrations.

Is this what is a registered office address and can i use my home guidance personal tax advice?

No. This page explains general UK rules and common accounting treatment. Your facts, contracts and wider tax position must be reviewed before you rely on a conclusion.

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Check the current rules

Use official information as your reference point.

Deadlines, thresholds and filing rules change. GOV.UK and Companies House publish the current statutory position; advice should then be applied to your company’s circumstances.

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