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

Last updated · General guidance, not legal or tax advice

A registered office address is a company's official address on the Companies House register. Companies House, HMRC and other official bodies send post there, and anyone can look it up. It must be a physical address in the UK jurisdiction where the company is registered — for example, England and Wales.

You can use your home address, but it will then be published on the public register and linked to your company. Many people use a registered office address service instead to keep their home address private.

What is a registered office used for?

  • Receiving official post from Companies House, HMRC, the courts and other government bodies
  • Being the address shown on the public register and on company documents
  • Being where legal documents can be served on the company
  • Being where company records can be kept or inspected, unless another location is notified

Companies must show their registered office address on their website, and on documents such as invoices and order forms. See GOV.UK's rules on stationery and websites.

What are the rules for the address?

  • It must be a physical address in the same UK jurisdiction where the company is registered.
  • It must be an "appropriate address": official post sent there should be expected to reach someone acting for the company, and its delivery should be capable of being acknowledged.
  • A PO Box on its own is not acceptable.
  • You can change it later by notifying Companies House.

Can I use my home address?

Yes, if you live in the right jurisdiction and are allowed to (check any mortgage, lease or tenancy terms). The main drawback is privacy: the address becomes part of the public record and can appear on data sites long after you change it. It can also lead to unexpected callers or post.

If that concerns you, you can use a registered office address service. For directors, a separate director service address keeps your home off the register too — Companies House still holds your home address privately. Our guide to hiding your home address from Companies House explains more.

Is a registered office the same as a trading address?

No. The registered office is the official legal address. A trading address is where you actually do business or where customers contact you. They can be the same place, but often are not — especially for people who work from home or online.

Is a registered office the same as a virtual office?

No. A registered office service provides the official address and handles official post. A virtual office typically adds a general trading address for all mail and parcels, and sometimes phone answering or meeting rooms. See registered office vs virtual office.

How does the Registered Address Essex service work?

Our address at 105 High Street, Brentwood, Essex is available as a registered office for companies registered in England and Wales, for £10 a month or £100 a year, with no VAT. A director service address for all directors is included.

Ordinary official post sent to the registered office for your company is scanned and sent to you digitally, with no scanning or admin fee. After scanning, post is normally destroyed securely unless you ask us in advance to keep an original. If you occasionally need an item posted to you, we recharge only the actual postage, with no admin fee.

It is not a general mailroom: we do not accept trading mail, parcels, customer returns, supplier correspondence or post for other businesses. See what mail a registered office can receive.

In short

A registered office address is a company's official address on the public Companies House register. Official post from Companies House, HMRC and the courts is sent there, and legal documents can be served there. It must be a physical address in the UK jurisdiction where the company is registered, and a PO Box alone is not allowed. You can use your home address, but it will then be publicly visible and linked to your company. A registered office is not the same as a trading address or a virtual office. Many founders use a registered office address service, and a director service address, to keep their home address off the public record.

Frequently asked questions

Can I change my registered office later?

Yes. You notify Companies House of the new address, and it takes effect once registered.

Does the registered office need to be where I work?

No. It can be different from where you trade or work, as long as it meets the Companies House rules.

Sources and official guidance

This guide is general information about UK rules as at 3 October 2026. It is not legal, tax or financial advice.