What is a service address for company directors (and why it matters)

Companies House maintains data about all UK limited companies, including the home addresses of company directors. The ‘service address’ concept affords privacy to individuals who wish to keep their residential address private.

For example, if you use your home address as both your registered office and service address, it will appear on the public record. Most contractors avoid this by using their accountant or a third-party address instead.

• What a service address is (and why it exists)
• Who must provide one
• Whether it has to be UK-based
• How to change or remove an address

What is a service (correspondence) address?

In October 2009, as part of the widespread reforms introduced by the Companies Act 2006, the Government introduced a new requirement for directors and certain other individuals to provide two addresses.

• a usual residential address
• a correspondence address, known as a ‘service address’

Importantly, only the service address appears on the searchable public record, protecting your residential address if this is required.

You must still provide Companies House with your home address (for use by credit reference agencies and certain authorities such as the police), but only your service address will appear online.

Does a service address have to be a real physical address?

According to the legislation:

a “service address”, in relation to a person, means an address at which documents may be effectively served on that person.

So, it must be a physical address where official paperwork can be delivered.

Does a service address have to be in the UK?

No. While a limited company’s registered office must be in the UK, a director’s service address can be overseas.

Who has to provide a service address?

You have to provide Companies House with a service address (as well as your residential address, if different) if you are:

• a company director
• a company secretary
• a member of an LLP
• a Person with Significant Control (PSC)
• a subscriber (i.e. a shareholder or guarantor when the company is incorporated)

Can I change my service address?

Yes – you can update it at any time.

Simply inform Companies House of the change within 14 days. You can do this online (WebFiling) or use form CH01 if you’re a limited company director.

What about my company’s registered office address?

Your company’s registered office address is separate information; it may be the same as your usual residential address, your service address, or a completely different address.

If you’re just setting up, see our guide to forming a limited company.

Many contractors use a third party to provide their registered office and service addresses for directors (see below).

Using a third party address service to provide privacy

Yes, there are various options available to company owners, such as:

• You use your accountant’s address (a popular option). This service might be included in their monthly fee or for a modest monthly charge.
• You use your company formation agent’s redirection service (all official post is scanned to your email).

For obvious reasons, many contractors keep their registered office and service addresses separate from their home address.

Can I remove my home address from previous filings?

Yes, if you’ve provided your home address previously, you can apply as an individual to have this data updated on the public record, thanks to the Companies (Disclosure of Address) (Amendment) Regulations 2018.

It costs £34 to update your home address for each document you select using the SR01 application form.

If your home address is your company’s current registered office, you must change the registered office before applying. Companies House may retain part of the address on the public record, depending on how it was previously used.

Find out more here.

Common questions

Can I use a PO Box as a service address?
A PO Box should not be used on its own. You must provide an address where documents can be effectively served. Different rules apply to the registered office, which cannot be a Royal Mail PO Box.

Can my accountant act as my service address?
Yes. This is one of the most common options for contractors and is often included in the monthly fee.

Is it free to change my service address?
Yes. Updating your service address with Companies House is free, as long as you do it correctly.

Can I use the same service address for more than one company?
Yes. You can use the same service address for each company you are involved with, as long as documents can be delivered there.

Can my service address be the same as my registered office?
Yes. A director’s service address can be the same as the company’s registered office. It can also be your home address or another address where you can receive documents.

Does changing my service address remove the old one?
Changing your service address updates your current details, but the previous address may still appear in historical documents on the public register. If it is your home address, you may be able to apply to Companies House to suppress it.