Moving your office premises is a routine event, but it’s more than just shifting desks and executing a new lease. In the UK, a change in your company’s registered office address is a legal procedure that needs to be done efficiently to be compliant with Companies House guidelines.
This guide will take you through smoothly changing your registered office address in 2025. Moreover, this guide breaks down the steps, costs, and reasons for changing your registered office address, making it easy to stay on top of legal requirements.
What is a Registered Office Address?
Your registered office address is the one legal address of your company where official letters and statutory documents are received. It must be a physical address in the same area where your company is incorporated. It is a public record maintained by Companies House. It isn’t always where you conduct your business every day. It is the official one used to address communication with governmental departments like Companies House and HMRC.
Legal Status of a Company’s Registered Office Address in the UK
Under the UK Companies Act 2006 (Section 86), a company’s registered office address is a statutory requirement. The registered office address is treated as the official address for receiving legal documents, statutory notices, and communications from HMRC and Companies House.
Mandatory Requirement
Every UK business is required to have a registered office address upon incorporation and keep it throughout the duration of its life. The address has to be a UK physical address (not a P.O.Box) within the territory of registration (for example, England and Wales, Scotland, or Northern Ireland).
Public Record and Disclosure
The registered office is listed on the public register at Companies House, and it is available to the public. It should be featured on business documents such as letters, invoices, and websites as required by the Limited Company, Limited Liability Partnerships and Business (Names and Trading Disclosures) Regulations 2015.
Purpose and Use
The address needs to be able to receive and accept documents, so arrangements for handling mail are necessary. It doesn’t have to be the business address. It can be a different place, e.g., an accountant’s or solicitor’s office.
Privacy Options
Such companies make use of third-party services to ensure privacy, particularly where directors do not use a residential address. Directors are allowed to furnish a distinct service address to ensure that their home address is not publicly disclosed (Sections 240-246, Companies Act 2006).
Change Notification
Firms need to inform Companies House of a change of address within 14 days on Form AD01 (Section 87). Not keeping a valid registered office or not informing Companies House can result in penalties, such as fines or the striking off of the company.
How to Change Your Company’s Registered Office Address Step-by-Step
Ensure the new address meets UK requirements and is changed wherever it is necessary. To change the registered office address successfully, follow these steps:
Step 1: Ensure the New Location
First, check that your new registered office is in the same part of the UK where your company is currently registered (for instance, a company registered in England and Wales should have its new registered office in England or Wales).
Step 2: Communicate to Companies House
You inform Companies House on priority. You do this by filling in the official AD01 form (Change of Registered Office Address).
- Online Filing (Recommended): The fastest and most convenient way is the use of Companies House WebFiling service or third-party company secretarial software. This operation is generally processed instantly.
- Paper Filing: You can also print the AD01 form, fill it out, and send it by post to Companies House. This is a bit of a slow process.
Step 3: Update All Business Stationery
The change of address takes effect once Companies House registers and confirms the update (usually instantly for online filings). You must update your new address on all formal company documents, business stationery, and websites immediately. These include:
- Letterheads, invoices, and orders for purchase.
- The company website (such as the footer and “Contact Us” page).
- Email footers.
- Statutory registers of your company (which are held in-house).
- Display the new address prominently at the new registered office.
Step 4: Inform HMRC
Companies House usually notifies HMRC after a successful AD01 submission, but you should still update your HMRC business tax account directly to ensure all records (VAT, PAYE, Corporation Tax) are correct.
Requirements to Change Registered Office Address
Under UK law, companies must inform Companies House about the change of registered office address within two weeks. This is done by filing Form AD01, either online or by post. The other general requirements are:
Board Resolution
If your company has multiple directors, you’ll have to get a board resolution permitting the address change. This resolution should be documented and signed, and updated in the records.
Notify Stakeholders
Don’t forget to notify:
- Customers and suppliers
- Investors and shareholders
- Professional bodies or regulators
A plain email or newsletter update can assist in maintaining trust and transparency.
Amend Statutory Records
After filing the change, it’s mandatory updating your company’s:
- Statutory registers
- Board resolution documents
- Articles of association (if the address is referred to there).
Does It Cost to Change the Registered Office Address?
It is free to change your registered office address when you send the AD01 form yourself to Companies House, online, or by mail.
Nevertheless, you pay a fee when you are utilising one:
- Accountant/Company Secretarial Service: They will also charge a professional fee to file on your behalf.
- Registered Office Service: You pay for the professional service (e.g., an accountant or formation agent) and will pay an annual fee or a monthly payment to the service. It is usually less expensive when small businesses desire a change of registered office address.
It’s always worth weighing the convenience of employing professionals against the convenient no-cost option of doing the AD01 yourself.
Why Change Your Registered Office Address?
Businesses usually change their registered office address for some critical reasons:
- Relocation: You’ve moved your main business operations and would like the statutory address to reflect your new premises.
- Professional Image: You want to use a better-sounding or more business like-sounding address in official mail (e.g., making use of an agent’s address at company formation).
- Compliance: Moving your company’s jurisdiction (for example, England to Scotland), and you need a new registered office within that new jurisdiction.
- Privacy: If the old registered office was your home address, you might want to upgrade to a business address to keep your personal address off the public record.
- Accessibility: The current address isn’t suitable for your company’s area of operation.
Updating your new address keeps your business compliant and ensures you get all key documents properly.
Where Do I Legally Need to Change My Address?
It is mandatory by law to change your address at:
- Companies House ( mandatory).
- HMRC (for all tax-related correspondence).
- Bank, insurers, and clients for smooth communication.
- Suppliers and contracts to avoid missing notices.
- Also, take into account your insurance providers.
- Don’t forget to inform utility companies.
The Bottom line
It has become fairly easy to change the registered office address of your company by implementing the right procedures mentioned above. It keeps your records up to date and ensures you don’t miss legal or tax notifications. In 2025, it is simpler than ever with online filing, compliance is fast, easy, and inexpensive. It ensures that your company remains compliant while keeping up a professional image.
Disclaimer: All the information provided in this article on How to Change Your Company’s Registered Office Address in UK – Step-by-Step 2025, including all the texts and graphics, is general in nature. It does not intend to disregard any of the professional advice.