Registered office address — can I use my home address, or should I pay for a virtual office?

Hi Luna, legally your registered office must be a physical address in the same country where the company is incorporated (England and Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland), and it sits on the public Companies House record, so anyone can look it up. That publicity is the main reason many directors avoid using a home address, alongside privacy concerns for you and your household. Using your home address is free and perfectly legal, but do check your mortgage terms and any lease or tenancy agreement first, as some restrict business use of a residential property. You can also keep your home address off the public record in your director capacity by registering a separate director's service address, which is a sensible middle ground. A virtual office solves the professional image point too and usually includes mail handling, but check the provider forwards statutory mail promptly, since legal notices are deemed served at the registered office. Finally, bear in mind the Companies House identity verification requirements now being applied, so whoever you name as director or PSC will need to verify their identity regardless of the address you choose.