Do I Need to Notify Companies House When My Registered Office Changes?

Yes. A UK limited company must notify Companies House whenever its registered office address changes.

You must generally report the change within 14 days. The new address does not officially become the company’s registered office until Companies House registers it.

How do I notify Companies House?

The quickest option is usually to update the address through the Companies House online filing service.

You will normally need:

• The company number
• The new registered office address
• The company authentication code
• Access to the company’s filing account

Alternatively, a private limited company can normally submit form AD01 by post.

Does Companies House charge a fee?

There is normally no Companies House fee for changing a registered office address online.

A virtual office, accountant, solicitor or address provider may charge separately for permission to use its address and for handling company mail.

What requirements must the new address meet?

The new registered office must be:

• A physical address in the UK
• In the company’s existing UK jurisdiction
• An appropriate address for receiving official correspondence
• Somewhere documents can be delivered and acknowledged
• Used with the address owner’s permission

A standalone PO Box cannot be used.

Can I move the registered office anywhere in the UK?

Not always. The new address must remain in the jurisdiction where the company is registered.

For example, a Scottish company must keep its registered office in Scotland, while a Northern Irish company must use an address in Northern Ireland.

When does the change take effect?

The change takes effect when Companies House registers it—not simply when the company starts using the new address.

Continue checking the old address until the update has been accepted. This helps prevent important legal, tax or regulatory documents from being missed.

What else should I update?

After the change is registered, update the address shown on:

• Your company website
• Invoices and receipts
• Business letters and order forms
• Contracts and company stationery
• Bank and payment accounts
• Insurance and regulatory records
• Supplier and customer records

The old address may remain visible in the company’s public filing history.

What happens if I do not notify Companies House?

Failing to update the registered office could cause the company to miss important correspondence.

If the company does not maintain an appropriate registered office, Companies House may take enforcement action. In serious cases, the address may be changed to a default Companies House address and the company could face strike-off proceedings.

Final answer

You must notify Companies House when your company’s registered office changes, generally within 14 days.

The change can usually be filed online using the company authentication code. It becomes official only after Companies House registers the new address.

This article provides general information and does not constitute legal or professional advice.

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