Changes to Companies House Registered Office Address Rules

The first set of changes introduced by the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (ECCT Act) came into force on 4 March 2024. One of the new measures is the new regulations regarding Companies House registered office addresses, requiring all companies to maintain an "appropriate address" as their registered office. Failure to comply with these new rules could result in fines of up to £1,000.

What Is an 'Appropriate Address'?

Under the new guidelines, an "appropriate address" is one where:

1. A document addressed to the company, and delivered there by hand or by post, would be expected to come to the attention of a person acting on behalf of the company, and
2. The delivery of documents there is capable of being recorded by the obtaining of an acknowledgement of delivery.

(Part 6, section 86(2) of the Companies Act 2006)

To meet all the new requirements, your registered office address must be:

• A physical address in the UK.
• In the same country (or jurisdiction) where your company incorporates.
• An ‘appropriate address’ as defined by the meaning in the Companies Act 2006.

This means that companies can no longer use a PO Box as a registered office address.

If a company’s registered office address fails to meet these standards, it will be deemed not appropriate.

Consequences of Non-Compliance

Companies that do not comply with these requirements risk serious penalties. Companies House now has the authority to take action against companies and their officers, which includes imposing fines of up to £1,000 as outlined in the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023.

If Companies House determine that a registered office address is not appropriate, they will:

• Change the registered office address to a default address held at Companies House without any notice period.  There are three in total depending on where the company incorporates.
• Give the Company 14 days to provide evidence that it is an appropriate address or allow to change its registered office to a new address.

If Companies House changes the company’s registered office address to a default address without notice, and the Company raises no objection, the Company will have up to 28 days to provide details of a new ‘appropriate address’.

It's crucial for companies using an agent’s address or a third-party provider to ensure that the service meets the new requirements. Importantly, the use of a Royal Mail PO Box, or similar services, is no longer permitted as a registered office address.

Enhanced Powers for Companies House

Companies House has also now been granted expanded powers to verify and challenge the accuracy of information on their registers. They can now remove inaccurate, incomplete, or fraudulent data more swiftly and are also introducing stricter checks on company names to prevent misleading or false representations.

Additionally, Companies House is actively working to clean up the register, using data-matching techniques to identify and remove inaccurate information.

A company must respond quickly to requests for information from Companies House. If a case is escalated to a formal query, then there are only 14 days to respond to Companies House. A lack of response is classed as a criminal offence and the consequences could be a financial penalty or prosecution.

Ensuring that your registered office address complies with these new rules is essential to avoid penalties and maintain good standing with Companies House.

Stay informed and take the necessary steps to ensure your company is in full compliance with these important new regulations.