A director’s service address is the place where an individual director chooses to receive statutory correspondence relating to their role in a company – i.e., official letters and notices from Companies House, HMRC, the Insolvency Service, the courts, and other government agencies.
Every director of a UK company must have a service address, so you will need to provide this information to Companies House when you set up a company, appoint a new director, or notify a PSC (person with significant control). A service address can be residential or commercial; however, it will be included on public record, so it is best to use a commercial (non-residential) address.
Does a director’s service address need to be in the UK?
There is no rule which states that a director’s service address needs to be in the UK. Whilst your company’s registered office address must be situated in the part of the UK where your company is formed, a director’s official contact address can be located anywhere in the UK or abroad.
You can use any type of address (apart from a PO Box No.), including your private residence, your company’s registered office or trading address, the same address as another director, your accountant’s office, or a professional service address from a company formation agent.
There is no need to visit your service address or work there, nor do you have to use specific business premises or an address that is associated with your company. It simply needs to be a physical postal address where mail can be delivered.
Can I use my home address as a director’s service address?
You are allowed to use your home address as a director’s service address, but do bear in mind that Companies House will disclose the address on the official register of companies, which is available to the public. Most directors, therefore, prefer to use a non-residential address to limit the personal information that is made available to the public.
Please note, if your home address is registered on Companies House, it can be costly to remove (or “suppress”) it from the public record (£50 per document where it is displayed).
A non-residential service address will enable you to maintain personal privacy, prevent unsolicited letters and uninvited persons turning up at your front door, and establish clear boundaries between your professional life and home life. Furthermore, it will sharpen your professional image, enhance your credibility, and build confidence and trust in your personal brand.
What is the best type of director’s service address?
Ideally, the best type of director’s service address is a prominent, commercial address in a popular location – an address that reinforces the positive professional image that you want to project to the world. Nowadays, however, many small companies and home-based businesses have limited budgets or simply do not require commercial premises for their day-to-day activities.
A popular alternative to leasing commercial premises is to set up a professional director’s service address. Available from a number of address providers, including company formation agents, this is the most cost-effective way to create the right impression whilst protecting your privacy and meeting the requirements of Companies House.
Who needs to provide a service address?
In addition to limited company directors, the following individuals also need to provide and maintain a service address:
- company secretaries
- subscribers (shareholders or guarantors who form the company)
- LLP members
- People with Significant Control (PSC) in a company or LLP
If you are a company director and also hold one or more of the roles listed above, you can simply provide the same address details for every position.
Set up a professional Director’s Service Address in London
Quality Company Formations provides a range of professional address services for UK limited companies and LLPs, including a prestigious London Service Address in Covent Garden for just £26.00 + VAT per year. This service is available to directors, company secretaries, subscribers, PSCs, and LLP members.
If you wish to set up a company, our Service Address is also available at a discounted rate within our Privacy, Privacy Plus and Fully Inclusive company formation packages.
When you purchase one of our address services, our London address will be provided to Companies House and placed on public record against the name of the nominated address holder. This will protect your privacy and ensure all official government mail is delivered to our London address. Your mail will then be scanned and emailed to you free of charge within one working day of receipt.
