Registered Office, Service Address, and Residential Address: What's the Difference?

A registered office is your company's official UK address, a service address is your director's contact address (which can be anywhere), and a residential address is your director's actual home, kept private by default. All three are required, but they serve different purposes and follow different rules. Here's what each one actually means.

Key Takeaways

• The registered office is your company's official UK address, required by law, and it's publicly visible on Companies House.
• The service address is your director's contact address, can be located anywhere in the world, and is also public.
• The residential address is your director's actual home. It's private unless you also use it as your registered office or service address.
• Since March 2024, a registered office can't be a PO Box, and every company also needs a registered email address.
• Since November 2025, directors and PSCs must verify their identity too, a separate requirement that sits alongside these address rules.

What Is a Registered Office Address?

Your registered office is your company's official address, held publicly on the Companies House register. Every UK company must have one, and it's where formal government correspondence, from HMRC, Companies House, and UK courts, gets sent.

• It's the official address of your company
• It can be a residential address
• It must be based in the UK
• Your company doesn't need to actually operate from this address
• It's compulsory
• It's shown on the public register

Since 4 March 2024, your registered office can no longer be a PO Box. The address needs to be a real location where mail would reasonably reach someone acting for the company, with delivery capable of being acknowledged. Companies also now need a registered email address, a requirement introduced at the same time, so Companies House can reach you directly rather than relying on post alone.

Many business owners use a registered office service instead of their home address, since it keeps a personal address off the public register while still meeting the legal requirements. A good service forwards your official mail on and stays compliant with the current rules automatically.

What Is a Service Address?

Your director's service address is the official contact address Companies House and HMRC use to reach them, and unlike the registered office, it can be anywhere in the world. It's compulsory and public, but it doesn't have to relate to where the company actually trades.

• It's the official address for your director
• It can be a residential address
• It can be based anywhere in the world
• Your company doesn't need to operate from here
• It can be the same as your registered office address
• It's shown on the public register
• It's compulsory

You can use a proxy address here too, as long as mail sent to it actually reaches you. Many people use the same registered office service for both the company's registered office and the director's service address, which simplifies things without breaching any rules.

What Is a Residential Address?

Your director's residential address is their genuine home address, and it stays off the public register by default. It only becomes visible if you also use it as the registered office or service address.

• It's the residential address of your company's director
• It must be a valid, real residence, not a PO Box or unverified unit
• It can double as your registered office address
• It can double as your service address
• It can be located anywhere in the world
• Your company doesn't need to operate from here
• It's compulsory to provide
• It's not shown on the public register

What's Changed Recently?

Two things worth knowing if you haven't checked your company's address setup in a while. Since November 2025, companies no longer need to keep their own local register of directors, PSCs, and residential addresses, since Companies House now holds this information centrally instead. Directors and PSCs also now have to verify their identity with Companies House, a separate requirement from anything address-related.

Neither of these changes what the three addresses above are for, but they do affect how your details are recorded and verified going forward. Our identity verification service can help you get this sorted if you haven't already, and our guide to the director's residential address covers the privacy protections available in more depth.

FAQs

What is a registered office address?

A registered office address is the official address of your company, which must be a physical location within the UK. This address is used for government correspondence from entities like HMRC, Companies House, and UK courts. It must be kept up to date and is publicly visible on the Companies House register.

Can my registered office address be my home address?

Yes, you can use your home address as your registered office address. However, keep in mind that it will be publicly available on the Companies House register. If you’re concerned about privacy, you may want to use a registered office service, which provides a proxy address.

What is the difference between a registered office address and a service address?

A registered office address is used for official company correspondence and must be within the UK. A service address, however, is used for communications with the company’s directors and can be located anywhere in the world. Both addresses are publicly available on the Companies House register.

Can I use a PO Box for my registered office address?

No, from March 2024, Companies House no longer accepts PO Box addresses for the registered office. It must be a physical address capable of receiving and acknowledging statutory mail.

Do I need a separate service address for my director?

Yes, a service address is required for your director. It can be the same as the registered office address, or it can be different. The service address can be anywhere in the world and is also publicly available on the Companies House register.

Is a residential address required for the company director?

Yes, you must provide a residential address for your director. This address is not made public unless it’s also used as the registered office or service address. It must be a valid residential address and can be located anywhere in the world.

Can I use a proxy address for my registered office or service address?

Yes, you can use a proxy address for both your registered office and service address. Many business owners opt for a registered office service to keep their personal or residential address private while complying with Companies House requirements.

What are the benefits of using a registered office service?

A registered office service allows you to use a professional address instead of your home address. This ensures your business remains compliant with Companies House regulations while offering privacy and convenience, as the service will forward any official communications to you.

This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Companies House address and identity verification rules can change, so it's worth checking current guidance on GOV.UK or Companies House, or speaking to a qualified professional, before relying on the details above.