Changing a company’s registered office address in the UK is a straightforward process, but it must be completed correctly to remain compliant with Companies House requirements. Whether you’re relocating, switching to a virtual office, or simply keeping your home address private, this guide explains every step clearly and professionally.
The registered office is your company’s official public-facing address. It’s where Companies House, HMRC, and other authorities send legal notices, reminders, and statutory documents.
A correct and up-to-date registered office ensures you never miss important communication that may affect compliance or deadlines.
As this information appears publicly, many company directors avoid using their home address. Some instead choose a professional registered office provider that keeps personal addresses private and presents a more credible business image — such as SpondooWorks’ Haslemere address, which is fully compliant for use with Companies House and HMRC.
Before filing the change with Companies House, confirm that the new address meets these legal criteria:
PO Boxes alone are not acceptable.
A PO Box may only be used if it forms part of a complete, valid address.
Many companies choose a virtual office provider that offers a real UK address with secure mail handling. For example, SpondooWorks provides a Companies House–compliant address in Haslemere with professional mail management, making it a practical alternative to traditional PO Boxes.
The new address must stay in the same part of the UK your company is registered in:
England & Wales → must remain in England or Wales
Scotland → must remain in Scotland
Northern Ireland → must remain in Northern Ireland
The address must be able to:
Accept mail
Forward/scan documents
Handle government notices securely
Providers like SpondooWorks handle this by securely collecting letters and parcels, storing them safely, forwarding them to your chosen location, or scanning them upon request.
You can update the registered office address either online or using the paper form AD01.
Use the official Companies House service:
👉 https://www.gov.uk/change-registered-office-address
You'll need your company authentication code.
If you don’t have it, request a new one, it arrives by post within 3–5 days.
Log in to your Companies House account
Select your company
Enter the new registered office address
Confirm the jurisdiction
Submit the update
Online changes are usually processed immediately or within a few hours.
Many businesses first switch to a professional registered office provider—such as SpondooWorks—before submitting this update. This ensures that what appears on the public register is a fully compliant, business-friendly address rather than a private home address.
If you cannot use the online service, you must file the paper form.
Companies House requires a paper AD01 if the company:
has been defaulted to the Companies House address
is in liquidation
is applying to be restored to the register
is an unregistered company
These situations cannot be processed online.
You must notify Companies House within 14 days of the address change.
Paper forms must be sent to the correct Companies House office, otherwise they will take longer to be processed.
You may also upload your AD01 digitally instead of sending it by post — a faster alternative to posting physical documents.
If your home address is used as the registered office, it will appear on the public record.
Download Form AD01
Complete and sign it
Post it to the correct office (Cardiff, Edinburgh, Belfast) for your company’s jurisdiction
Or, upload the form electronically through the Companies House upload service
Allow 1–2 weeks for processing if posted
Once processed, the new address becomes publicly visible.
Companies House will issue a confirmation email, and the AD01 submission will show under “My recent filings” for 10 days.
Typical processing times:
Online: same day
Uploaded documents: generally faster than posted forms
Post: around 1–2 weeks
Companies House does not update other institutions for you.
You must notify:
HMRC (Corporation Tax, PAYE, VAT)
Banks and financial institutions
Accountants or bookkeepers
Insurance providers
Licensing or accreditation bodies
Clients, suppliers, and partners
By law, your registered office must appear on:
Company website
Email signatures
Letterheads
Invoices
Formal correspondence
Many UK companies choose a registered office provider such as SpondooWorks for:
privacy (home address kept off the public register)
secure handling of statutory mail
parcel lockers for safe storage
printing, scanning, and postage services
a consistent professional presence
consolidation of Companies House + HMRC addresses
optional company formation or accountancy support
This helps businesses stay compliant while freeing time and resources.
Yes, but it becomes publicly visible on Companies House. Many directors prefer a virtual office for privacy.
No, you must update HMRC separately.
Yes, as long as it’s a real UK address that can receive official mail.
Only if it forms part of a full address (not standalone).
Usually, same-day or within a few hours.
You can update the address as many times as needed, as long as it stays within the correct jurisdiction.
Changing your registered office address is simple and quick when done correctly.
Whether switching to a new business location or moving away from using your home address, Companies House provides clear processes for both online and paper submissions.
Ready to upgrade your company’s registered office to a secure, professional and fully compliant UK address? Join hundreds of businesses that trust SpondooWorks for reliable mail handling, privacy protection, and a credible Haslemere presence. Get started today and put your business on a stronger, more professional footing — your new registered office is just one step away.
