Since the introduction of the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act, there are have been a range of changes to the requirements for Companies House. An area we haven’t looked at previously is the new rules for registered office addresses. These mean companies must, at all times, have an ‘appropriate address’ as their registered office.  

What is an ‘appropriate address’?

An address is deemed ‘appropriate’ if, in the ordinary course of events: 

• a document addressed to the company at that address, 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.
• the delivery of documents to that address is capable of being recorded by the obtaining of an acknowledgement of delivery.

A company’s registered office address has to meet these requirements, to be deemed ‘appropriate’.

What if a Registered Office address isn’t ‘appropriate’?

Companies House may take action against the company and its officers if it’s registered office address isn’t deemed ‘appropriate’ as they’re committing an offence. If they’re satisfied a company’s registered office is not appropriate, they have the ability to change it to a default address, held at Companies House.

If a company’s registered office address is moved to the default address, the Directors must provide an appropriate address with evidence of proprietary ownership within 28 days, or the company could be stuck from the register.   

What about using a Registered Office address service?

If a company is using an agent’s address or another third-party provider’s address as it’s registered office, it is the Director’s responsibility to make sure the address service they receive meets the requirements for an appropriate registered office address.

As has always been the case, it is not allowed to use a Royal Mail PO Box, and equivalent services offered by other parties, as a company’s registered office address. 

For the avoidance of doubt, anyone who is still using our variation on this service need have no concerns; this solution is perfectly acceptable and appropriate!

These changes form part of the wider updates arising from the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act that we’ve looked at previously in the following posts:

The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act – what it means to you!

Companies House – New rules for company names.

Companies House – Data improvement.

New Companies House powers are now live!

Important Company Law Changes

As always, if you’re unsure or have any concerns about the address you’re using as your Registered Office, or any other of the implications of the new Act, please get in touch!