Limited company directors to provide 'service addresses' to Companies House

A number of Companies Act changes come into play on 1st October 2009. One of the more significant changes is to allow limited company directors to keep their residential address confidential by providing a business or 'service' address for display on the public register.

From 1st October 2009, every director must provide Companies House with both their residential address and a service address for each directorship they currently hold.

For the 'service address', a director can choose any address (including the registered company office address). The service address is where documents can be sent, so it must be a 'real' address, not a PO Box or a DX number.

The residential addresses of company directors will subsequently be only available to Government bodies such as HMRC, and possibly Credit Reference agencies.

What does the introduction of service address mean for directors?

Directors will be able to file a service address for the public record. This address can be the same as the residential address, or the registered office address, or it can be somewhere different. This will be introduced from 1st October 2009.

Will directors still have to provide their residential address to Companies House?

Yes. Every director must provide both their usual residential address and, for each directorship, a service address. The service address will be on the public record; the residential address will be protected information. A director may choose to use his residential address as his service address; in which case the fact that the two addresses are the same will not be apparent form the public record.

You should read further relevant FAQs related to directors service addresses at the Companies House site.

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