Company Formation FAQ - Directors Service Addresses
p>From 1st October 2009 every director must provide Companies House with both their usual residential address, and for each directorship they hold, a service address. The service address will be on the public record and will be public information but the residential address will be protected information. A director can choose any address as the service address including the registered office address of the company. The address must be where documents can be delivered and an acknowledgement or receipt can be provided if required. The address can not be a PO Box or a DX number. If the director chooses to use his residential address as the service address the fact that the two addresses are the same would not be apparent from the public record.
The residential address will only be available to prescribed regulatory authorities such as the police and HMRC, and it may also be made available to 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.
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.
Who will be able to obtain a directors' residential address from Companies House and why?
The following will be able to obtain directors residential addresses: -
- Specified Public Authorities for carrying out their public functions.
- Credit reference agencies for vetting applications for credit and associated work and to meet the obligations in the Money Laundering Regulations.
Vulnerable directors will be able to apply to the Registrar for their addresses not to be provided to credit reference agencies.
Does the legislation relating to service addresses allow a ban of up to 5 years if the address was found to be ineffective?
Yes, if the service address is ineffective the Registrar does have the power to ban the use of this address and to place the usual residential address on the public register.
If a company is in default, will any letter addressed to the directors go to the Service Address or residential address?
Letters will be sent to the Service Address initially.