What Is a Service Address on the Companies House Register?

Service Address An address shown on the Companies House register for specified company officers or persons with significant control.

This entry explains what a service address is, how Companies House displays it, and why officers and people with significant control (PSCs) use one instead of a residential address. The service address appears on the public register and is the formal contact location for legal documents and correspondence relating to an individual's role with a company.

What The Service Address Is And Who Uses It

A service address is a postal address recorded on the Companies House public register for certain named company officers (for example, directors, company secretaries where applicable) and for people with significant control. Companies House requires an address to be provided so there is a point of contact for legal and statutory communications. The service address differs from a person’s residential address; that latter detail has extra privacy protections in many cases and is not generally displayed publicly.

Why Companies House Requires One

Companies House needs a reachable address to serve notices, receive statutory correspondence and ensure that the register is contactable. Recording a service address helps the registrar and third parties identify and contact the officer or PSC about matters such as filings, investigations or legal service. The practice balances transparency of corporate control with personal privacy for officers and PSCs.

How The Service Address Appears On The Register

When a company files officer or PSC information, the service address is shown on the company’s public record. The public record lists the name of the officer or PSC, their service address, and other filing details. In contrast, the residential address is supplied to Companies House but—where permitted by rules—kept off the public register and available only to certain public authorities or credit/reference providers under set conditions.

How It Relates To Privacy And Safety

Using a service address reduces exposure of a private home address. Officers and PSCs commonly use a business address, the company’s registered office address, or a third-party service provider address as their service address to keep their residential address out of the public record. Companies House guidance explains which addresses are accepted and the protections for residential details.

• Contact Point: The service address is the official postal address for Companies House and third-party correspondence.
• Public Visibility: The service address is displayed on the public register; residential addresses may not be.
• Use Cases: Businesses, company-secretarial firms, and officers use it to shield private addresses.

Common Practice And Limitations

Many companies list the company’s registered office or a corporate services firm's address as the service address for officers and PSCs. However, the service address must be capable of receiving official correspondence; using unsuitable addresses can lead to communications being rejected or filings challenged. Check Companies House guidance for any restrictions (for example, geographical requirements) that apply to specific filings.

Practical Example

A director living in East Sussex prefers not to have their home on the public register. During appointment, the company lists the company’s London registered office as the director’s service address. All official notices from Companies House and legal process are sent to that London address, while the director’s residential address is filed with Companies House but not shown publicly.

Tips For Officers And Companies

• Choose A Reliable Address: Pick a service address that consistently receives post and can be accessed by the officer or an authorised representative.
• Update Promptly: Change the service address on Companies House as soon as it changes to avoid missed notices.
• Consider A Professional Provider: Corporate service providers can receive and forward statutory mail while offering privacy for directors and PSCs.

In short, the Service Address is the publicly recorded contact location on the Companies House register used for specified company officers and persons with significant control; it provides an official, reachable point for statutory correspondence while allowing individuals to limit public exposure of their residential addresses.