In short: A service address is the correspondence address for a director (or person with significant control) that Companies House shows on the public register. Your home address must still be given to Companies House, but it is kept private if you use a different service address.
Every UK company director has to give Companies House two addresses: a usual residential address and a service address. Only the service address appears on the public register. Choosing the right one is one of the simplest ways to protect your privacy.
What is a director service address?
A service address is the address where official letters and legal documents for you as a director can be sent. It is published on the Companies House register, which anyone can search online for free.
It does not have to be where you live. It can be your company's registered office, a business address, or an address provided by a company formation agent.
The same rule applies to people with significant control (PSCs) – usually shareholders who own more than 25% of the shares or voting rights.
Your residential address stays private
Companies House still needs your usual residential address. This is kept on a protected part of the register. It is not shown to the public, but it can be shared with certain public bodies, such as the police or HMRC, and in some cases with credit reference agencies.
If you give your home address as your service address, it will appear on the public register. Many new directors do this by accident during incorporation. Once it is on the register, it stays in the filing history, even if you change it later.
What counts as a valid service address?
A service address can be anywhere in the world. It must be a real place where post can be delivered and where someone can acknowledge receipt of documents. In practice, a service address should:
- be a full postal address, not just a PO box number
- be checked regularly, so you do not miss court papers or official letters
- be kept up to date with Companies House
Unlike the registered office, a director's service address does not have to be in the same UK nation as the company. A director living in Spain can use a service address in Spain, or an address in the UK.
Why use a separate service address?
There are good reasons not to publish your home address:
- Privacy and safety. The register is public. Anyone can see where a director with a home service address lives.
- Fewer unwanted letters. Published addresses attract marketing mail and sometimes scams.
- A professional image. A business address can look better to customers and suppliers.
- Moving house. If you move, you only need to update your residential address. Your public service address can stay the same.
How to set or change your service address
You give a service address when you form the company or when you are appointed as a director. To change it later:
- Sign in to the Companies House online service with your company authentication code.
- Choose the option to change a director's details.
- Enter the new service address and the date of the change.
- Submit the change. There is no Companies House fee for this.
Changes must be reported to Companies House within 14 days. Remember to update your bank and other contacts too.
Can I remove my old home address from the register?
If your home address was used as a service address in the past, you can apply to Companies House to have it removed from older documents on the public register. There is a fee for each document and certain conditions apply, so check the current Companies House guidance before you apply.
Common mistakes
- Using your home address as the service address "just for now" and forgetting to change it.
- Using the registered office of a company you no longer control.
- Choosing an address where nobody checks the post.
- Forgetting that the registered office address can also reveal your home if they are the same.
How Form My Company can help
We offer a Director Service Address in London or Edinburgh for £250 a year, VAT included. We receive official mail for you and let you know when it arrives. It is also included for the first year in our Privacy Package, together with a Registered Office Address. Not sure which address to use? Call or email our Edinburgh team and we will explain the options.
Frequently asked questions
Is a director service address the same as a registered office?
No. The registered office is the company's official address. The service address is the director's personal correspondence address. You can use the same address for both if it suits you.
Does the service address have to be in the UK?
No. A director's service address can be anywhere in the world, as long as post can be delivered there and someone deals with it.
Will my home address be public if I use a service address?
No. Your usual residential address is kept on a protected part of the register. It is not shown to the public, though it can be shared with some public bodies.
How quickly must I tell Companies House about a change?
You should report a change to a director's details within 14 days. You can do this online with the company authentication code.