Director Service Address UK: Complete Companies House Guide for Directors

When someone becomes a UK company director, certain personal information is added to the public Companies House register. This includes the director’s name, month and year of birth, nationality, occupation and correspondence address.

Directors who do not want their residential location displayed publicly can use a professional director service address as their correspondence address.

This guide explains how a director’s service address works, what Companies House publishes, how it differs from a registered office and how directors can protect their home address while continuing to receive important official correspondence.

What Is a Director Service Address?

A director service address also known as a director’s correspondence address is the address where official communications relating to a company director can be delivered.

The address is connected to the individual director rather than the limited company itself. It appears publicly alongside the director’s appointment details on the Companies House register.

A service address may be:

• The company’s registered office
• The director’s residential address
• An accountant’s or solicitor’s address, with permission
• A professional address supplied by an authorised provider
• Another eligible correspondence address where documents can reach the director

When a professional address is used, the provider receives qualifying correspondence and processes it according to the selected service plan.

Is a Service Address Required for Every Company Director?

Yes. Every director appointed to a UK limited company must provide Companies House with:

• A service address for public correspondence
• A usual residential address for the private Companies House record

The two addresses can be the same, but they do not have to be.

If a director enters their home in the service-address section, that address will be displayed publicly. Entering the home address only within the correct residential-address section will normally keep it away from the public register.

The official Companies House guidance on directors’ personal information explains which director details are publicly available and how residential information is handled.

Is a Director Service Address Public?

Yes. The director’s current service address is publicly searchable on the Companies House register.

Anyone searching for the company or director may be able to view it, including:

• Customers
• Suppliers
• Business partners
• Credit providers
• Marketing organisations
• Competitors
• Members of the public

This is why directors should consider carefully which address they provide before incorporating a company or accepting an appointment.

Using a professional correspondence address can prevent the director’s home from appearing as their current public service address.

However, it does not remove the requirement to give Companies House a genuine residential address privately.

Director Service Address vs Residential Address

The service address and residential address serve different purposes.

Address	Purpose	Publicly Available?
Director service address	Public correspondence connected with the director’s appointment	Yes
Usual residential address	Records where the director normally lives	Generally no

Companies House may provide residential information to specified public authorities and certain credit reference agencies where legally permitted. It is not normally displayed to general visitors searching the public register.

Directors should always enter each address in the correct section. If a residential address is entered as the public service address, it may become visible online.

Director Service Address vs Registered Office Address

These addresses are frequently confused, but they belong to different parties.

A registered office belongs to the limited company. It is the company’s official address for Companies House, HMRC and other statutory communications.

A director service address belongs to an individual director. It is the director’s public correspondence address.

A company has one registered office at any given time, while every director needs their own authorised service address. Several directors may use the same physical location, provided the address provider permits this and the selected plan covers each named person.

Companies requiring an official company address without director coverage can choose a registered office address service.

Directors requiring both functions should select a combined plan that explicitly includes the company’s registered office and the appropriate number of director service addresses.

Can the Registered Office and Director Address Be the Same?

Yes. A director can usually use the company’s registered office as their service address when authorised.

Using one location for both can make company administration simpler because statutory correspondence for the business and its directors arrives at the same managed premises.

However, purchasing a registered-office-only service does not automatically authorise directors to use the address personally.

Before using the same location, confirm:

• Whether director correspondence is included
• How many directors are covered
• Whether each director must complete verification
• Which types of mail will be accepted
• Whether the provider charges for additional directors
• How correspondence will be scanned or forwarded

Using an address outside the terms of the plan could result in mail being rejected or the service being suspended.

Why Use a Professional Director Service Address?

Protect Your Residential Privacy

Privacy is one of the main reasons for using a separate correspondence address.

Many directors run companies from home. Publishing that location can blur the boundary between personal and business life and make the address available to anyone searching Companies House.

A professional address enables the director to keep their current residential location away from their public appointment details.

Maintain a Consistent Public Address

Directors may move home several times while remaining involved with the same company.

Using a long-term service address can prevent the public correspondence address from changing every time the director relocates. This can reduce administration and provide greater continuity.

The director must still update their private residential address with Companies House whenever it changes.

Receive Official Correspondence Reliably

Documents relating to a director’s appointment may be important or time-sensitive.

A managed address should have a reliable process for identifying authorised correspondence and notifying the correct customer. Depending on the plan, documents may be scanned and emailed or forwarded physically.

Directors remain responsible for reading and responding to correspondence, even when an address provider receives it on their behalf.

Create Separation Between Personal and Company Records

Using one residential address for company registration, director correspondence, customer mail and parcel returns can create confusion.

Professional services allow directors to separate statutory administration from general business activity and personal post.

Who May Benefit From a Director Service Address?

A managed service address may be particularly useful for:

• Home-based company directors
• Sole-director companies
• Startups
• Online businesses
• Consultants and contractors
• Property companies
• Ecommerce entrepreneurs
• Directors who frequently relocate
• Overseas directors of UK companies
• Directors who do not maintain a permanent office
• People appointed to several companies
• Business owners concerned about residential privacy

The correct arrangement will depend on the number of companies, number of directors and types of correspondence required.

How the Warehouse Address Service Works

Warehouse Address provides combined registered office and director-address options from commercial premises in the West Midlands.

1. Select the Correct Plan

Choose a plan according to the number of companies and directors requiring coverage.

Available options include:

• Registered office only
• Registered office plus one director
• Enhanced coverage for up to two directors
• Enterprise coverage for up to four directors

The basic registered-office plan does not include personal use by a director.

2. Complete AML and KYC Verification

Customers must complete the required verification before an address is activated.

Applicants may be asked to provide:

• Valid photographic identification
• Proof of residential address
• Company information
• Director details
• Information about the proposed business activity
• Additional documents where required

The exact address is supplied only after the application has been reviewed and approved.

3. Receive a Unique Office Reference

Each approved company receives an individually allocated Office reference, such as:

Office D12

The reference helps identify and route statutory correspondence within the mail-handling system. It does not represent a private physical office, exclusive workspace or property lease.

4. Register the Address Correctly

The approved address can be entered as the company’s registered office and the service address of the covered director or directors.

Every authorised name and company should be registered accurately with Warehouse Address so incoming correspondence can be identified.

5. Receive Statutory Correspondence

Qualifying official mail is received and processed according to the selected plan.

The combined Registered Office + Director Address option currently covers:

• One UK limited company
• One company director
• Companies House statutory correspondence
• HMRC statutory correspondence
• Official correspondence addressed to the covered director
• Scanning and email delivery of qualifying statutory mail
• A dedicated unique Office reference

General customer mail, banking correspondence, parcels and returns are not included unless the customer purchases the appropriate additional service.

How Many Directors Can Use the Address?

The number of directors covered depends on the selected package.

One Director

The Registered Office + Director Address plan is designed for one limited company and one director. This may be suitable for a sole-director company or small startup.

Up to Two Directors

Registered Office Plus is intended for a company requiring service-address coverage for up to two directors, together with enhanced statutory mail handling.

Up to Four Directors

Registered Office Enterprise provides coverage for companies with up to four directors and includes higher-level statutory mail-management features.

Companies should not allow additional directors to use the address unless the selected plan includes them.

Director Service Address vs Business Mail Address

A director’s service address is intended for official correspondence relating to the director’s company appointment.

It should not automatically be used for:

• General customer enquiries
• Supplier letters
• Banking correspondence
• Marketing mail
• Sales documents
• Invoices
• Everyday business communications

A company needing to receive ordinary commercial correspondence should choose a separate limited company mail address.

Some businesses require both services: one for director and company statutory correspondence and another for everyday business mail.

Director Service Address vs Virtual Business Address

A UK virtual business address may provide broader commercial uses, depending on the selected plan.

A virtual business address might support:

• General business correspondence
• Mail notifications
• Mail scanning
• Physical forwarding
• Trading-address use
• Digital mailbox services

A director address has a narrower purpose connected with the individual’s public Companies House record.

Businesses should choose plans based on their actual intended use rather than assuming one address automatically covers every activity.

Can Parcels and Returns Be Sent to a Director Address?

No—not under a statutory-address-only plan.

A director service address is not automatically a parcel-delivery or customer-returns location. Ecommerce businesses expecting returned products should select an authorised returns address service.

Parcel handling requires warehouse processing, storage and courier arrangements that are not included with basic statutory correspondence services.

Using the address for unauthorised parcels may result in rejection or additional handling charges.

Can an Overseas Director Use a UK Service Address?

A UK company director does not have to live in the United Kingdom.

An overseas director can use an authorised UK correspondence address, subject to the provider’s eligibility rules, identity verification and permitted uses.

The director must still give Companies House their genuine overseas residential address privately where required.

International applicants should not assume that a service address proves UK residence or guarantees approval from banks, payment providers or online marketplaces. Each organisation applies its own verification requirements.

Can I Change My Director Service Address?

Yes. Directors can update their service address through Companies House.

The new address should be authorised before the change is submitted. Directors should also confirm that:

• Their account has been approved
• Their name has been registered with the provider
• The plan covers their company appointment
• The address has been entered correctly
• Their private residential details remain accurate

Changing the current service address does not necessarily remove a home address from historical Companies House documents.

Where eligible, a director may need to submit a separate application and pay the relevant fee to suppress residential information from historical records.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Using an Address Without Permission

Never enter a professional address at Companies House until the provider confirms that it has been approved for use.

Buying Registered Office Coverage Only

A basic company-address plan may not include personal service-address use by any director. Choose a combined plan if both are required.

Failing to Register Every Director

If several directors want to use the address, make sure the plan covers all of them and that each person completes any required verification.

Sending General Mail or Parcels

Director-address plans are usually intended for official correspondence. Purchase the appropriate mail or parcel service for broader business activities.

Allowing the Subscription to Expire

If the service ends, the director should arrange another authorised address and update Companies House promptly.

Confusing Privacy With Anonymity

A professional service address can reduce the public use of a home address, but the director’s identity and certain appointment details will remain available on Companies House.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a director service address?

It is the public correspondence address connected with an individual company director’s appointment.

Does every director need one?

Yes. Every registered company director must provide a service address to Companies House.

Will my service address appear publicly?

Yes. It appears on the public Companies House register.

Will my residential address be public?

A residential address is generally kept on the private register when entered correctly. If it is also used as the service address, it becomes publicly visible.

Can I use my company’s registered office?

Yes, provided you have permission and the registered-office plan includes director-address coverage.

Can several directors use the same location?

Yes, if the provider permits it and the selected subscription covers every director using the address.

Does the service receive general business mail?

Not automatically. General company correspondence requires an appropriate business-mail plan.

Can customers send returns to this address?

Not under a statutory-address-only plan. Customer returns require a suitable warehouse returns service.

Can I use the address for a bank account?

Banks and other institutions apply their own address and verification requirements. A director service address does not guarantee acceptance as a residential, operating or banking address.

Is AML/KYC verification required?

Yes. Warehouse Address requires customers to complete verification before the address is activated.

Protect Your Home Address as a Company Director

A professional director service address can help company directors separate their residential information from their public Companies House correspondence details.

Warehouse Address offers combined company and director-address plans from commercial premises in the West Midlands. Approved customers receive a dedicated unique Office reference together with secure handling of qualifying statutory correspondence.

Get a UK director service address for one company and one director, or compare the available registered office plans if your company requires coverage for additional directors.