Director Service Address UK: Complete Companies House Guide for Directors

A Director Service Address UK is the public correspondence address used for an individual company director on the Companies House register.

Every appointed director must provide a service address. It does not have to be the director’s home address. A director may use an appropriate professional address where the provider permits the service and the address meets the relevant Companies House requirements.

This guide explains what a director service address is, what information Companies House makes public, how it differs from a registered office and how to appoint or change one without confusing personal, company and trading addresses.

What Is a Director Service Address?

A director service address is the address at which official communications relating to a company director can be delivered. It is attached to the individual director’s appointment, not simply to the company’s general correspondence.

The address is shown publicly on the Companies House register. It may be the company’s registered office, the director’s home, an accountant’s office or another suitable address that the director is entitled to use.

A service address is sometimes called a director correspondence address or director’s public address. These terms describe the same general function, but the address still needs to be suitable for the director’s Companies House record.

Is a Director Service Address Required?

Yes. Each company director must provide a service address when appointed. The address is used for official communications connected with the director’s role.

A director can use the same address as another director where the service and filing details allow it. Each director’s appointment still needs its own service-address record.

A service address is different from the director’s residential address. Companies House may require residential information for its records, but the residential address is not generally displayed publicly in the same way as the service address.

What Information About a Director Is Public?

Companies House makes certain director information available on the public register. This commonly includes:

• Director’s name
• Month and year of birth
• Nationality
• Occupation
• Country or state of residence, where applicable
• Service address
• Appointment and resignation information

The exact information shown can depend on the filing, company type and current Companies House rules. Check the official register and current government guidance for the latest requirements.

A professional service address can help prevent a home address from being displayed as the public correspondence address. It does not remove the director’s legal filing obligations or guarantee that all personal information is hidden from every record.

Director Service Address vs Residential Address

Address	Purpose	Publicly shown?
Director service address	Public correspondence address for the director	Yes, on the Companies House register
Residential address	Private address information supplied for official records	Not generally displayed as the service address
Registered office	Official address of the company or LLP	Yes, on the company record
Trading address	Customer, supplier and everyday commercial activity	Depends on how the business uses it

Do not describe a director service address as the director’s home address, place of residence or proof of where the director lives.

Director Service Address vs Registered Office Address

The two addresses can be the same, but they perform different roles.

• Director service address: belongs to an individual director and appears with that director’s Companies House appointment.
• Registered office: belongs to the company and is its official address for statutory correspondence.
• Business or trading address: is used for commercial correspondence and customer-facing activity where appropriate.

A company may use a professional provider for both the registered office and one or more director service addresses, but the provider’s plan must expressly include each function.

Explore the Registered Office Address UK service separately if the company also needs an official address for Companies House and HMRC correspondence.

Why Do Directors Use a Professional Service Address?

Residential privacy

Directors who work from home or run small companies may prefer not to display their home address as the public correspondence address.

Consistent public address

A director may move home, work from several locations or spend time abroad. A suitable service address can provide continuity, subject to the provider’s terms.

Separation of personal and company mail

A dedicated service address can help distinguish director-related correspondence from personal household post.

Professional administration

Where included, mail handling and forwarding can help the director receive official correspondence without using a residential address publicly.

Support for multiple directors

Companies with several directors can choose a plan that supports the required number of director service addresses. Confirm the limit before filing the address.

How to Choose a Director Service Address

Before filing an address, check:

• That the provider permits director service address use
• That the address is a physical location, not just a PO Box
• That correspondence can be received at the location
• How director mail is identified and notified
• Whether forwarding is included or charged separately
• How many directors the plan covers
• Whether the address is in the relevant UK jurisdiction
• What identity and company documents are required
• How changes, cancellations and replacement addresses are handled

A general personal mail plan or virtual mailbox does not automatically qualify as a director service address. Confirm the intended use before submitting a filing.

How to Appoint a Director Service Address

1. Select a suitable service: choose a plan that explicitly supports director service addresses.
2. Complete verification: provide the requested identity and company information.
3. Receive the address details: use the exact address format and reference supplied.
4. File the director information: provide the service address through the appropriate Companies House appointment or change filing.
5. Check the public record: confirm that the correct address appears against the correct director.
6. Update internal records: tell the company’s accountant, secretary and other responsible people about the change.

Use the current Companies House online service or forms for the filing. Requirements can change, so check the official instructions rather than relying on an old article or filing template.

How to Change a Director Service Address

A director can change the service address recorded against their appointment. The company should:

1. Confirm permission to use the replacement address.
2. Check that the address meets the applicable requirements.
3. Submit the current Companies House change filing.
4. Tell the address provider, accountant and company secretary.
5. Check that the new address appears against the correct director.
6. Arrange forwarding or collection of mail sent to the old address where available.

Changing a director service address does not automatically change the company’s registered office, trading address, tax records or residential information.

Can a Director Use the Registered Office as Their Service Address?

Often, yes, if the company is entitled to use the registered office for the director’s correspondence and the arrangement works for the provider. The company and the director should still ensure that the correct address is recorded against the correct Companies House entry.

Using the registered office does not mean that every registered-office plan includes individual director mail handling. Check the service terms, particularly where several directors share an address.

Can an Accountant or Address Provider Supply It?

Potentially. An accountant, solicitor, company secretarial provider or specialist address provider may offer a director service address, subject to its own onboarding, verification and correspondence rules.

Obtain permission before using a third-party address. Do not file an address simply because it appears online or is available as a general business address.

What Mail Is Sent to a Director Service Address?

The address is intended for official correspondence relating to the director’s role. The sender, filing and circumstances determine what should be sent there.

Mail handling may include:

• Companies House correspondence connected with the director
• Official notices addressed to the director
• Legal or regulatory correspondence where the address is accepted
• Other permitted director-related mail

A service address is not automatically a general delivery address. Personal letters, customer parcels, stock, returns and business mail may require a different plan.

Does a Director Service Address Receive Parcels?

Not automatically. Most director service address arrangements are designed for correspondence rather than ecommerce parcels, customer returns or stock.

If parcels are important to your business, confirm acceptance, carrier, dimensions, weight, storage and forwarding terms. A dedicated UK Returns Address may be more suitable for customer returns.

Director Service Address and Mail Forwarding

Some plans include mail notification or forwarding. Check whether forwarding is:

• Included in the monthly fee
• Charged per item or shipment
• Available within the UK
• Available internationally
• Scheduled or requested manually
• Sent with tracking where available

Keep your forwarding details current. A provider cannot reliably forward correspondence to an outdated address, and forwarding does not remove the director’s responsibility to keep Companies House information accurate.

How Many Directors Can Use One Plan?

Plan limits vary. Some services are designed for one director, while others support two or more directors under the same company account.

Before ordering, confirm:

• Number of directors included
• Whether each director receives a separate reference
• How mail is separated between directors
• Whether additional directors can be added later
• Whether the registered office is included as a separate service

WarehouseAddress.com offers a Registered Office and Director Address option for companies that need both functions under one account, subject to plan terms and verification.

Director Service Address for Overseas Directors

A director who lives outside the UK may still need a suitable service address for a UK company. An address in the UK may help receive director-related correspondence, but it does not determine the director’s tax residence, immigration status, nationality or right to work in the UK.

Overseas directors should check the company’s incorporation jurisdiction, filing requirements, forwarding arrangements and any tax or legal consequences with a qualified adviser.

Protected Information for Directors at Risk

Directors who believe that publishing their usual residential information could create a serious risk may be able to apply for protection under the relevant Companies House process.

A standard director service address is not the same as a protected-information application. If you face a specific safety risk, review current government guidance and obtain professional advice about the correct application and evidence.

What a Director Service Address Does Not Do

• It does not hide the company’s public filing history.
• It does not remove the director’s name or appointment details from Companies House.
• It does not prove where the director lives.
• It does not create UK tax residence or immigration status.
• It does not replace the company’s registered office.
• It does not automatically include business mail, parcels, customer returns or fulfilment.
• It does not guarantee acceptance by banks, marketplaces, insurers or other organisations.
• It does not remove the director’s responsibility to keep company information accurate.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Using a home address publicly when a suitable alternative is available
• Filing a provider’s address without permission
• Confusing a director service address with a registered office
• Assuming a mail-only plan accepts parcels
• Failing to check the plan’s director limit
• Using the wrong address format or reference
• Not checking the Companies House record after filing
• Leaving an old service address active after changing provider
• Describing a service address as proof of residence
• Assuming the address guarantees approval by a bank or marketplace

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a director service address compulsory?

Each company director must provide a service address for their Companies House record.

Can I use my home address?

You may be able to, but it will be publicly displayed as the director’s service address. A suitable professional address may provide more residential privacy.

Is a director service address the same as a registered office?

No. The director address belongs to an individual director. The registered office belongs to the company.

Can several directors use one address?

They may be able to use the same location, but each director still needs the correct service-address details recorded. Check the provider’s plan limits.

Can a director service address be outside the UK?

The appropriate address depends on the company’s jurisdiction and current Companies House requirements. Check the current filing rules before using an overseas address.

Does it receive Companies House mail?

It is intended for official correspondence relating to the director, subject to the sender and service terms. Company correspondence normally goes to the registered office.

Can it receive customer returns?

Not unless the plan expressly accepts returns and parcels. A dedicated returns service may be more appropriate.

Can I change the address later?

Yes, but the relevant Companies House filing and provider arrangements must be updated.

Choose a Professional Director Service Address

A director service address can separate a director’s public correspondence address from their home address while keeping Companies House records organised.

Choose a service that clearly explains its director coverage, verification process, address format, mail handling, forwarding, plan limits and cancellation procedure.

For a combined company and director solution, review the Registered Office and Director Address service. If you only need the company’s official address, compare the Registered Office Address service.

This article provides general information only and does not constitute legal, tax, Companies House or professional advice. Filing requirements and service terms can change, so check current government guidance or consult a qualified adviser before submitting or changing company information.