What Is a SAIL Address? Complete UK Guide for Companie

A SAIL address, short for Single Alternative Inspection Location, is an optional UK address where a limited company or limited liability partnership can keep certain statutory records and make them available for inspection.

It provides an alternative to keeping those records at the company’s registered office address.

A company is not legally required to have a SAIL address. However, one can be useful when the registered office is unsuitable for storing documents or handling requests to inspect company records.

This guide explains what a SAIL address is, which records can be kept there, how it differs from a registered office and how to register or change a SAIL address with Companies House.

What Does SAIL Address Mean?

SAIL stands for Single Alternative Inspection Location.

Under UK company law, certain company records must be available for inspection. These records are normally kept at the company’s registered office, but a company may choose one alternative location.

That alternative location is known as its SAIL address.

The word “single” is important because a company can only have one registered SAIL address at any given time. However, the company may keep some records at its registered office and other eligible records at its SAIL.

Companies House describes a SAIL as another address where a company can hold certain records for inspection. You can read the official Companies House guidance on registered office and SAIL addresses.

Is a SAIL Address Compulsory?

No. A SAIL address is entirely optional.

If your company does not register a SAIL address, the statutory records that must be available for inspection should normally be kept at the registered office, unless another lawful arrangement applies.

A SAIL address may be helpful when:

• Your registered office provider does not offer document storage or public inspection facilities.
• Your accountant, company secretary or legal adviser maintains your statutory records.
• Your company operates from several locations.
• You want to keep statutory records away from your everyday trading premises.
• Your registered office is used mainly to receive Companies House and HMRC correspondence.
• You want a stable inspection location even if your operational address changes.

Before registering any third-party address as a SAIL, obtain permission from the address provider and confirm that the required records can genuinely be made available for inspection there.

SAIL Address vs Registered Office Address

A SAIL address and a registered office address serve different purposes.

Address type	Is it compulsory?	Main purpose	Publicly displayed?
Registered office address	Yes	Official company address and receipt of statutory correspondence	Yes
SAIL address	No	Alternative location for inspecting eligible company records	Yes
Director service address	Yes for each director	Public correspondence address for an individual director	Yes
Business or trading address	Depends on the business	Customer, supplier and everyday commercial correspondence	Sometimes

Registered office address

Every UK limited company and LLP must maintain an appropriate registered office address.

This is the company’s official address. Companies House, HMRC, courts and other government organisations may send statutory correspondence and legal notices there.

If you need an official address for your limited company, explore the UK Registered Office Address plans available from WarehouseAddress.com.

SAIL address

A SAIL address is an optional alternative location for eligible company records. Its primary purpose is document storage and inspection not receiving ordinary company mail.

Director service address

A Director Service Address belongs to an individual director rather than the company. It is displayed on the public Companies House register and used for official correspondence relating to that director.

Companies that require both services can choose a Registered Office and Director Address under one account.

Business address

A business or trading address is generally used for everyday correspondence, including customer letters, supplier documents, invoices and commercial communications.

Companies requiring broader mail or operational support should compare the available UK virtual address and business address plans.

What Are the Requirements for a SAIL Address?

A valid UK SAIL address must meet several important requirements.

It must be a physical inspection location

The address must be a genuine physical location where the relevant records can be made available when a valid inspection request is received.

A standalone PO Box, mail-routing reference or address with no inspection arrangements is unlikely to fulfil the purpose of a SAIL.

It must be in the correct UK jurisdiction

The SAIL must be in the same part of the United Kingdom in which the company was incorporated.

For example:

• A company registered in England and Wales may have its SAIL in England or Wales.
• A Welsh company registered as “Wales only” must maintain the address in Wales.
• A Scottish company must have its SAIL in Scotland.
• A Northern Irish company must have its SAIL in Northern Ireland.

A company registered in England and Wales cannot use an address in Scotland or Northern Ireland as its SAIL.

It must be notified to Companies House

You cannot simply move records to another address without updating Companies House.

The company must register the SAIL address and identify which records are held there. The information becomes part of the public Companies House record.

The company must have permission to use it

If the proposed SAIL belongs to an accountant, solicitor, address provider or another third party, the company should obtain clear permission before filing the address with Companies House.

A standard registered office, virtual office or mail-handling subscription does not automatically include SAIL facilities.

Which Company Records Can Be Kept at a SAIL Address?

According to the current Companies House AD03 form, eligible company records include:

• Register of members
• Historic register of members
• Directors’ service contracts
• Directors’ indemnities
• Records of company resolutions
• Contracts relating to the purchase of the company’s own shares
• Documents relating to the redemption or purchase of a private company’s own shares out of capital
• Register of debenture holders
• Reports to members about investigations by a public company into interests in its shares
• Register of interests in shares disclosed to a public company
• Copies of instruments creating or amending charges

The official list has changed over time. Older online articles may still refer to registers of directors, company secretaries or people with significant control as records held at a SAIL.

For the most current information, check the latest Companies House AD03 guidance and form before moving company records.

Accounting records are subject to separate legal requirements. Do not assume that registering a SAIL automatically covers every financial, tax or accounting document maintained by the business.

Do Company Records Have to Be Available for Inspection?

Companies must make relevant statutory records available when a valid inspection request is received.

The exact rights, notice requirements, fees and inspection procedures depend on the record being requested and whether the applicant is a company member or a member of the public.

A request may need to include:

• The applicant’s name and address
• Details of any organisation on whose behalf the request is made
• The records the applicant wishes to inspect
• The proposed purpose of the inspection
• Details of anyone to whom the information may be disclosed
• A requested inspection date and time

A company may be able to apply to a court to refuse a request if it reasonably believes the information is being sought for an improper purpose. Businesses should obtain professional advice before refusing a valid statutory inspection request.

Records held electronically must still be accessible in a form that allows the applicable inspection obligations to be satisfied.

Does Companies House Send Mail to a SAIL Address?

Not normally.

Companies House, HMRC and other public authorities generally send statutory correspondence to the company’s registered office address, not its SAIL.

Registering a SAIL address does not change the registered office and does not redirect the company’s official mail.

If your main requirement is receiving Companies House and HMRC correspondence at a professional commercial address, the appropriate option is normally a UK Registered Office Address service.

If you also need to receive customer, supplier or general business correspondence, select a plan that specifically includes business mail handling. Registered-office-only services should not be used for ordinary trading mail unless that use is expressly included.

Is a SAIL Address Shown on the Public Register?

Yes. Once registered, the SAIL address is publicly available through the Companies House register.

This means you should carefully consider privacy before using a home address as a SAIL.

Using a professional third-party location may help prevent a residential address from being displayed, but only when the provider expressly permits SAIL use and can support the relevant inspection requirements.

Changing your SAIL does not automatically remove the former address from historical Companies House documents. Information already filed may remain visible as part of the company’s filing history.

How to Register a SAIL Address with Companies House

A company can register a SAIL online or by submitting the relevant Companies House forms.

Step 1: Choose a compliant address

Confirm that the proposed location:

• Is in the correct UK jurisdiction
• Is a genuine physical address
• Can hold or provide access to the relevant records
• Can support lawful inspection requests
• Is authorised for use by the company

Step 2: File form AD02

Submit form AD02 to notify Companies House of the Single Alternative Inspection Location.

You can find the current form and online filing option on the official Companies House AD02 page.

Step 3: File form AD03

Submit form AD03 to tell Companies House which eligible company records are being kept at the SAIL.

If the company has not previously registered the SAIL, AD02 and AD03 may need to be filed together.

Step 4: Update the company’s internal records

Record the change internally and ensure that directors, the company secretary, accountant and other responsible parties know where the affected documents are held.

Step 5: Check the Companies House register

After Companies House processes the filing, check the public register to ensure the address and record-location details have been recorded correctly.

How to Change an Existing SAIL Address

A company may change its SAIL address, provided the replacement remains in the correct UK jurisdiction and meets the legal requirements.

The company should:

1. Obtain permission to use the new address.
2. File the appropriate change through Companies House.
3. Transfer the relevant records securely.
4. Confirm that inspection arrangements are available.
5. Check that the change appears correctly on the public register.

If records are being moved from the SAIL back to the registered office, the company should use form AD04.

Companies House provides the applicable company address and record-location forms online.

Can a Virtual Office Be Used as a SAIL Address?

Potentially, but not automatically.

A virtual address can only function as a SAIL when:

• The provider gives explicit permission for SAIL use.
• The address is in the correct jurisdiction.
• Eligible records can be securely maintained there.
• The records can be made available for lawful inspection.
• The service agreement clearly covers these responsibilities.

Many virtual office and registered office services are designed only to receive correspondence. They may not provide document storage or public inspection facilities.

Never register a virtual address as a SAIL based solely on the fact that it can be used as a registered office. Contact the provider and obtain written confirmation first.

Can a Company Use the Same Address for Its Registered Office and SAIL?

A SAIL is, by definition, an alternative to the registered office.

If all relevant records are kept at the registered office, the company normally does not need to register a separate SAIL.

A company may, however, use one location as its registered office and another location as its SAIL. It may also divide eligible records between those two locations, provided the location of each record is correctly notified and each individual record is maintained at the declared location.

Can an LLP Have a SAIL Address?

Yes. A limited liability partnership may also register a Single Alternative Inspection Location.

LLPs use the corresponding LLP forms:

• LL AD02 to register the SAIL address
• LL AD03 to move records to the SAIL
• LL AD04 to move records back to the registered office

The same general jurisdiction and inspection principles apply.

Benefits of Using a SAIL Address

For the right company, a properly managed SAIL address can offer several benefits.

Greater administrative flexibility

A company can keep statutory records at a location better suited to document management and inspection.

Consistent record location

The SAIL may remain unchanged when the company moves its trading premises or changes its operational arrangements.

Separation of business functions

The registered office can remain focused on statutory correspondence while the SAIL handles eligible company records and inspections.

Improved home-address privacy

A compliant third-party location can reduce the need to display a residential address as the company’s inspection location.

Professional record management

Companies may find it more practical to keep eligible records with an authorised accountant, solicitor, company secretarial provider or specialist address service.

Common SAIL Address Mistakes to Avoid

Avoid these common errors:

• Using an address without the owner’s permission
• Assuming every registered office service includes SAIL use
• Choosing an address in the wrong UK jurisdiction
• Failing to file AD02 or AD03
• Moving records without notifying Companies House
• Using a PO Box without an adequate physical inspection location
• Failing to make records available after a valid request
• Treating the SAIL as a general mail-forwarding address
• Forgetting to update Companies House after records move
• Relying on an outdated list of eligible statutory records

Failure to maintain accurate company records or notify required changes may lead to compliance problems for the company and its officers.

Frequently Asked Questions About SAIL Addresses

What does SAIL stand for?

SAIL stands for Single Alternative Inspection Location. It is an optional address where a company or LLP can keep certain records available for inspection.

Does every UK company need a SAIL address?

No. A SAIL is optional. If a company does not use one, relevant records are normally kept at its registered office unless another lawful arrangement applies.

Can I use my home as a SAIL address?

A home address may be used if it satisfies the requirements, but it will become publicly visible through Companies House.

Can a SAIL address receive Companies House mail?

The SAIL is not the company’s official correspondence address. Companies House and HMRC statutory mail is generally sent to the registered office.

Can my accountant’s office be my SAIL?

Potentially, provided the accountant gives permission, the address is in the correct jurisdiction and the required records can be made available for inspection there.

Can a company have more than one SAIL address?

No. A company can only have one Single Alternative Inspection Location at any given time.

Is a SAIL address the same as a Director Service Address?

No. A SAIL is a location for company records. A Director Service Address is the public correspondence address of an individual director.

Does a registered office service automatically include SAIL use?

No. Registered office, mail handling and SAIL facilities are separate services unless the provider’s terms expressly state otherwise.

Get a Professional UK Registered Office Address

If your business does not require a separate SAIL but needs a professional company address for Companies House and HMRC correspondence, compare the Registered Office Address services from WarehouseAddress.com.

Plans are available for companies requiring:

• A registered office address only
• A registered office with one Director Service Address
• Registered office coverage for up to two directors
• Enhanced options for companies with up to four directors

Approved customers receive a dedicated unique Office reference at our West Midlands commercial premises, helping statutory correspondence reach the correct account.

If you specifically require SAIL facilities, contact WarehouseAddress.com before filing anything with Companies House. Our team can confirm whether your intended use is available and help you identify the most suitable address service.

This guide provides general information and does not constitute legal or professional advice. Companies House requirements can change, so always check current government guidance or consult a qualified adviser before changing the location of statutory company records.