Who needs it
- Any company moving its registered office, including to or from an accountant's address.
- Paper AD01 only: companies defaulted to the Companies House address, in liquidation, applying for restoration, or unregistered companies.
What you need before you start
- The company's authentication code. Companies House can send it to a director's home address if you can't get post at the registered office.
- The new address, and the owner's permission if it isn't yours.
How to file AD01
- 1Check the new address is in the same part of the UK as the company's registration: Scotland, England and Wales, or Northern Ireland.
- 2Check it's 'appropriate': post sent there will come to the company's attention, and a sender can get proof of delivery. PO Boxes don't qualify.
- 3Change the address online through Companies House.
- 4Tell Companies House within 14 days of the change taking place.
- 5Keep using the old address until Companies House has registered the new one. Companies House tells HMRC once it's approved.
What makes an address acceptable
Since the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act changes, a registered office must be an 'appropriate address'. GOV.UK says post addressed to the company must come to the attention of someone acting for it, and a sender must be able to get confirmation of delivery. A Royal Mail PO Box, or a similar service from another company, no longer qualifies.
A company can be struck off if it doesn't have a registered office that meets these requirements.
Scotland
The new address must be in the same part of the UK where the company was incorporated. A company registered in Scotland must keep its registered office in Scotland; one registered in England and Wales must stay in England or Wales.
Online, with a few paper exceptions
Companies House directs everyone to change the address online. The paper AD01 is kept for companies that have been defaulted to the Companies House address, are in liquidation, are applying to be restored, or are unregistered companies.
The registered email address is changed through a separate process, not on the AD01.
Common mistakes
- Moving a Scottish company's registered office to England, or the other way round. The address must stay in the same part of the UK.
- Using a PO Box or a mail-forwarding service that can't confirm delivery.
- Using a home address without realising the registered office is public.
- Assuming the change is immediate. It takes effect when Companies House registers it.
Related
What else will you need?
- CH01CH01 change director detailsCH01 tells Companies House about a change to an existing director's details.
- CS01CS01 confirmation statementThe CS01 confirmation statement tells Companies House that the information it holds about your company is up to date.
- Where to find itFind your authentication codeThe company authentication code is a six-character code of letters and numbers that authorises online filings at Companies House, the equivalent of a company officer's signature.
- IN01IN01 company registrationForm IN01 is the paper application to register (incorporate) a private or public company with Companies House.
Rather we did it?
Countify can handle this for you, for a fixed fee agreed upfront.
Questions
Frequently asked questions.
Can I use my accountant's address as the registered office?
Yes, with their permission, as long as it meets the appropriate-address rules. GOV.UK suggests this for anyone who doesn't want their home address on the public register.
When does the new address take effect?
When Companies House registers it, not when you submit. Keep checking post at the old address until then.
Does HMRC need to be told separately?
GOV.UK says that if the change is approved, Companies House tells HMRC. Other contact details, such as a trading address, you update with HMRC yourself.
Checked against GOV.UK on · Reviewed by Kamran Ishaq FCCA, Founder & CEO, on .
Sources: Change a company's registered office address (AD01) (opens in a new tab) (Companies House); Running a limited company: company changes you must report (opens in a new tab) (GOV.UK); Set up a private limited company (opens in a new tab) (GOV.UK); Company authentication codes for online filing (opens in a new tab) (Companies House).
Countify is an independent accountancy practice. We aren't part of, or endorsed by, Companies House. Always file using the official form or service.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 (opens in a new tab).