Registered Office Requirements: 2026 Rule Changes

The 2026 rule changes to registered office requirements have caught many companies off guard. Here's exactly what changed and what you need to do.

What Changed in 2026?

Under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act, the definition of a valid registered office address has been tightened. Previously, any UK address would suffice. Now, your registered office must be an "appropriate address" — meaning:

• Physical location where documents can be delivered and acknowledged
• Correspondence must be expected to come to the attention of an authorised person
• PO Boxes alone are now no longer acceptable
• Virtual office addresses must have a physical building element

What Makes Our Address Compliant?

Our registered office service is based at a physical London address. All correspondence is received, handled by a person, and either scanned to your secure portal or forwarded to you. This satisfies the "acknowledged" requirement of the 2026 rules.

Changing Your Registered Office

Changing your registered office requires filing a form AD01 with Companies House (£8 online fee). The change takes effect immediately and is reflected on the public register within 24 hours. Your new address must be in England & Wales (for an English company), Scotland (for a Scottish company), or Northern Ireland.