Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 series: registered office addresses

New rules for registered office addresses, expected to come into force on 4 March 2024, will mean that all companies must have an appropriate address at all times.

An appropriate address is one where:

• any documents sent by post or delivered to the registered office should be expected to come to the attention of a person acting on behalf of the company; and
• any documents sent to that address can be recorded by an acknowledgement of delivery

Companies House has indicated that it will take action against companies that do not have an appropriate registered office address. New regulations (the Registered Office Address (Rectification of Register) Regulations 2024 will also enable applications to be made to Companies House if a person believes that an address for a company is not appropriate. If Companies House is satisfied that an address is not appropriate, then it can take steps to change it to a default address held at Companies House. Where this happens, evidence of proprietary ownership must be provided within 28 days or the Registrar could start the process to strike the company off the register.

Take steps to prepare: Although the changes are primarily designed to prevent the use of use of PO Boxes for registered office addresses, it will be important to check that registered office addresses (including for dormant companies) are up to date and will meet the requirements for an appropriate address. This will include ensuring there are appropriate procedures in place to ensure that documents will reach a person acting on behalf of the company and that there is usually someone available to sign for delivery.

Failure to meet the criteria for an appropriate address will be an offence.

Shoosmiths Company Secretarial Team can provide a registered office address service. Please contact Debbie Brown if you require further information.