TL;DR
A registered office address is the official legal address of a UK company recorded at Companies House.
A director service address is the public contact address for a company director.
Both appear on the Companies House public register, but they serve different purposes.
Why this causes confusion
Many founders assume these two addresses are the same.
In reality they serve different roles in UK company administration.
The confusion usually happens because:
- both addresses appear on Companies House
- both can be public
- both can receive official correspondence
Understanding the difference helps founders structure their company addresses correctly.
What is a registered office address?
A registered office address is the official legal address of the company.
It is used for:
- Companies House correspondence
- HMRC letters
- statutory notices
- legal documents
This address is recorded during company incorporation and appears on the public register.
More detail:
👉 What is a registered office address?
What is a director service address?
A director service address is the official contact address for a company director.
Every company director must provide one.
It appears on the public Companies House register and can be used to receive official correspondence related to the director.
This address is different from the director's residential address, which is kept private.
Official guidance:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/appoint-a-director-to-a-company
Registered office vs director service address
| Address | Purpose | Public? |
|---|---|---|
| Registered office | Official company address | Yes |
| Director service address | Contact address for directors | Yes |
| Residential address | Director's home address | No |
The registered office belongs to the company, while the service address belongs to the director.
Why founders use different addresses
Many founders prefer not to list their home address publicly.
Since both registered office and service address appear on Companies House, using a residential address can expose personal information online.
To avoid this, founders often use a professional address.
For example:
👉 Virtual Office London
Typical address setup for UK companies
Many founders structure their company addresses like this:
- Registered office address (legal company address)
- Director service address (public contact address)
- Residential address (private and protected)
This separates company compliance from personal privacy.
Can the addresses be the same?
Yes.
A director service address can be the same as the registered office.
However, many founders choose to separate them for privacy reasons.
What Companies House requires
Companies House requires:
- a valid UK registered office address
- a service address for each director
Both must be real deliverable addresses capable of receiving official mail.
Official reference:
https://www.gov.uk/limited-company-formation
Can non-UK founders use these addresses?
Yes.
Non-UK residents regularly open UK companies.
Typical structure used by international founders:
- UK registered office address
- director service address
- remote business operations
Related guide:
👉 Can you use a virtual office for HMRC?
What cannot be used
A PO Box alone cannot be used as a registered office address.
Companies House requires a real UK street address.
Further explanation:
👉 Can a PO Box be used for a business address?
Mini FAQ
Does the director service address receive HMRC mail?
Usually HMRC writes to the registered office, not the director service address.
Can a director service address be changed?
Yes. Companies House allows updates through company filings.
Can multiple directors use the same service address?
Yes. This is common when using a professional address provider.
Final takeaway
A registered office address belongs to the company.
A director service address belongs to the director.
Both appear on the public register and play different roles in UK company compliance.
Understanding the distinction helps founders maintain privacy while meeting Companies House requirements.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice.
