March 2024 Update: New Company Address Rules
- JAFA Accountancy
- Apr 7
- 3 min read
Another Companies House update? Yep, and ignoring this one could land your business in trouble. From March 2024, your registered office and email address must meet new legal standards or you could face penalties. This article breaks down exactly what’s changed, why it matters, and what steps you need to take to stay compliant.
Key Takeaways
From 4 March 2024, companies must have a physical registered office (no PO Boxes) and a registered email address on file with Companies House.
These details must be kept up to date or your company could face penalties or even be struck off.
What’s Changed?
As of 4 March 2024, Companies House introduced two key changes that all UK companies need to follow:
You must now have an “appropriate” registered office address - this means no more PO Boxes. The address must be a physical location where documents can be delivered and acknowledged by someone connected to the company.
You must also provide a registered email address. This email won’t be made public, but it will be used by Companies House for official communication. New companies must include this when they register, and existing companies will need to add it when they file their next confirmation statement after 5 March 2024.
Why These New Rules Matter
You won’t miss important letters or emails: Companies House needs to reach you quickly if something’s wrong. These rules make sure they can.
They help stop fake or dodgy companies: Banning PO Boxes and asking for real contact details helps crack down on fraud.
There are real consequences: If you don’t follow the rules, your company could face penalties or even be removed from the register.
What You Should Do Now
If you already run a company, here’s what you need to do to stay compliant
:
Check Your Registered Office Address
Make sure it’s a real, physical address (not a PO Box) where post can be delivered and someone connected to your company can receive it.
Submit a Registered Email Address
If you haven’t already, you’ll need to add a valid email to Companies House. This will be used for official updates but won’t be shared publicly.
Keep Both Up to Date
If your address or email changes in the future, update it with Companies House straight away.
What We Think
This update might seem simple - just change your address and add an email. But for many small companies, it’s not that easy.
Some businesses have used PO Boxes for years without problems. Others work from home and don’t want their personal address listed. So while we understand why these changes are being made, we also know it adds extra pressure, especially if you don’t have a full admin team to handle it.
We think Companies House could’ve made things clearer from the start. A few real-life examples or simple instructions would’ve helped a lot of people get things right the first time.
Still, the goal of the update makes sense. It helps stop fraud and makes sure important messages don’t get lost.
How JAFA Can Help
If you’re not sure whether your current address is acceptable or how to update your details, we’ve got you covered.
At JAFA, we can:
Check your current registered office address and tell you if it meets the new rules
Help you update your address or email with Companies House, step by step
Keep your records up to date, so you never miss an important deadline or message
You don’t need to figure this out alone - we’ll make sure your company stays compliant without the stress.
Contact our expert accountants based in Birmingham, UK, either by booking a FREE discovery call or calling us on +44 121 227 6277.
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