Director Service Address London — Complete Guide for UK Companies

A director service address is the address listed on the public Companies House register for each director of a UK limited company. Under the Companies Act 2006, every company director must provide a service address that appears on the public record. This does not have to be your home address — and for most directors, it should not be.

If you use your home address, it becomes publicly visible to anyone searching Companies House. This creates privacy and security risks — from unsolicited post and cold callers to more serious concerns like identity fraud. Read our guide on using a home address for business to understand the full risks.

Who Needs a Director Service Address?

Every director of a UK limited company is legally required to have a service address. But it is not just company directors — the following roles all need one:

• Company directors (including shadow and de facto directors)
• Persons with Significant Control (PSCs) — anyone holding more than 25% of shares or voting rights
• LLP designated members
• Company secretaries (if appointed)

If you are a sole director running a business from home, this is especially important. Without a separate service address, your home address is on the public register. Even if you are setting up a dormant company, you still need to provide a service address. See our guide to registering a dormant company for more details.

Why You Should Not Use Your Home Address

Many first-time directors use their home address because they do not realise there is an alternative. Here are the key reasons to avoid this:

• Privacy — your full home address is publicly visible on the Companies House register, accessible to anyone worldwide
• Security — cold callers, salespeople, and scammers can use your address to target you
• Professionalism — a residential address can undermine trust with potential clients and partners
• Personal safety — in certain industries, having a public home address can create real physical security risks
• Separation of business and personal life — keeping your home private protects your family

Once your home address is on the Companies House register, removing it is difficult. It remains visible in historical filings even after you change it. The safest approach is to use a service address from the start.

Director Service Address vs Registered Office Address

These are two different legal requirements, though they can be the same address:

• Registered office address — the official address of the company itself. This is where HMRC, Companies House, and legal notices are sent. Every company must have one.
• Director service address — the personal correspondence address for each individual director. It appears next to the director name on the public register.

You can use the same address for both, which is what most virtual office providers offer. At Hoxton Mix, our Virtual Office plans include both a registered office and director service address at our London EC2 office. Learn more in our guide to registered office addresses.

Director Service Address vs SAIL Address

A SAIL (Single Alternative Inspection Location) address is a separate concept. It is the address where company records are available for public inspection if they are not kept at the registered office. Most small companies do not need a SAIL address, but if you do, a virtual office can serve this purpose too. Read more about SAIL addresses and Companies House.

Correspondence Address vs Service Address

A correspondence address is a general term for any address where you receive mail. A director service address is a specific legal requirement under the Companies Act — it is the address filed with Companies House. Your service address is public; a correspondence address may be private. See our full comparison of correspondence address vs residential address.

How to Set Up a Director Service Address

Option 1: Use a Virtual Office Provider

The most popular option for small businesses. You sign up for a service, receive a London business address immediately, and the provider handles all mail and Companies House compliance. At Hoxton Mix, setup takes less than 5 minutes.

Option 2: Use Your Accountant Address

Some accountants allow clients to use their office address. However, this ties you to that accountant — if you change accountants, you need to update Companies House. It can also look unprofessional if the address is clearly an accountancy practice.

Option 3: Use a Co-working Space

If you have a co-working membership, some spaces allow you to use their address. This is typically more expensive than a virtual office and you lose the address if you cancel the membership.

How to Change Your Director Service Address

You can change your director service address at any time by filing form CH01 (change of director details) with Companies House. This can be done online through the Companies House WebFiling service or by post. Most virtual office providers will handle this filing for you as part of the service.

When you sign up with Hoxton Mix, we provide your new London service address immediately and can help you update your Companies House records.

How Much Does a Director Service Address Cost?

At Hoxton Mix, our Full Privacy Service includes your director service address for just £3 per month or £30 per year per director. This covers your service address on the Companies House register, keeping your home address completely private.

If you also need a registered office address, mail handling, and a professional business address, our Virtual Office plans start from under £21 per month (£249.99/year). This includes everything — registered office, director service address, and mail scanning or forwarding. Compare this with the cheapest registered office addresses on the market.

Cost Comparison

Here is how the main options compare on cost:

• Virtual office (Hoxton Mix Full Privacy): £3/month or £30/year per director
• Virtual office with registered office: from under £21/month (£249.99/year)
• Accountant address: typically £50–£150/year but ties you to the accountant
• Co-working space: £100–£300/month (far more expensive for just an address)
• Using your home address: free, but at the cost of your privacy and security

What Happens If You Do Not Have a Service Address?

Under the Companies Act 2006, every director must have a service address on record. If you fail to provide one, Companies House may reject your appointment as a director. If your details become out of date and you do not update them within 14 days, you could face a fine or prosecution. Companies House can also strike off companies with incorrect or missing director information.

Get Your Director Service Address Today

Protect your privacy and keep your home address off the public register. Our Full Privacy Service costs just £3/month per director, and our Virtual Office plans from under £21/month include everything you need to run your business with a professional London address.

Get started with a Virtual Office today — setup takes less than 5 minutes.

FAQ

Can I use a virtual address as my director service address?

Yes. A virtual office address is fully compliant as a director service address under UK company law. Thousands of UK company directors use virtual office addresses for their Companies House filings.

Is a director service address the same as a registered office?

No, but they can be the same address. The registered office is the company official address. The director service address is the individual director correspondence address. Both appear on the Companies House public register.

How much does a director service address cost?

The Full Privacy Service at Hoxton Mix costs £3 per month or £30 per year per director/UBO. Virtual Office plans that include both registered office and director service address start from under £21 per month (£249.99/year).

Can I use a PO Box as a director service address?

Companies House generally does not accept PO Box addresses as a service address. You need a real physical address. A virtual office provides a genuine London address that is fully compliant.

Do all directors need a service address?

Yes, every director and person with significant control (PSC) must have a service address on the Companies House register. This includes shadow directors and de facto directors.

Can I change my director service address later?

Yes, you can change it at any time by filing form CH01 with Companies House. This can be done online or by post. Most virtual office providers handle this for you.

What is the difference between a service address and a SAIL address?

A service address is the directors personal correspondence address on the public register. A SAIL (Single Alternative Inspection Location) address is where company records are available for public inspection. Most small companies only need a service address.

Can I use my accountant address as a director service address?

Yes, but this ties you to that accountant. If you change accountants, you will need to update Companies House. A virtual office is more flexible and typically cheaper.

Do I need a service address for a dormant company?

Yes. Even dormant companies must have directors with valid service addresses on the Companies House register. The requirements are the same as for active companies.

Is my home address still visible if I change to a virtual office?

Your new service address will appear on current records, but historical filings showing your old home address remain visible on Companies House. This is why it is best to use a service address from the start.