The register of directors is one of several statutory registers that every UK company is required to have. To help you to stay on top of your legal obligations, this post outlines everything you need to know about maintaining a register of directors – including the information you must enter, the changes you need to record, and where to store your register.
Are all companies required to keep a register of directors?
Pursuant to the Companies Act 2006, every UK-registered company must keep a statutory register of directors. This includes:
- Private companies limited by shares
- Private companies limited by guarantee
- Public companies (PLCs)
- Unlimited companies
The requirement to keep a register of directors does not apply to sole traders, general partnerships, limited liability partnerships (LLPs), or limited partnerships. These business structures do not have directors.
What information should the register of directors contain?
The Companies Act 2006 states that the register of directors must contain the following particulars of each individual person who is appointed as a director of a company:
- Full forename(s) and surname
- Former names (including maiden or married names) that have been used for business purposes within the last 20 years
- Service address (official correspondence address for the director)
- Country or state (or part of the UK) where they usually reside
- Nationality
- Business occupation (if they have one)
- Month and year of birth
- Date of appointment
- Date of removal as a director (where applicable)
If the director’s service address is the same as the company’s registered office, you may simply state “The company’s registered office” in the relevant part of the register.
In the case of a corporate director (e.g. another company appointed as a director), the register of directors must contain the following particulars of the corporate entity:
- Registered name
- Registered office address or principal office
- If it is a UK firm – the company registration number
- If it is a non-UK body – the legal form of the company or firm, the law by which it is governed, the register in which it is entered (including details of the state), and its registration number in the register
- Date of appointment
- Date of removal as a director (where applicable)
No other information pertaining to directors should be kept in the register––for example, home addresses, telephone numbers, or email addresses. The reason is that the register of directors is a matter of public record and available for inspection.
All of the information in the register must also be provided to Companies House and will be disclosed on the public register. This is available to view free of charge online.
During the company formation process, directors’ details will form part of the application to incorporate. Thereafter, new director appointments, terminations, or any change of details must be reported to Companies House online or by post.
Keeping a separate register of directors’ usual residential addresses
In addition to the register of directors, companies must keep a separate register of directors’ usual residential addresses.
This is a private register containing the main home address of every director – it is not a matter of public record like the statutory register of directors.
If the director’s usual residential address is the same as their service address, you can simply enter “Same as service address” in the register.
However, where a director’s service address is stated as “The company’s registered office” in the register of directors, you must enter the full residential address.
Where to store the register of directors
Most companies choose to keep all of their statutory registers at their registered office address. This includes the register of directors and register of directors’ residential addresses.
You can also keep company registers at a single alternative inspection location (SAIL address). Alternatively, you can elect to send the details usually held in certain statutory registers to Companies House, to be kept on the public register.
Unless otherwise notified, Companies House will assume that all statutory registers are kept and made available for inspection at the company’s registered office address.
Who is responsible for a company’s register of directors?
The directors of a company are legally responsible for maintaining the register of directors and all other company registers. They must ensure that these registers are correct and kept up to date.
Some companies choose to appoint a company secretary, who may be tasked with duties such as maintaining statutory registers. However, the directors remain ultimately responsible for such duties.
At Rapid Formations, we offer a Full Company Secretary Service to assist directors with their compliance obligations. This service includes the creation and maintenance of your company registers and reporting changes to Companies House.
Updating information in the register of directors
The register of directors should be created with the first entries immediately after company formation – that is, as soon as the company is incorporated at Companies House. It should contain the details of every director who was appointed during the company formation process.
Thereafter, the company must update the register in the following circumstances:
- Upon the appointment of a new director
- Upon the termination of appointment of an existing director’s appointment
- If a director changes their name or service address
- If any other details change – e.g. country of residence
You must notify Companies House within 14 days upon the appointment or termination of a director, or if an existing director’s personal details change. You can do this online or by post using the following forms:
- Appoint a director – form AP01
- Terminate an appointment of a director – form TM01
- Change the details of a director – form CH01
Upon receiving the appropriate form, Companies House will record the change and update the information on the public register.
Failure to keep statutory registers up to date and report changes to Companies House may lead to fines for the company and its directors.
As standard, all of our company formation packages provide digital company registers with first entries – including the register of directors.
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If you have any questions about the register of directors or would like to speak to someone about our services, please leave a comment below or get in touch with our company formation team.
