Do I have to display companies and llps at my home office

Do I have to display companies and llps at my...

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I am about to relocate my practice to my home, and I would like to know if I have to put up a notice board outside my house showing the limited companies and LLps who choose my home as the registered office address?

The website for companies house says that if this is a domestic residence, I may be exempt

Any suggestions please

Replies (24)

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By petersaxton
13th Nov 2012 11:00

Wrong

"The website for companies house says that if this is a domestic residence, I may be exempt"

No it doesn't. 

It says:

"Every company, unless it has at all times been dormant since incorporation, must display a sign with its registered name at:

its registered office;any inspection place;at any location at which it carries on business (unless it is primarily used for living accommodation."

 

 

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Replying to lionofludesch:
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By amosprophet
13th Nov 2012 16:20

Hello Peter

Thank you for your comments

 

Here is an extract from the relevant page on the companies house website

Where must I disclose my company’s name?

Every company (except dormant companies) must display its registered name at its registered office and inspection place.

The company’s name is also required at any place at which it carries on business. But if that place is primarily used for living accommodation (like for example the director’s address) the company will be exempt.

Your business correspondence and documents (including documents in hard copy, electronic or any other form) must also disclose the company’s name. It must also be displayed on the company’s websites.

 

Here is the weblink

http://www.companieshouse.gov.uk/infoAndGuide/faq/companyAOD.shtml

 

 

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By essex accountant
13th Nov 2012 13:25

Why would you?

Do you have such  a sign outside your current office? If I did I would have a board with over 200 company names on and constantly changing. I just have a board in my reception with company names on - I expect most accountants also do the same. Why not just do this in your office at home - I think that is all that is required. I update my board about every 3 months. .

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By petersaxton
13th Nov 2012 13:54

I used to think

that you needed the sign outside your premises but inside is good enough.

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Replying to Paul Scholes:
Red Leader
By Red Leader
13th Nov 2012 14:32

inside OK but

I believe it has to be visible from outside.

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Locutus of Borg
By Locutus
13th Nov 2012 14:31

When I had a routine ACCA inspection

I printed off a list companies for which my home is the registered office, put it in a picture frame and hung it on the wall.

It passed without comment at the inspection, so I guess that was good enough.

The picture in the frame was replaced soon after ... but then again I've never met any of my clients in my home, so it's kind of academic.

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By petersaxton
13th Nov 2012 14:51

I can't find anything saying it has to be visible from outside

http://www.companieshouse.gov.uk/infoAndGuide/faq/tradingDisclosures.shtml

 

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By User deleted
13th Nov 2012 15:09

Try here
 The Companies (Trading Disclosures) Regulations 2008 Manner of display of registered name

 

This section has no associated Explanatory Memorandum 

5.—(1) This regulation applies where a company is required to display its registered name at any office, place or location.

(2) The registered name shall be so positioned that it may be easily seen by any visitor to that office, place or location.

(3) The registered name shall be displayed continuously but where any such office, place or location is shared by six or more companies, each such company is only required to display its registered name for at least fifteen continuous seconds at least once in every three minutes.  

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By petersaxton
13th Nov 2012 15:24

Exactly

You have to be a visitor not a passer by

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By ireallyshouldknowthisbut
13th Nov 2012 15:28

different question

The question perhaps you should ask is "what is the penalty if I don't do this, and who is checking up on the regulation?"

I know that irks many an accountant's mind but it helps me to think about what regulations are important and what are not. 

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By petersaxton
13th Nov 2012 15:34

Burglars

think the same way!

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By Gilly
13th Nov 2012 16:01

I avoid the problem

I don't see a good enough reason to allow clients use my home address as their registered office.  I work from home, but it is primarily my private space.

If clients are not happy using their own home as their registered office, I'm not comfortable with them using mine.

I've never had a problem with this, and clients either use their own home or buy an address somewhere else. I lose a small fee for administering the reg. office address, but it's no big deal.

 

 

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By mwngiol
13th Nov 2012 16:09

Clarification

Is it meant to be read as:

 

its registered office; ANDany inspection place; ANDat any location at which it carries on business (unless it is primarily used for living accommodation 

or

its registered office; ORany inspection place; ORat any location at which it carries on business (unless it is primarily used for living accommodation 

 

just asking because I know a lot if not most Ltd Co's around here display their name at the registered office but not at the place of business.

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By User deleted
14th Nov 2012 21:14

@amosprophet

That says it may be exempted if it is a place of business, but must be displayed at the registered office.

My reading is the need to display at the registered office takes precedence over the exemption for living accomodation for other places business carried on, so it must ALWAYS be displayed at the registered office.

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By amosprophet
14th Nov 2012 21:45

Thanks to everyone

Many thanks to all

Its quite clear to me that this is a legal requirement

 

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By pauljohnston
16th Nov 2012 12:22

Another option

Is to use one of the companies that incorporates or a business centre for registered offices and pay them. They will forward mail received.

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7om
By Tom 7000
16th Nov 2012 12:32

yes

stick it on the fridge ;o)

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7om
By Tom 7000
16th Nov 2012 12:37

downside

When all the companies go bust and the directors refuse to change the RO and you cant as you are not a director, you have a string of failed companies attached to your home address. When you go for HP on your new car, the credit ref agencies check your address, see the failed companies and assume you have been up to mischief. So remember to change the RO on the ones failing before you get caught some people also charge...I reckon going rate is £100 a year.

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Replying to pauld:
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By User deleted
16th Nov 2012 17:27

According to 2020 ...

Tom 7000 wrote:

When all the companies go bust and the directors refuse to change the RO and you cant as you are not a director, you have a string of failed companies attached to your home address. When you go for HP on your new car, the credit ref agencies check your address, see the failed companies and assume you have been up to mischief. So remember to change the RO on the ones failing before you get caught some people also charge...I reckon going rate is £100 a year.

... £97, apparently studies show prices ending in 7 give the impression they have been calculated - and people like that, a round sum £100 makes them think you have stuck a finger in the air, which they don't like!

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By petersaxton
16th Nov 2012 12:47

No downside

Credit ratings attach to the person not the address.

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7om
By Tom 7000
16th Nov 2012 14:04

@petersaxton

theoretically.....

 

but in my experience....sigh........

 

beem there done that and had to jump through the explanatory hoops

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By lme
16th Nov 2012 15:01

Companies house were helpful when I called them on this

I explained that I only see clients in my dining room and that I didn't want a sign outside or to have to keep changing it when I get a new client.

they said it would suffice to display a sign in my dining room for when clients visit so I have an A4 sign with a list of company names printed on it, which I display prominently when clients are coming. In fact we hardly ever use our dining room for anything else so it is displayed prominently most of the time.

 

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By lme
16th Nov 2012 18:16

Tom 700

I haven't had to use it yet but in my terms of reference I say:

1. they must tell me if there is a court order pending

2. that if there is a court order pending, we may change the register office to the director's home address

They authorise us to make the change by agreeing to our terms at the outset.

 

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Replying to Hanleymail:
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By User deleted
17th Nov 2012 18:10

Doh ...

lme wrote:

I haven't had to use it yet but in my terms of reference I say:

1. they must tell me if there is a court order pending

2. that if there is a court order pending, we may change the register office to the director's home address

They authorise us to make the change by agreeing to our terms at the outset.

... diary note for Monday morning, update engagement letter template.

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