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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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."
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. .
I used to think
that you needed the sign outside your premises but inside is good enough.
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.
I can't find anything saying it has to be visible from outside
http://www.companieshouse.gov.uk/infoAndGuide/faq/tradingDisclosures.shtml
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.
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.
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.
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.
@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.
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.
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.
According to 2020 ...
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!
@petersaxton
theoretically.....
but in my experience....sigh........
beem there done that and had to jump through the explanatory hoops
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.
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.
Doh ...
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.