The Privacy Problem
Running a business in the UK requires meeting several legal requirements, including registering your company details on Companies House.
As part of Companies House’s aims of promoting corporate transparency in the UK economy, every registered business automatically has its details listed on the Companies House public register.
For those who operate their business from home, this means that anyone, from a potential client to a complete stranger, can type your business name into a search bar and see where you live.
For founders who work from home, this can feel uncomfortably personal. What starts as a routine compliance step quietly trades away a layer of safety. Letters arrive that weren’t meant to and cold callers find your front door.
The issue isn’t only about inconvenience; it’s about boundaries. Many small business owners without commercial premises never realise how exposed they are until their privacy is breached.
What Goes Public (and What Doesn’t)
When you set up a company in the UK, three types of addresses often come into play, with each serving a different purpose.
The registered office is the official, legal address of your company. It’s where Companies House and HMRC send statutory mail, and it always appears on the public register. If you list your home here, it becomes searchable by anyone.
A business or trading address is where you run your operations. This address doesn’t have to appear publicly unless you choose to display it on your website or invoices.
Then there’s the director’s service address. Every company director must provide one, and this too goes on the public record. Many directors use their registered office for this, but if that’s your home, it means double exposure.
In short: Companies House publishes your registered office and service address, not your trading address. But if those first two are tied to your living space, your privacy goes with them.
How a Virtual Office Protects You
A virtual office acts as a barrier between your personal life and the public record.
Instead of using your home, you register a professional London address that meets Companies House rules while keeping your own details off the map. Anyone searching for your business will see that address, not where you live.
By signing up for a virtual office service, a clear line is drawn between your personal information and your company’s presence.
Additionally, some service providers like Servcorp offer a wide range of perks that make running your business easier for you, such as managing mail handling and phone answering, which ensures that no official correspondence is missed during your day-to-day operations.
Compliance Limits (Important)
A virtual office protects your privacy, but it doesn’t make you invisible to regulators. Legitimate providers must run anti–money laundering and Know Your Customer checks before letting you use their address. These safeguards are there to prevent fraud, not to make life difficult. They confirm that your business exists and operates within the law.
A virtual office should never be used to hide ownership or dodge accountability. Companies House still needs accurate records, and HMRC still expects your contact details to be current. If your director’s address or trading location changes, you’re responsible for updating them.
Used properly, a virtual office is a compliant substitute for a physical workspace. It gives you privacy without crossing legal lines, a balance that keeps both your business and your reputation secure.
Set-Up Steps (Privacy-First)
Both new and established businesses can set up a virtual office to act as their VAT registered, trading and or director’s service address by following the below steps.
- Choose a compliant London virtual office. Make sure the provider meets Companies House requirements and offers mail scanning and alert notifications. This allows you to stay informed without exposing your home address.
- Update your company records. Replace your registered office and director’s service address with the virtual office details at Companies House.
- Refresh your public materials. Update stationery, invoices, and your website so all business correspondence shows the new address.
- Consider historic data suppression. In some cases, previous addresses may be eligible for limited removal from public records. As of January 2025, businesses previously using a residential address are eligible for this to be suppressed. However, we recommend checking your eligibility first before starting the process to ensure you remain compliant.
Use Cases
Virtual offices are particularly beneficial for remote businesses, freelancers, sole directors, sole traders, high-profile individuals and home-based e-commerce companies.
For premium providers like Servcorp, not only do they give these professionals a prestigious business address, they also offer essential support services that go beyond mail handling and call forwarding. A great provider boasts the following inclusions:
- Secretaries and support staff to assist in administrative tasks
- Access to coworking spaces and meeting rooms whenever you need
- 24/7 interactive voicemail services that instantly emails you the correspondence
- Virtual IT support
In every scenario, a virtual office service provides both privacy and practicality, making them ideal for more than just removing your home address from Companies House.
A virtual office offers a practical way to protect your privacy while keeping your business fully compliant. It separates personal and professional life, manages correspondence efficiently, and gives your company a credible London presence.
For UK business owners looking for a trusted solution, Servcorp can provide a London virtual office that meets regulatory standards and safeguards your home address.
Frequently Asked Questions
