Protection
Worried about your safety? Protecting your address on Companies House
If you're worried about your safety, there are routes to protect your address on Companies House. This guide explains what each one does, who it's for and where to get support first.
Updated 24 Oct 2026 · 6 min read · By Rayhaan Moughal, Sidekick Accounting
You don't need to do anything on this page today. If it helps, it's here for when you're ready.
How to protect your address on Companies House
The short answer is that there are three routes, and they do different jobs. You can remove an address from documents on the public register. You can stop Companies House passing a home address to credit reference agencies. And in some cases you can have a person with significant control (PSC) removed from public view altogether. Alongside those, you can change the addresses you use from here on, so that new filings don't show your home.
All of this is about Companies House procedure. It isn't legal advice, and Companies House decides each application.
The routes at a glance
| Route | What it does | Who it's for | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Form SR01 | Removes your home address (and in some cases other details) from documents on the register | Eligible individuals, with no reason needed | £34 per document |
| Credit reference agency protection (section 243) | Stops Companies House giving your home address to credit reference agencies | Directors, LLP members and PSCs at serious risk of violence or intimidation | £100 |
| PSC protection | Keeps all your PSC information off the public register, and your home address from credit reference agencies | PSCs at serious risk | £100 |
Fees are from GOV.UK and can change, so check the official pages before you pay.
Which route fits your situation?
Work out where to start
Is your home address already on documents that are public?
Yes: Form SR01 is the route to look at. You don't need to give a reason, and our guide to the SR01 form explains how it works.
No: You may not need removal. Focus on keeping your home out of future filings.
Is your home address in use as a live company address, such as the registered office or service address?
Yes: Change it first. A live registered office can't be removed from the register until it's moved, so you'll need a new address for the company to use.
No: Nothing to change on that front.
Are you at serious risk of violence or intimidation connected to your company's activities?
Yes: The protection applications are designed for this. Evidence is requested where possible, and Companies House assesses each case.
No: SR01 and a change of address will still do a lot of the work. A helpline can talk you through your options.
Removing your address with SR01
SR01 is the broadest tool for most people. It removes your home address from documents already on the register, and it's open to anyone eligible. There's no reason to give and no evidence to supply. The fee is £34 for each document listed, paid through GOV.UK Pay before you apply.
Our SR01 form explained guide covers who qualifies, and how to complete SR01 walks through the form. Our commercial page shows how we can do the checking and filing for you.
Stopping disclosure to credit reference agencies
Companies House can share some home addresses with credit reference agencies. Under section 243 of the Companies Act 2006 you can apply to stop that. Our section 243 guide goes into the detail.
Companies House says you must be at serious risk of violence or intimidation because of your company or LLP's activities. It lists examples such as being targeted by activists, and notes that the examples aren't complete. For domestic abuse or stalking that has nothing to do with the company, this route may not apply, and it's worth speaking to Companies House or a helpline before you pay.
You can't protect a home address that's also the company's registered office, and it only affects what's passed to credit reference agencies. It doesn't remove anything from the public register.
PSC protection
If you're a person with significant control, you can apply to have all of your PSC information kept off the public register. For this route, Companies House says the risk can also come from your personal circumstances linked to the company. Our PSC address guide covers what PSC filings show.
Companies House says you should give evidence where possible, such as a police incident number, photos or recordings of a threat, or proof that your work puts you at risk. Your information is protected while the application is processed. If the application is refused, the fee is refunded.
Applications are on paper, and you request the forms from the Companies House secure registers team. The online service has been withdrawn while new services are developed, so check the GOV.UK guidance for the current process.
Practical steps to move your address off the register
- 01Talk to a specialist firstA helpline can help with your safety plan and tell you what else to consider. Nothing about Companies House needs to happen before that.
- 02Choose addresses that aren't your homeSet a service address for each role, and a registered office that isn't your home. See our [registered office address service guide](/guides/registered-office-address-service) and [director service address guide](/guides/director-service-address-explained).
- 03Update the company recordsChange the registered office and officer details so new filings show the new addresses. We can set up a registered office and service address for you as part of your application.
- 04Check what's already publicOlder filings can hold your home address. Our guide to [checking whether your address is on Companies House](/guides/is-my-address-on-companies-house) explains where to look.
- 05Ask for removalUse SR01 for the documents you find, and consider the protection applications if the serious risk test fits.
Copies of the register also sit on other websites. Our guide to removing details from third-party company websites explains how to ask for updates.
Sources
- Protect your personal information on the Companies House register (GOV.UK)
- Applying to protect your personal information on the Companies House register (GOV.UK)
- Apply to remove your personal details from the Companies House register, SR01 (GOV.UK)
- National Domestic Abuse Helpline
- Report a stalker (GOV.UK)
Questions
Can I hide my address on Companies House if I'm a victim of domestic abuse?
You can ask Companies House to remove your home address from documents on the public register using form SR01, and you don't have to give a reason. You can also change the address you use going forward. The separate protection regime has a serious risk test, so it may not fit every situation, and Companies House decides each application.
Do I have to prove I'm at risk to use form SR01?
No. SR01 is open to eligible people without a reason, and the fee is £34 per document. The evidence requirements apply to the separate protection applications, where Companies House asks for evidence of a serious risk of violence or intimidation where possible.
How long does Companies House protection take?
Companies House says processing takes at least 30 days and complex cases can take up to a year, and your information is protected while it's processed. It's a postal process, so ask Companies House about your case directly.
Will a stalker still be able to find my old address on Companies House?
Any document you haven't dealt with can still be on the register and in copies held by other websites. That's why it helps to check every filing, change live addresses first, and then ask for removal of the old ones.
Does protection stop the police seeing my address?
No. Companies House says specified public authorities, such as the police, can still request protected information.
Who can I talk to if I'm not sure what to do?
A specialist helpline can help you think through safety first, including how to use the internet and email safely. Refuge's National Domestic Abuse Helpline and the National Stalking Helpline are both free to call, and the details are at the top of this guide.