Companies House WebCHeck service is a free search facility that provides access to UK company data on the central public register. Users of WebCHeck can search for information using a company name or company registration number. In addition to this search facility, Companies House WebCHeck provides access to companies’ filing histories. Copies of these filed documents and reports can be accessed and purchased online by any member of the public.
The central public register at Companies House holds information on over 4.1 million companies. The corporate data that is available to the public includes details of company directors, secretaries, and members (shareholders and guarantors), as well as statutory company records and financial accounts.
The purpose of disclosing information about companies is to provide the public with an open, true, and fair view of business activity and performance. This enhances corporate transparency and trust , encourages greater compliance, and allows challenges to be made where appropriate.
With the exception of a small category of material exempt from statutory disclosure requirements, the information provided to Companies House during the company formation process will be displayed on public record, in addition to all statutory documents filed after incorporation. This includes:
In most cases, information that is placed on the public register remains there indefinitely. This includes the details of people who are no longer involved with a company. In exceptional circumstances, however, you may apply to Companies House and have your details removed as a matter of personal security.
Applications may be made to remove an address that has been provided to the registrar since 2003, if the availability of such information poses a significant risk or threat to an individual. Restrictions were further relaxed in the summer of 2018, providing a fairly simple procedure for removing your home address if it has been used as your service address.
The following details about company directors are disclosed on public record:
A director’s usual residential address must be provided to Companies House. It will only be placed on public record if it is used as a registered office or director’s service address, otherwise this information will only appear on a restricted private register held at Companies House.
Yes, certain information about shareholders and guarantors will be displayed on the public register. The original members (‘subscribers’) who form a private limited company must each agree to take shares in the company (or guarantee a sum of money to the company if it’s limited by guarantee) and provide the following information:
All of this information will be displayed on public record. However, members who join a company after incorporation do not have to provide address details, unless they are also a person with significant control (PSC). Only their names and share details will be available to the public.
It is relatively easy to find details about limited companies using Companies House WebCHeck. The majority of this information can be obtained free of charge. Other information may require a £1 fee when using WebCHeck.
Basic company details are free to view, such as:
A fee is required to access or buy copies of additional information, such as:
Companies House imposes no rules or requirements for the way in which this corporate information is used by the public.
If you are considering company formation, be aware that using your home as your registered office or service address may have implications like unsolicited mail or unexpected visits from clients and lenders.
Furthermore, there may be a clause in your rental or mortgage agreement that prevents you from using your home address for business purposes.
Providing non-residential address details is one of the best ways to protect your privacy. Rapid Formations offers professional Registered Office Services and Service Addresses in London and Glasgow. This is a cost effective solution and includes the scanning and emailing of all official government mail, free of charge, within one working day.
Service address details are displayed on the public register of companies. Therefore, you should avoid using your home as a service address or registered office if you want or need to keep this information private.
Your residential address details will not be made available to the public. Companies House will store this information on a private register that can only be accessed by predetermined organisations, such as credit reference agencies and public authorities.
If you are a company director, LLP member or PSC, and you (or someone who lives with you) are at serious risk of violence or intimidation due to the activities of the business with which you are involved, you can apply to Companies House under section 243 of the Companies Act 2006 to protect your personal information on the Companies House register .
Note: If your home address is already disclosed on public record, however, you should apply to Companies House under section 1088 of the Companies Act 2006 to request the address be made unavailable for public inspection. Form SR01 will help make this application.
Certain organisations that operate in particular sectors of commerce or industry can attract negative attention and threats from activists or extremists. In such cases, individuals of these companies may be targeted and blamed for the activities of the business.
These types of situations are common within organisations which carry out scientific research on animals, or conduct activities that are considered harmful to people, animals, the environment, and/or wildlife.
Provided that you have evidence to support the grounds of your application, your protected information can be made unavailable to the public.
The director, LLP member, or permanent representative who wishes to prevent the disclosure of protected information should provide the following information on the appropriate form:
If you are making an application at the same time as being appointed to a limited company or LLP, you should include the appointment forms with the application to ensure the protected information is kept private. Applications and supporting evidence should be sent to The Registrar of Companies in Cardiff. You must pay a fee of £100 at the time of making the application.
The registrar may have to refer questions to a relevant body to assess the nature and extent or the risk; therefore, it may take up to 4 weeks to process an application. When a decision has been made, the registrar will notify the appropriate individual within 5 working days.
Companies House Service (formerly known as Companies House BETA) is a relatively new offering from Companies House which in the fullness of time will replace WebCHeck. The Companies House Service allows you to search the public record, but unlike WebCHeck does not charge for you to view most filings.
Whilst WebCHeck continues to provide some services that the new site cannot, Companies House Service is due to eventually replace its predecessor.