Can I use my student accommodation as a company registered office in the UK?

Technically yes, but it's high risk. Most student accommodation agreements in the UK prohibit business registration, your address becomes public on Companies House, and you'll need to update it every time you move. A virtual office address (from £39-65/year) is a safer, more professional choice.

What is the difference between a registered office and a service address in the UK?

A registered office is your company's official address where statutory mail from HMRC, Companies House, and courts is sent. A service address is the correspondence address for individual directors and persons with significant control. Both are public on the Companies House register, so most UK founders use a virtual office for both to protect their home address.

How much does a virtual office address cost in the UK?

Virtual office addresses from UK formation agents like 1st Formations and Rapid Formations cost approximately £39+VAT per year for a registered office and £26+VAT per year for a service address. First-year promotional packages may be cheaper, but always check renewal prices. Tide's virtual office costs approximately £190+VAT per year.

Can I use my rented flat as a UK company address without telling my landlord?

This is risky. Most residential tenancy agreements in the UK prohibit business registration at the property. Using the address without permission could violate your lease and potentially lead to eviction. Companies House also now requires 'appropriate' registered office addresses, and landlords can report unauthorised business use.

What is an ACSP and do I need one to register a UK company?

An Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) is a company registered with Companies House to perform identity verification and submit filings on behalf of clients. UK formation agents like 1st Formations and Rapid Formations are ACSPs. Using one simplifies the company formation process as they can handle your ID verification automatically.

Can international students register a company in the UK on a Graduate Visa?

Yes. The UK Graduate Visa (Post-Study Work visa) allows you to work, including self-employment and running your own company. You can register a UK limited company and act as a director. However, you'll need to meet all standard company registration requirements including providing an appropriate registered office address and completing identity verification with Companies House.

Should I use Tide for my UK company registration address?

Tide offers excellent company formation (£14.99) and banking services in the UK, but their virtual office address costs approximately £190+VAT per year (or £22.99+VAT monthly). UK formation agents offer similar addresses from £39-65 per year. Consider using Tide for banking but a formation agent for your registered office to save money.

International Students: Read This Before You Register Your First Tech Company in the UK

Q: Do I need to verify my identity to register a UK company in 2026?

Yes. Since 18 November 2025, identity verification is mandatory for all new company directors and persons with significant control in the UK under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act. You'll need a biometric passport or BRP and can verify through GOV.UK One Login or an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP).

You've done it.

Degree finished. Graduate Visa approved. You're staying in the UK. Finally.

Now you want to register your tech startup. You've got the idea, the energy, and maybe even a co-founder. The Companies House website is open in your browser. It's asking for a registered office address.

And here's where most international student founders make their first mistake.

They type in their student accommodation. Or their temporary rental flat. It's free. It's easy. Companies House accepts it.

What could go wrong?

A lot, actually.

This guide is for tech startup founders on Student or Graduate (PSW) visas who are registering a standard UK limited company. If your business requires additional regulatory approvals (financial services, healthcare, legal services, etc.), you'll need specialist advice beyond what's covered here.

For standard tech startups, software companies, and digital businesses that don't need FCA authorisation or other sector-specific licences, read on.

The "Kitchen Table" Mistake

Every UK limited company needs a registered office address. This is where Companies House, HMRC, and the courts send official correspondence. It's also published on the public register, which means anyone can look it up.

Using your student accommodation or temporary rental might seem harmless.

But here's what actually happens:

Your front door becomes public information.

Companies House is a public register. The moment you incorporate, your address is visible to anyone who searches for your company. Cold callers, marketers, and anyone curious about your business can see exactly where you live in the UK.

Your landlord probably hasn't agreed to this.

Most UK tenancy agreements prohibit business registration at the property. Using the address without permission could violate your lease and, in serious cases, lead to eviction or legal disputes. If you're in student accommodation, the rules are often even stricter.

You'll move, and the paperwork will follow you.

International students and recent graduates move frequently. Every time you change address, you're legally required to update Companies House and HMRC within 14 days. Miss a letter during a move, and you might miss a tax deadline or a legal notice. The fines add up quickly.

Your credibility takes a hit.

Investors, clients, and partners will search your company on Companies House. A student hall or residential flat doesn't inspire confidence. If you're building a pitch deck or approaching UK accelerators, first impressions matter.

Setting Up Your Company's Official Address

Here's the good news: tech startups don't need a physical shopfront.

What you need is a stable, professional "home" for your company that handles your official mail and protects your privacy.

A virtual office address gives you exactly this. You get a commercial address in a recognised UK business location (often Central London), and the provider scans and emails your mail to you. You never miss an HMRC letter, even if you're travelling or between flats.

Two types of addresses you need to understand:

Registered Office Address: The official address of your company, published on Companies House. All statutory mail (from HMRC, Companies House, courts) goes here. This is the minimum legal requirement for any UK limited company.

Service Address (Director's Address): The correspondence address for company directors and persons with significant control. This is also public. If you don't want your personal address on the UK register, you need a separate service address for yourself as a director.

Most founders need both.

Who Should You Use?

Several UK formation agents offer virtual office services bundled with company registration. The "Big Three" that dominate the market are:

1st Formations – Central London (Covent Garden) address. Registered office renews at £39+VAT/year, service address at £26+VAT/year.

Rapid Formations – Also Covent Garden. Same renewal pricing: £39+VAT for registered office, £26+VAT for service address.

Your Company Formations – Central London EC1 address. Registered office from £29/year.

All three are authorised by Companies House and handle identity verification (more on this below).

The Bank Option: Tide

Tide offers UK company formation for just £14.99 (they subsidise the £50 Companies House fee) and bundle it with a free business bank account. Convenient.

However, their virtual office address is a separate add-on: £22.99+VAT per month (approximately £275/year) or £190+VAT annually. That's significantly more expensive than the formation agents above.

Tide is excellent for banking. For your registered office, shop around.

⚠️ Watch Out for Year 2 Renewal Costs

This is where most first-time founders get caught.

UK formation agents compete aggressively on Year 1 pricing. You'll see packages for £10, £20, or £50 that include company formation, a registered office, and a service address for the first year.

Looks like a bargain.

Then Year 2 arrives.

The "Registered Office" renewal might be £39-50. The "Service Address" for each director adds another £26-30. If you added a "Business Address" for general mail, that's £96-99 more.

Suddenly, your £20 startup package costs £150-200/year to maintain.

This isn't a scam. It's just how the pricing works. But founders who don't check renewal costs upfront often face an unpleasant surprise.

Before you sign up with any provider:

1. Check the Year 2 renewal price for every service you're purchasing 2. Understand the difference between Registered Office, Service Address, and Business Address 3. Calculate your total annual cost, not just the first-year promotional price

Disclaimer: We have no affiliations with any formation agents mentioned in this guide. Founders must do their own due diligence on pricing and renewal costs before signing up.

Coworking Spaces in the UK

If you want more than just a postal address, coworking spaces offer a desk plus a business address.

Regus, the largest global provider, operates over 100 locations across the UK. Coworking membership starts from around £75-180/month depending on location and access level. Their virtual office packages (address only, no desk) start around £95/month.

Local coworking hubs can be more affordable. The national median for monthly coworking membership in the UK is around £180, with London averaging £200. Cities like Liverpool and Aberdeen offer rates as low as £139/month.

Budget realistically: Coworking costs roughly £1,500-2,400/year. That's 10-15x more than a virtual office address alone. The trade-off is community, networking, and a physical place to work.

For most early-stage founders watching their runway, a virtual office address makes more sense until revenue justifies the upgrade. Many UK AI startup accelerators also provide workspace as part of their programmes, so factor that into your planning.

Mandatory Identity Verification in 2026

Here's something that changed recently and catches many founders off guard.

Companies House now requires identity verification for all company directors and persons with significant control (PSCs) in the UK under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act.

This became mandatory on 18 November 2025. If you're incorporating a new UK company, you cannot complete registration without verifying your identity first.

How it works:

You can verify directly with Companies House through GOV.UK One Login (free), or through an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) like 1st Formations or Rapid Formations.

Once verified, you receive a personal code from Companies House that you'll use for all future filings.

The catch: If you use a cheap formation agent, check whether ID verification is included or whether you have to do it yourself through GOV.UK One Login. Some agents bundle it; others don't.

Existing directors have until their next confirmation statement (annual filing) to verify, with a 12-month transition period ending in November 2026.

Cost Comparison Table

| Option | Year 1 Cost | Annual Ongoing Cost | What You Get | |--------|-------------|---------------------|--------------| | Home Address | £0 | £0 | High risk: privacy exposed, potential lease violation, no mail handling | | Virtual Office (Formation Agent) | £50-150 | £65-165/year | Registered office + service address, mail scanning, Central London postcode | | Virtual Office (Tide) | £190+VAT | £190+VAT/year | Registered office + mail scanning, bundled with UK bank account | | Coworking Membership | £1,500-2,400 | £1,500-2,400/year | Desk access + address + community + meeting rooms |

Your company address isn't just admin. It's your legal home base in the UK, your first impression with investors, and your shield against the chaos of moving flats every year.

Get it right from day one.

Building a startup in the UK? Join The Tech Founders community for more guides tailored to early-stage founders.

International Students: Read This Before You Register Your First Tech Company in the UK

The "Kitchen Table" Mistake

Setting Up Your Company's Official Address

Who Should You Use?

⚠️ Watch Out for Year 2 Renewal Costs

Coworking Spaces in the UK

Mandatory Identity Verification in 2026

Cost Comparison Table

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