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RM01 Form UK: Appoint a Receiver or Manager

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Part ofCompanies House Forms UK

Written by Brad Askew Solicitor (non-practising)
Brad is on the roll of solicitors of England & Wales but does not hold a practising certificate and does not provide legal advice.
Updated June 2026 · England & Wales
When a company defaults on a secured debt, the lender holding the security may have the right to step in and appoint someone to take control of the charged assets. That person, whether described as an administrative receiver, a receiver or a manager, is there to protect the secured creditor's position and, where possible, steer the business back towards paying what it owes. Form RM01 is how that appointment is formally notified to Companies House so it appears on the public register. This page walks through what the form does, who files it, the timing that tends to apply, and the practical points that often catch people out. It is written for directors, secured lenders, insolvency professionals and anyone trying to make sense of what happens when a receiver is brought in.

What this document is

Form RM01 is the Companies House filing used to place on the public record the fact that a receiver or manager has been appointed over a company's property. The appointment itself is usually made by a secured creditor acting under the terms of a debenture, charge or other security document, rather than by the court, although court-appointed receivers can also feature depending on the circumstances.

Once appointed, that individual typically has authority to take possession of the charged assets, carry on the business if doing so is useful, and work towards recovering what the secured creditor is owed. The form itself is relatively short. It captures the name of the company, details of the person appointed, the date the appointment took effect, and a description of the instrument giving rise to the appointment.

Filing RM01 is distinct from registering the original charge and is required so that third parties dealing with the company can see from the public register that a receiver or manager is now in place.

How to use this document

  1. Check the underlying security. Before anything is filed, the secured creditor needs to confirm that the charge or debenture genuinely gives a power to appoint a receiver or manager, and that the triggering events, usually a default, have actually occurred. The exact wording of the security document drives what can and cannot be done next.
  2. Make the appointment correctly. The appointment is typically made in writing under the terms of the security, with the appointee accepting the role. Getting the formalities right matters because a defective appointment can be challenged later. The person appointed should be someone appropriately qualified and, for administrative receivership, a licensed insolvency practitioner.
  3. Complete Form RM01. Fill in the company name and number, the date the appointment took effect, details of the person appointed, and information about the instrument under which the appointment was made. Accuracy is important because this sits on the public register and errors can create confusion for creditors and counterparties.
  4. File the form with Companies House within the statutory window. The appointment must be notified to Companies House promptly. Check gov.uk for the current filing deadline and any fee payable. Late filing can have real consequences, so diarise this carefully as soon as the appointment is made.
  5. Notify the company and its creditors. The company itself should be informed, and notice of the appointment generally needs to go out to creditors within the timescale set by the relevant legislation. Beyond that, the receiver or manager takes over the assets covered by the security and begins the process of realising value or running the business towards recovery.

Common questions

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Common questions

Q Who can appoint a receiver or manager?
The power to appoint usually sits with a secured creditor, most commonly a bank or other lender that holds a debenture or fixed and floating charge over the company's assets. The right to appoint is triggered by the wording of the security document, typically after a default. Courts can also appoint receivers in certain situations. In every case the appointer needs to be sure the power exists and has been validly exercised before filing RM01.
Q What is the difference between a receiver, a manager and an administrative receiver?
A receiver generally takes control of specific assets covered by a charge. A manager can also run the business, not just collect in assets. An administrative receiver is a particular type of appointment made under a qualifying floating charge over substantially all of a company's property, and the role is restricted to qualifying floating charges created before a cut-off date under the Enterprise Act 2002 in most cases. The distinctions matter because the powers and duties differ.
Q Is RM01 the same as registering a charge?
No. Registering a charge, using forms such as MR01, happens when the security is first granted. RM01 is filed later, if and when the secured creditor actually appoints a receiver or manager under that security. The two filings serve different purposes: one puts the charge on the register, the other records that enforcement action has begun.
Q How quickly does RM01 need to be filed?
There is a statutory time limit for notifying Companies House of the appointment, and delay can have practical consequences for the register and for third parties relying on it. Timings can change, so check the current requirements on gov.uk or in the Companies Act 2006 before filing. As a rule of thumb, treat it as something to deal with straight after the appointment is made rather than leaving it to drift.
Q What happens to the directors once a receiver is appointed?
The directors usually remain in office, but their practical control is significantly reduced in respect of the assets covered by the appointment. The receiver or manager takes over those assets and, in the case of an administrative receiver, the conduct of the business. Directors still have statutory duties, including cooperating with the office-holder and considering the position of unsecured creditors and the company as a whole.
Q Can the appointment be challenged?
Yes, in principle. If the security document does not give a right to appoint, if the default relied on has not occurred, or if the appointment formalities were not followed, the validity of the appointment can be questioned. Challenges are fact sensitive and often depend on careful reading of the debenture and surrounding correspondence. Anyone considering a challenge should take specialist insolvency and litigation input early.
Q Does filing RM01 make the company insolvent?
Appointing a receiver or manager does not in itself put the company into liquidation or administration, but it is a clear sign of financial distress and is often accompanied by, or followed by, other insolvency processes. The company continues to exist as a legal entity. What changes is that a portion of its assets, and sometimes the running of the business, passes to the receiver or manager appointed by the secured creditor.
If you're dealing with this kind of situation, speak to an experienced legal adviser who can walk you through it — from £89.

Sources

This guide is based on primary UK law and official guidance.

Brad Askew, Solicitor (non-practising)

Written & reviewed by

Brad Askew Solicitor (non-practising)

Brad is on the roll of solicitors of England & Wales but does not hold a practising certificate and does not provide legal advice. LegalDocuments.co.uk is not a law firm and does not provide regulated legal advice.

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Legal disclaimer
This article is for general information only. It is a tool to help you find your way — not legal advice, and not a substitute for speaking to a qualified adviser about your situation.