Form EH02 UK: Director Address Election (Guide)

What this document is

Form EH02 is the Companies House form used by a private or public company to elect, under section 167A of the Companies Act 2006, that the particulars of its directors' usual residential addresses be kept on the central public register at Companies House rather than on the company's own register of directors' residential addresses. Once the election takes effect, the company is relieved of the duty to maintain that particular internal register, and the information held by Companies House stands in its place.

Residential address information is still treated as protected information in the usual way, meaning it is not placed on the public record for general inspection. The election can be made by a newly incorporated company at the point of registration or by an existing company at any time, provided the correct procedure is followed.

It is a standalone election separate from the equivalent election relating to the register of directors (Form EH01), although many companies choose to make both elections together for consistency.

How to use this document

1. Check that the election is right for your company. Consider whether removing the internal residential address register and relying on the central register suits how your company administers its records. For smaller companies with few director changes, the election often reduces admin. Larger groups may prefer to keep internal registers for control reasons.
2. Gather the required information. You will need the company's registered number and name, together with the full name and usual residential address of each current director. Make sure these match what is already on the Companies House record, because discrepancies can hold up processing and lead to rejection.
3. Obtain director consent where required. The election requires that all directors whose details would be affected have assented to the information being kept on the central register. This assent should be recorded in writing before the form is submitted, and kept with the company's records in case it is queried later.
4. Complete and submit Form EH02. The form can be filed on paper by post to Companies House, or through the appropriate online filing route where available. Double-check every field before submission, since errors on statutory filings often mean starting the process again rather than a quick correction.
5. Update your internal records once the election takes effect. The election takes effect when registered by Companies House, not when you post the form. After confirmation, make sure your statutory books reflect the change and that whoever looks after ongoing filings knows that director address changes now need to be notified centrally rather than logged only in-house.

Common questions