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EH01 Form UK: Keep Director Register Central (Guide)

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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
If you run a private company in England or Wales, you have a choice about where certain statutory registers are kept. Rather than maintaining your own separate register of directors (or register of directors' residential addresses) at your office, you can elect to hold that information on the central public register at Companies House instead. Form EH01 is the notice you submit to make that election. It's a short administrative step, but one that has practical consequences for how your company records changes, what appears publicly, and how ongoing filings work. On this page, I walk through what EH01 actually does, who can use it, how the election affects your record keeping going forward, and the things worth thinking about before you send it in. If you'd rather talk it through with an experienced legal adviser before you decide, you can also book a call at the bottom of the page.

What this document is

EH01 is a Companies House form used by private companies to notify the registrar that they want their register of directors, or register of directors' residential addresses, or both, to be held on the central public register rather than kept separately by the company itself. The ability to make this election comes from section 167A of the Companies Act 2006, which was introduced as part of a wider set of changes to reduce duplication between what companies hold internally and what already appears on the public record.

The election can be made in two ways: by the subscribers when a new private company is being incorporated (submitted alongside the incorporation documents), or by an existing private company at any point after incorporation. Once the election takes effect, the company no longer needs to maintain its own separate register for that information, but must keep Companies House up to date with changes as they happen. The election can also be withdrawn later if the company's circumstances change.

How to use this document

  1. Check whether the election suits your company. The option is only available to private companies. Think about whether centralising director information with Companies House simplifies your administration, or whether you'd prefer to retain control over your own internal registers. Some companies value the separation; others prefer fewer places to update.
  2. Decide what the election covers. You can elect to move the register of directors, the register of directors' residential addresses, or both onto the central register. These are separate choices, so you can make one election without the other. Consider how each affects what information is visible and where changes need to be recorded.
  3. Get shareholder agreement where needed. Before making the election, the company should ensure that all members have assented to it. This is a statutory requirement and should be properly recorded in the company's decision-making records, as you may need to evidence it later if any question arises.
  4. Complete and submit form EH01. Fill in the company name and number, indicate which registers the election applies to, and sign the form. It can be submitted on paper or, in many cases, through the Companies House online filing service. There is no fee for making the election itself.
  5. Keep the central register up to date going forward. Once the election is in force, any change to directors or to residential addresses must be notified to Companies House promptly using the usual appointment and change forms. The central register then serves as your company's register for that information.

Common questions

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Common questions

Q Who can make an EH01 election?
Only private companies can make this election. Public companies are not eligible. The election can be made by the subscribers at the point of incorporation (submitted with the IN01 and other incorporation papers), or by an existing private company at any point after it has been formed and registered. The decision should have the assent of all members before the notice is sent.
Q Does the election make my home address public?
If you elect to keep the register of directors' residential addresses on the central register, the information is held by Companies House but the usual protections still apply. Residential addresses are generally not publicly disclosed on the Companies House register in the same way as service addresses. If this is a concern for your situation, it's worth understanding the distinction before making the election.
Q Is there a fee for filing EH01?
Making the election itself does not normally attract a filing fee. However, Companies House fees are reviewed periodically, so it's sensible to check the current position on gov.uk before you file. Related filings, such as appointments and changes, may have their own requirements but the EH01 election notice is typically a free administrative filing.
Q Can the election be reversed later?
Yes. A company that has made an election under section 167A can later withdraw it by giving a further notice to the registrar. When the withdrawal takes effect, the company must resume keeping its own register of directors (or residential addresses) and transfer the relevant information back into its internal records. This flexibility allows companies to change approach as their circumstances evolve.
Q What happens to my existing internal register after the election?
Once the election takes effect, the company is no longer required to keep its separate register of directors (or residential addresses) for the period the election is in force. The central register at Companies House takes its place for statutory purposes. It's still worth retaining the historic register as part of your company records, since it forms part of your company's history.
Q What if a director's details change after the election?
Changes must be notified to Companies House using the standard forms, such as AP01 for appointments, TM01 for terminations, and CH01 for changes to director details. Because the central register now serves as the company's statutory register for this information, keeping those filings current and accurate becomes even more important than usual.
Q Is EH01 the same as the election for members or PSC registers?
No. EH01 covers directors and directors' residential addresses specifically. There are separate election forms for other registers, for example the register of members and the PSC (people with significant control) register. Each election is independent, so a company can make one without making the others, depending on what suits its record-keeping preferences.
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.