Running a company house check UK is one of the fastest ways to verify whether a business you're about to work with is legitimate, solvent, and properly registered. Whether you're vetting a new supplier, evaluating a potential partner, or performing compliance due diligence, the companies house register gives you direct access to the official records behind every UK-registered company.
This guide walks you through exactly how to search, what to look for, and where the pitfalls are.
Key Takeaways
A company house check UK means using the official companies house register to verify any registered company or director. The search service is a free service, available online 24/7, covering company details such as registered office address, date of incorporation, filing history, and insolvency information.
Users can search by company name, company number, or officer name, then drill into confirmation statements, accounts, and current and previous directors for thorough due diligence.
The service now replaces older tools like WebCHeck and Companies House Direct, and includes features like following a company for alerts and searching overseas entities.
Companies House is the UK's official company registrar, holding records on approximately 5.43 million companies. All public and private companies must register with Companies House.
Using these checks helps reduce fraud risk, verify legitimacy, and support credit, compliance, and partnership decisions so you can make informed decisions before signing contracts.
What Is a “Company House Check” in the UK?
A company house check UK refers to searching the official companies house register to verify any UK-registered company or its directors. Companies House is the UK's registrar of companies, an executive agency under the Department for Business and Trade responsible for incorporating and maintaining records on companies across England and Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
All public and private companies must register with Companies House, and it maintains official records of registered companies throughout their lifecycle. Companies House provides public information about business registration in the UK, meaning anyone can access the register to review company information without needing special permissions.
A typical check involves confirming the registered company name, company number, registered office address, current status (active or dissolved), and date of incorporation. Most of this information is free to access, can be downloaded as documents, and is updated whenever companies send new filings. Beyond the basics, checks can also reveal disqualified directors, insolvency information, charges against assets, and links to overseas entities where applicable.
How to Search the Companies House Register
All checks start with the "Find and update company information" service on the official companies house website. This is where you carry out your search and access company filing history and accounts.
Here's how to do it step by step:
Go to the search page on the companies house website.
Enter a search term: you can search by company name, company number, or a director's name.
Review the results list and select the correct entity.
Explore the company profile, which provides access to company details, filing history, people (officers and PSCs), and charges.
The search service is free to use. You can also find a company's registered office address through the service.
Filters allow users to narrow results by:
Company status: active, dissolved, in liquidation
Location: England/Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland
Company type: LTD, PLC, LLP, overseas entity
Advanced search lets you filter by date of incorporation range, registered office address, and nature of business (SIC code) when that data is available. The service allows users to follow companies for updates, which we'll cover later.
Understanding Key Company Details on the Register
Each company profile provides structured data that users should interpret correctly before making any business decisions. Here are the core elements you should always review.
Element | What It Tells You |
|---|---|
Registered company name | The legal name, which may differ from any trading name |
Company number | A unique nine-digit identifier (CRN) used in contracts and HMRC dealings |
Registered office address | Must be within the UK jurisdiction of incorporation; can be a virtual or agent's address |
Company status | Active, dormant, in liquidation, or dissolved |
Date of incorporation | When the company was legally formed |
Company type | Private limited, public limited, LLP, charity, etc. |
Public information includes company name, registration number, and date of incorporation. The registered name is the legal name and may differ from the brand customers recognise. Previous names are shown in a separate section if the business has rebranded.
The company registration number is a unique nine-digit identifier that stays with the company for life. It's essential for contracts, cross-referencing credit reports, and verifying identity with HMRC.
The registered office address can be updated if changed, and it must sit within the jurisdiction of incorporation. Keep in mind this can be a virtual office or formation agent's address rather than the company's actual trading location.
Company type affects filing requirements and governance. For example, limited companies and limited liability partnerships have different disclosure obligations. Companies can be listed as active, dormant, in liquidation, or dissolved, and checking company status is one of the most basic checks you should perform before doing business.
People: Directors, PSCs, and Disqualified Directors
The "People" tab lists current and previous directors, resigned officers, company secretaries, and People with significant control (PSC). Companies House collects personal data about company officers, and companies must provide details of current and past directors.
You can view details of active and resigned directors in company records. Directors' details include names, nationalities, and service addresses, along with month and year of birth and role start/end dates.
Watch for red flags: frequent director changes, patterns of resignations close to filing deadlines, or officers linked to multiple dissolved or failed companies.
Information about people with significant control is available in company records. PSC data reveals who ultimately owns or controls the company through shareholding above 25%, voting rights, or rights to appoint or remove directors.
You can check if a business is disqualified or in financial trouble through specific registers. A separate disqualified directors search lets you confirm whether an individual is banned from acting as a director, including the disqualification period and the reason behind it.
Business Activity, Capital, and Ownership Structure
The overview page normally includes details of the company's nature of business via SIC codes. The Standard Industrial Classification code describes a company's business activities and should match what the company claims to do.
The statement of capital shows:
Total number of shares issued
Nominal value per share
Currency
Share classes (ordinary, preference, etc.)
This indicates the ownership and control framework. Initial shareholders (subscribers) and later share allotments can be traced through historical filings to understand how ownership has changed over time. When performing a company house check, compare SIC codes, share structure, and PSC records for consistency. Mismatches can be a red flag.
Reading Filing History, Accounts, and Confirmation Statements
The filing history is the chronological record of every document a company has filed since its date of incorporation. Filing history includes documents like annual accounts and confirmation statements, along with director appointments, registered office changes, and charges.
To explore it, open the "Filing history" tab and filter by document type:
Accounts (annual financial statements)
Confirmation statements (CS01)
Appointments and resignations
Charges
Insolvency filings
Companies House requires annual accounts from limited companies. Companies must file annual accounts within nine months of their financial year end. These accounts typically contain a balance sheet, profit and loss statement, and notes. Smaller companies may file micro-entity or abridged accounts with fewer disclosures, so don't expect the same level of detail from every entity. If a company believes its accounts contain errors, it may submit revised accounts, though this is relatively rare.
Confirmation statements must be filed at least once a year. They give a yearly snapshot of shareholders, registered office address, SIC codes, and statement of capital. They're useful for verifying whether the company's details have changed since the last check.
Late filing can result in significant fines for companies, and Companies House sends late filing notices for overdue documents. If you notice a pattern of late filings in a company's history, it's worth drawing that to the company's attention or factoring it into your risk assessment. Make sure the company has filed for the correct financial year before relying on the figures.
PDF copies of certain documents and appropriate documents can be downloaded free for detailed analysis or audit trails.
Insolvency Information and Charges
Where applicable, insolvency information such as administration, liquidation, or company voluntary arrangements will appear clearly on the company profile. Companies House provides details on any existing charges against a company's assets.
The "Charges" section shows fixed and floating charges lodged by banks or other lenders as security against company assets. Heavy secured lending or a pattern of default and appointment of insolvency practitioners may indicate elevated risk.
Professional users often combine this data with external credit reports, but the companies house register is the primary legal record and is a public record anyone can access.
Special Registers: Overseas Entities and Historical Data
Some company house checks involve specific registers beyond the standard search. The Register of Overseas Entities, introduced under the Economic Crime (Transparency and Enforcement) Act 2022, requires foreign entities owning UK property to register their beneficial owners and managing officers.
To find these records, use the advanced search with the "company type" filter set to "overseas entity." These records show beneficial owners, filing history, and verification statements.
The incorporation date filter is useful for pulling the full population of UK entities formed within a specific date range, which is helpful for research or compliance checks. You can view past company names if a business has rebranded. Companies House records previous company names for public access, and dissolved companies remain on the register, allowing users to trace legacy entities.
Users can typically download search results to CSV spreadsheets for bulk analysis or onboarding workflows, which supports finding information at scale for compliance teams and members of due diligence functions.
Tools Around the Register: Following, Notifications, and Replacing Legacy Services
Modern companies house services include monitoring tools that make ongoing checks far easier than one-off searches.
The "Follow a company" function works like this:
Create a free companies house account.
Search for and select companies to follow.
Receive email alerts whenever new filings appear.
Typical alerts include:
New accounts filed
Confirmation statements submitted
Changes to registered office address
Director appointments or resignations
Insolvency notices
Following a company is anonymous. It's widely used by suppliers, lenders, investors, and company owners monitoring their own records. This is particularly useful for tracking potential clients or partners over time.
Older services such as WebCHeck and Companies House Direct were closed on 30 November 2023. All core functionality now exists within the main companies house website. Users who previously relied on those legacy services should now use the online search, filing, and follow tools, which offer better accessibility, availability, and modern APIs for automated access.
Privacy, Limitations, and Using Data Responsibly
Companies House is designed for transparency, but users must be aware of what is and is not verified or private.
Directors and PSCs can use a service address rather than their home address on the public register, while still meeting disclosure regulations. This means the address you see may not be where the individual actually lives.
Companies House makes basic checks on filings for completeness but does not routinely audit the factual accuracy of submitted company information. This is an important limitation. Companies House has statutory power to challenge suspicious information under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023, but self-reporting means errors, omissions, or even fraud can still occur.
If you identify suspicious or clearly incorrect information, you can report it for review or enforcement. The process is straightforward and guidance is available on the website.
Key points on responsible use:
Personal data is handled under UK GDPR, but much of it is legally required to be published for transparency and anti-fraud purposes.
Use register data for due diligence, compliance, and risk assessments. Do not use it for prohibited bulk marketing or scraping that may breach acceptable use policies.
The register alone cannot confirm a company's financial health or verify every figure in its accounts. Complement it with credit reports, trade references, and sector-specific checks to fully identify and manage risk.
Remember: a fully completed company house check is a starting point, not a finish line. Triangulate with other sources to carry out proper due diligence.
FAQ
Is a Companies House check enough to verify a UK company?
A Companies House check is an essential first step. It confirms registration, status, and filing history, letting you verify whether a company legally exists and is responsible for its statutory obligations. However, it should be combined with credit reports, trade references, and where relevant, checks on regulated status (for example, the FCA register for financial services firms). Companies House does not guarantee the financial health of a business or audit every figure in its accounts.
How often is Companies House information updated?
Data is updated whenever a company files a new document. Most electronic filings appear on the public register within hours, while paper filings are typically processed within a few working days. If you're conducting critical checks, look at the latest filing dates and consider whether more recent events, such as a sudden notice of insolvency, may not yet be reflected. Always check the date on the most recent filing to gauge how current the record is.
Can I remove or hide my personal information from the register?
Most statutory information, such as a director's name and month/year of birth, must remain on the public record. You can usually replace your home address with a service address and request suppression of certain historic residential addresses in limited circumstances where there is a security risk. Consult the Companies House guidance or seek professional advice if you believe publication of specific details puts you at risk from a security service perspective.
Do I need to pay to access Companies House data?
Searching the companies house register, viewing company overviews, and downloading most filings as PDFs is free. This makes it one of the most accessible due diligence tools available to customers, investors, and compliance teams. Fees apply only for specific services like ordering certified copies, certificates of incorporation, or some bulk data products.
Can I see if a director has been disqualified?
Yes. There is a separate disqualified directors register that can be searched by name. It shows the disqualification period, the reason for the order or undertaking, and whether the individual has permission to sign as a director despite the disqualification. A complete due diligence check on individuals should combine this with the general officer history visible on each company record, reviewing reports across all entities they've been linked to.
