Companies House update: Protecting your personal information

An update from Companies House is set to enhance the protection of personal information on its public register. These changes, introduced under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act, are designed to balance the need for corporate transparency with the right to personal privacy.

We’re taking you through what you need to know about these important updates and when they will become available.

Suppression of historical personal information

Currently, individuals can apply to suppress their residential address if it’s shown as their service address. However, the upcoming measures expand this right significantly, offering broader protection for historical records and making the process more accessible.

Starting in January 2025, individuals will have the ability to suppress certain personal details from historical records held by Companies House. These details include:

• Registered office address if it’s your home address.

From spring/summer 2025, additional suppression options will be introduced, allowing individuals to remove the following from historical documents:

• Residential addresses (in most cases where they appear elsewhere on the register, such as being used as a registered office address).
• Day of birth (for documents registered before 10 October 2015; only the month and year have been publicly displayed since then).
• Business occupation.

Suppression will be automatic on application and will not require individuals to provide evidence.

Enhanced protection for at-risk individuals

 For individuals at risk of physical harm or violence due to their personal information being publicly accessible, measures will allow for the protection of sensitive data. Protected information may include:

• Name or previous names.
• Sensitive addresses, such as those tied to vulnerable locations (e.g. domestic abuse refuges).
• In the most serious cases, all other details, such as service addresses and partial dates of birth.

Applications for protection will require evidence, such as correspondence from law enforcement or a caseworker, and will be subject to a fee.

Safeguards and access to suppressed information

To prevent abuse of these measures, Companies House will implement safeguards. For example, applications may be scrutinised to ensure the suppression applies to residential and not business addresses. If false or misleading information is found in an application, any granted protection can be revoked.

While suppressed information will not be publicly visible, it will remain accessible to law enforcement agencies. In certain cases, such as legal proceedings or court-ordered public interest applications, suppressed data may also be disclosed. Companies House will proactively share information with law enforcement where necessary and proportionate, utilising new data-sharing powers.

Implementation timeline

These changes require secondary legislation and system updates before coming into effect. While suppression of certain details will begin in January 2025, the full suite of measures, including enhanced protection for at-risk individuals, is expected to roll out later in 2025. Companies House will provide updates on the implementation timeline.

Stay up to date

At Verallo, we’re passionate about sharing updates that help you stay informed and empowered. Take a look at Companies House’s official channels for guidance on these changes and how to apply for suppression or protection. Alternatively, Connect with us via LinkedIn and Facebook for future announcements.