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Key Highlights
- A SAIL address allows a limited company or LLP to store statutory company records such as registers of members, directors, and secretaries.
- Companies using a SAIL address must make their records available for inspection for at least two hours daily during working hours.
- Companies can register a SAIL address with Companies House using Form AD02 and specify which records are stored with Form AD03.
What is a SAIL address?
A Single Alternative Inspection Location address is an alternative location where a limited company or Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) stores its statutory records, such as registers of members, directors, and secretaries. These records must be accessible for public inspection, ensuring transparency and regulatory compliance.
Unlike the company’s registered office address, which is mandatory for all companies, a SAIL address is optional. The registered office is the official address where statutory mail and legal notices from HMRC and other government bodies are delivered. This address is listed on the public register and is accessible to anyone searching for company details.
If a company does not use a SAIL address, all statutory records must be kept at the registered office. However, the SAIL address provides a flexible option if you prefer to keep statutory records at a different location.
Which statutory records are stored at a SAIL address?
The statutory registers can be stored at a SAIL address and made available for public inspection. These records typically include:
- Register of members (shareholders or guarantors)
- Register of directors
- Register of company secretaries
- Register of debenture holders
- Register of People with Significant Control (PSC)
- Register of charges and instruments creating charges
- Directors’ service contracts
- Directors’ indemnities
- Copies of company resolutions, including ordinary, special, and written resolutions
- Minutes of general meetings
- Documents related to the redemption or purchase of the company’s own shares
A SAIL address may also store the certificate of incorporation, copies of documents filed at Companies House, and the memorandum and articles of association.
What are the legal requirements for making statutory records available for public inspection?
Companies must make their statutory records available for public inspection for at least two hours each working day between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. If someone wishes to inspect these records, they must give at least two days’ notice. Following the Companies (Company Records) Regulations 2008, ten days’ notice may be required.
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What is the difference between a limited company SAIL address and a registered office address?
A company registered address is the official address that must be provided to Companies House upon incorporation. It is where all formal communications, legal notices, and statutory mail from government authorities like HMRC are sent. This address is publicly listed on the Companies House register and must be within the same jurisdiction where the company is incorporated, whether in England, Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland.
On the other hand, a SAIL address is an optional address where a company can store its statutory records, such as registers of directors, shareholders, and People with Significant Control (PSC). It serves as an alternative to keeping these records at the official business address. If a company chooses to use a SAIL address, it must notify Companies House of this location. Unlike the registered office, the SAIL address does not need to be publicly listed. Still, following an application by interested individuals, it must be available for public inspection for at least two hours on working days. A SAIL address must also be within the same UK jurisdiction as your registered office.
How do I register a SAIL address with Companies House?
To register a SAIL address with Companies House, complete and submit Form AD02 via webfiling. Once the SAIL address is registered, you must also submit Form AD03, which specifies which statutory records have been relocated to the new SAIL address.
Use our intuitive Online Company Manager to update your details if you are our client. Log in or create an account, import your company into the portal, and update your details with Companies House or file your confirmation statement.
Can a company appoint a SAIL address agent, and what are their responsibilities?
A company use a solicitor’s or another address to serve as the SAIL address agent to manage and handle correspondence related to the SAIL address. The agent serves as an intermediary, receiving official mail and promptly delivering it to the company. This role is beneficial for businesses with multiple locations or those seeking privacy.
The key responsibilities of a SAIL address agent include accepting and forwarding official communications, ensuring they reach the appropriate department or person within the company, and sometimes responding to these communications on behalf of the company.
Additionally, the agent may manage and organise the company’s statutory records kept at the SAIL address, making them readily accessible for inspection when necessary.
How do I stop using a SAIL address to keep company records?
To stop using a sail address, follow the same procedure as registering a new address with Companies House. Use form AD02 to register a new address and form AD03 to tell Companies House that you have moved your records. To stop using a SAIL address and keep your records in a registered office address, use form AD04.
