What is SAIL?
SAIL stands for the Single Alternative Inspection Location. It was introduced on 1 October 2009 under the Companies Act 2006. The purpose of SAIL is for the company to register the address of where your company records and registers are kept when it is not kept at the registered office.
Nowadays many businesses are run from home. Business owners would prefer not to use their home address as their company registered office. This is because their home address would be in the public record. In other words, anyone is checking on their company with Companies House can see it.
For this reason, they usually sign up for registered office address services from a company formation agent or using their accountant’s office address as their registered office address. While they keep their company records and registers at their homes or at other addresses.
Register SAIL address with Companies House
Your company is to disclose the address where your company keep your records and registers. Your company is allowed only one SAIL address at any one time. If it is the first time you are notifying Companies House of your SAIL address, then submit the form AD02.
Change of SAIL address with Companies House
If you change your SAIL address, for example, you are no longer working from home. You have moved to a new office and that you intend to keep your company records and registers there. Then you file the Form AD03 with Companies House.
Company registers moved back to Registered office address
Subsequently, If you moved your company records and registers back to your registered office, then you file the form AD04 with Companies House.
Your confirmation statement
You must include the most up to date registered office address and your SAIL address in your company’s confirmation statement.
Failure to submit your confirmation statement with Companies House is a criminal offence and you may receive fines. Your company may risk being struck off.
