UK statutory members register returns : What companies need to know

The UK reinstated the requirement to maintain a statutory register of members on 18 November 2025. Companies will once again need to keep their own record of who owns their shares. This shifts responsibility back to the business rather than Companies House and returns to a governance principle: ownership records should be controlled at source. 

The change aims to improve accuracy, strengthen transparency and ensure that shareholder details are maintained by the company itself. To comply, organisations will look to their records and ensure their register is correct and up to date or arrange to reconstitute their register of members. 

What is changing? 

From 18 November 2025, every UK company must hold its own statutory register of members. This register becomes the legal record of ownership. Information at Companies House will no longer be treated as the authoritative position. Companies will need to ensure that internal records are complete, current and kept up to date as changes occur. 

Companies must make the register available for public inspection on request. It must be held at either the registered office or a Single Alternative Inspection Location (SAIL). Clear steps for receiving, managing and responding to inspection requests will be essential. 

After 18 November 2025, companies must include a full list of shareholders in their next confirmation statement. This list must show:

• all registered members
• the number of shares each one holds
• the class of each shareholding

Businesses that have had frequent transfers, allotments or reorganisations may need early reconciliation work to produce an accurate list.

Why this matters

This is more than an administrative change. Once the internal register becomes the legal record again, any gaps or inconsistencies will create risk.  

Companies with historic transfers, missing paperwork or a reliance on Companies House as a ‘source of truth’ may find discrepancies that need time to fix. 

If inspection requests arrive and records are not ready, companies could face avoidable delays or compliance issues. Preparing now reduces that risk. 

What companies should do now 

Companies should check and reconcile shareholder records while reviewing current ownership data to confirm that: 

• Share classes and numbers are correct 
• Past transfers or allotments have been recorded properly 
• Any missing documents can be found and filed 

Sorting this now avoids rushed corrections later.

They should also set out clear steps for recording share transfers, allotments, reorganisations, transmissions and cancellations. As the  Statutory Register becomes the authoritative record, updates will need to be made quickly and consistently. 

To plan for inspection requests, companies can create a simple workflow covering: 

• How requests are received and acknowledged 
• Who arranges access 
• Where the register will be viewed (registered office or SAIL) 
• How you meet statutory timeframes 
• How you protect personal data during inspections 

People handling secretarial, legal governance or share administration tasks should understand the renewed requirements. Training will help prevent errors and embed the new routines. 

Looking ahead 

The reinstatement of the statutory register places companies back in control of their ownership records. Many organisations will remember the old system, but internal habits may have shifted during the years when Companies House held more responsibility. Using the months ahead to check records, refresh processes and settle any gaps will make the transition smoother. 

Preparing early puts companies in a strong position to meet these new rules.