Register a charge (mortgage) for a limited company
How to register a new charge at Companies House, or tell us about any you've paid off.
This guidance also applies to limited liability partnerships (LLPs).
Register a charge (MR01)
A ‘charge’ is the security a company gives for a loan. For example, a mortgage is a type of charge.
You can send us the details of a charge created by the company. We’ll then register the charge on the company’s public record.
21-day time limit
If a charge is not registered within 21 days, it may be difficult to recover the debt if the company becomes insolvent. The 21 days start the day after the charge is created.
If you do not send us this information in time, you’ll need a court order to register the charge. Only the court can allow an extension of time.
Certified copy of the charge instrument
If there’s an ‘instrument’ such as a mortgage deed, you must include a certified copy of the instrument when you register the charge. This will be shown on the company’s public record.
Removing personal information from the charge instrument
Any information you send us will appear on the company’s public record. This includes all information on the certified copy of the instrument.
Before you send us your certified copy, you can remove or ‘redact’ some personal information from it. You can remove:
- personal information relating to an individual (but not their name)
- the number or identifier of a bank or securities account
- a signature, including a signature certificate
It’s up to you how you choose to remove this information.
Who can register a charge
Any person ‘interested in the charge’ can register a charge at Companies House. This could be the company itself, or the agent or lender.
It costs £15 to register your charge online.
This is the quickest and easiest way to register your charge, with checks to help you file correctly. You’ll need to sign in to online filing or create a new account if you do not have one.
You can also use third-party software to send charge information to Companies House.
If you’re the company
You can register charges against your company using your company authentication code.
If you’re an agent or lender
If you need to file charge documents online for other companies, you’ll need to register with Companies House as a lender.
You can also apply for a Companies House credit account at the same time. This means you can pay the filing fee by credit account, instead of by credit or debit card.
What you can file online
You can use online filing to:
- register a new charge created by an instrument (MR01)
- register a charge over property acquired (MR02)
- satisfy a charge that’s been paid in full or in part (MR04)
- tell us about property released from the charge, or no longer belonging to the company (MR05)
Other charges you can file
You can use our paper forms to register other types of charge, or alter a charge you’ve previously registered.
See our full list of company charge forms for information on what you can send us by post. It costs £24 to register a charge on paper.
There are separate paper forms for LLPs.
Satisfy a charge (MR04)
A charge is ‘satisfied’ when it’s paid off. You do not have to tell us when a charge is satisfied - but any satisfied charges left outstanding on our records could have a negative effect on your company.
You should make sure any charges registered against your company are correct and up to date. Check your company’s record for any outstanding charges.
You can tell us when a charge has been paid in full, or part-paid. We’ll then update your company’s charge information on the public record.
You can also tell us when property has been released from a charge, or if it no longer belongs to the company.
The address of the person delivering the statement does not have to be a residential (home) address. For example, it can be a service address or the company’s registered office address.
Use our online filing service to satisfy a charge (MR04), or cease or release property from a charge (MR05).
You can also use third-party software, or send a paper form by post.
How to satisfy a charge online
Older charges
To register a charge created before 6 April 2013, you must use one of the archived charge forms from the National Archives’ website.
The fees shown on archived forms may be out of date and incorrect. You must include the correct Companies House fees.
Updates to this page
Published 15 January 2019Last updated 1 May 2024 + show all updates
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Fees updated.
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Informal correction of paper forms no longer available.
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Guidance added - The address of the person delivering the statement does not have to be a residential (home) address. For example, it can be a service address or the company’s registered office address.
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Updated guidance about what personal information you can remove or 'redact' from a charge instrument. As well as a signature, you can remove a signature certificate.
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The automatic filing extensions granted by the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act have come to an end.
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Automatic filing extensions granted by the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act are due to come to an end.
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Added Welsh translation.
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First published.