Companies House changes: New login rules and changes to company strike-off objections

Businesses and individuals using Companies House services need to be aware of further changes to the way they access and use its online services.

The changes include the introduction of GOV.UK One Login for new users and a new requirement for objections to company strike-offs to be submitted online from 1 December 2026.

If you regularly access Companies House on behalf of your own business or other companies, it's worth making sure you're prepared.

Companies House moves towards GOV.UK One Login

New users of Companies House's online services are now required to use GOV.UK One Login when accessing services to find and update company information.

GOV.UK One Login is designed to provide individuals with a single set of login details that can be used across a growing number of government services.

To set up and use an account, individuals will generally need an email address and password, together with an additional security check such as an authenticator app or SMS.

Existing Companies House users can continue to use their current registered account details for the time being, with the existing login option available further down the sign-in page.

However, these accounts will eventually need to move across to GOV.UK One Login.

Companies House says it will contact existing users when they need to make the switch.

Businesses using shared accounts need to prepare

The move to GOV.UK One Login is particularly important for businesses where several members of a team currently share the same Companies House account.

A GOV.UK One Login belongs to an individual and shouldn't be shared.

This means each person who needs to access Companies House services should have their own account linked to their own GOV.UK One Login.

Continuing to share login details after moving across could trigger security checks and potentially result in users being locked out.

Businesses may therefore want to review who currently accesses Companies House services and make sure each person has the appropriate individual account.

Company strike-off objections are also changing

Another important change takes effect from 1 December 2026.

From this date, anyone wishing to object to a limited company being struck off the register will need to use Companies House's 'Make an objection' online service.

Objections by email will no longer be accepted.

Companies House says moving the process online should make submitting objections quicker, easier and more secure.

If you're a creditor, director or another interested party who may need to object to a company being struck off, it's important to be aware of the new process.

What should businesses do now?

For most businesses, the changes should be relatively straightforward, but there are a few sensible steps to take.

Review who within your organisation currently accesses Companies House and avoid relying on shared login credentials. New users should create their own GOV.UK One Login, while existing users should look out for instructions from Companies House about when they need to migrate.

It's also worth updating any internal processes relating to company strike-off objections ahead of the 1 December 2026 change.

As Companies House continues to modernise its services, businesses should expect further changes to the way company information is accessed, submitted and managed.

If you're unsure how recent Companies House changes affect your business or need support with your company's reporting and compliance responsibilities, speak to the team at SJC, Chartered Accountants. We're here to help.