Companies House identity verification is now mandatory for all company directors. The new rules came into force last week (18 November 2025) and apply to every RMC and RTM company, including those run entirely by volunteer directors. If you’re an RMC or RTM director, it’s important to understand what Companies House identity verification involves, what the deadline is, and what it means for your company.
What’s changed?
The new rules mean that:
- Any new director must verify their identity before Companies House will approve their appointment.
- All existing directors must complete identity verification within a 12-month transition period, linked to the company’s next confirmation statement.
- Once verified, you’ll receive a personal Companies House code, which you’ll need to include in future filings.
- All directors must complete identity verification, including volunteer directors and those with limited day-to-day interaction with Companies House.
This introduces a new and additional step under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act, helping Companies House keep the public register accurate and up to date.
Why this matters for RMCs and RTMs
As an RMC or RTM director, you already give your time to support the households in your building. But the way resident-led companies operate can make these new requirements more challenging:
- You may be listed on older or legacy companies from the development phase, without realising they still exist — meaning each of those companies may need your verification code.
- You and your fellow directors may not have formal administrative support, so organising new compliance tasks often falls to directors themselves.
- You may not have dealt with Companies House personally before, and many directors don’t realise that identity verification is an individual requirement, separate from the company’s usual filings.
- If even one director hasn’t verified in time, your company may be unable to file its next confirmation statement, which can cause delays and potential penalties.
Put simply: this new requirement adds another responsibility for every director, and without planning, it could easily be missed. These Companies House identity-verification rules apply equally to RMC and RTM directors, regardless of how much time they spend on company administration.
This is why identity verification for RMC and RTM directors is so important to get right early.
What you should do now
To stay compliant with the Companies House identity verification deadline, RMC and RTM directors should:
- Reviewing which directors are currently listed at Companies House, including any legacy or older companies you may still be associated with
- Making sure your fellow directors know that identity verification is now mandatory, and sharing this article or a simple reminder
- Keeping track of who has verified and who still needs to — especially in resident-led companies where responsibilities are shared across volunteers
Questions about identity verification or company responsibilities?
Whether you need help with identity verification or wider company responsibilities, our Co Sec team is here to support you. Contact us to get guidance tailored to your situation.
