Overseas Companies – Registration of charges over UK property

The Overseas Companies (Execution of Documents and Registration of Charges) (Amendment) Regulations 2011 (the “Regulations”) is due to come into force on 1st October 2011.

The Regulations remove the requirement for overseas-registered companies that have a registered UK branch to register charges over property situated in the UK created on or after 1st October 2011. However, Companies House will continue to accept statements of satisfaction in relation to charges created prior to 1st October 2011.

The Regulations have also amended the requirement for overseas-registered companies that have a registered UK establishment to keep available for inspection in the UK a register of the charges it creates and copies of the instruments under which such charges are created. After 1st October 2011, only the following charges will need to be listed:
• Any charge on land situated within the UK or any interest in such land;
• Any charge on ships, aircraft or intellectual property registered in the UK;
• Any floating charge on the whole or part of a company’s property or undertaking situated in the UK.

Please note that this information is provided for general knowledge only and therefore specific advice should be sought for individual cases.

For further information, please contact Peter Francis at or Paul Gilks at