Registering security for a company loan: the 21-day Companies House charge deadline

When a limited company gives a lender security over its assets, the security can need to be registered as a charge at Companies House. Missing the filing deadline does not merely create an administrative inconvenience. It can weaken the lender's ability to recover against the security if the company later becomes insolvent.

A charge is security granted by the company for borrowing or another obligation

Companies House describes a charge as security that a company gives for a loan, with a mortgage being one example. Business lending can also involve debentures creating fixed and floating security over different company assets.

The charge is separate from the bank account and loan drawdown. The company can receive the money before the public register is updated, but the lender's security position depends on the legal documents and timely registration. Finance, legal advisers and the lender should therefore treat filing as part of completion.

The registration deadline is 21 days beginning the day after the charge is created

Companies House says the correctly completed charge documents must be delivered within 21 days beginning the day after the charge is created. Its March 2026 MR01 guidance gives the example that a charge dated 6 April must be delivered by 27 April.

Do not calculate the deadline from the loan drawdown date if the security document was signed earlier. Keep the executed date in the closing checklist and assign one person responsibility for confirming Companies House acceptance.

The filing normally includes MR01 and a certified copy of the security instrument

For an ordinary company charge, the filing uses form MR01 and, where there is a written security instrument such as a mortgage deed or debenture, a certified copy must accompany the form along with the fee. Companies House says incomplete submissions can be rejected.

Do not send the original security deed. The certified copy filed with Companies House becomes publicly available, subject to statutory rules. Legal advisers should review whether sensitive personal information needs permitted redaction before filing.

Registration protects the lender's security position against insolvency risk

Companies House warns that if the charge is not registered within the 21-day period, it may be difficult to recover the debt if the company becomes insolvent. Late registration generally requires a court order to extend time.

That makes the filing economically important even though the borrower may see it as the lender's paperwork. A failed registration can also breach the loan agreement. Keep Companies House proof of registration with the facility documents and confirm the public record shows the correct charge.

Review existing charges before pledging the same assets again

Search the company's existing charge register before granting new security. Another bank may already hold a debenture, property charge or asset-specific security. The new lender can require priority agreements, releases or consent.

Do not assume the absence of a current loan balance means an old charge disappeared. Some all-monies debentures remain registered until formally satisfied or released. Ask the lender and solicitor what must happen to old security during refinancing.

Record satisfaction or release when secured debt is repaid

After the facility is repaid, the lender may release the security and the company can update the public register using the appropriate Companies House process. Do not leave treasury systems showing assets as pledged indefinitely when the facility has ended.

Keep the release evidence, final loan statement and Companies House update together. This becomes important when the company later seeks new borrowing or sells the secured property because a historic unresolved charge can delay the next transaction.

Include charge registration in every secured-finance closing checklist with three statuses: signed, submitted and accepted. Submission alone is not enough if Companies House later rejects the filing for a missing certified instrument or incorrect form. The responsible lawyer or company secretary should circulate the acceptance evidence to treasury and the lender.

At least annually, reconcile the public charge register to the internal debt schedule. A repaid facility with an unreleased charge can complicate a sale or refinancing, while a live secured loan missing from the internal register creates governance risk. The public record is useful precisely because it can be independently checked against management's own list.

For refinancing, schedule the new charge registration and old security release together. There can be a short period when two lenders' security positions overlap or depend on contractual priority arrangements. Treasury should not treat the refinancing as fully complete until both the new Companies House registration and the agreed release of historic security are evidenced.