Glossary

Charge registration

Charge registration is filing a lender's security at Companies House within 21 days — the step that makes the charge enforceable and sets its ranking against other lenders.

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File the chargeAt Companies House

21-day windowFixes priority

Definition

Charge registration is the process of recording a charge at Companies House, generally within 21 days of creation. Failure to register can render the charge void against a liquidator or other creditors.

In plain terms

Creating security is not enough — a lender must register it, on time, to protect its priority. Miss the window and the security may be worthless in an insolvency.

Why it matters for your company

Your public charges shape how much more you can borrow. Ensure satisfied charges are marked as such so your record shows only live security. See first charge.