When moving house, you remember to update your bank, your GP, and the DVLA. But most people forget one critical thing: their share certificates.

Because you don’t use share certificates every day, it is easy to leave them registered at an old address. This is the #1 reason assets go missing in the UK.

The “Gone Away” Danger If you don’t update your address, the Registrar (Equiniti, Link, or Computershare) will keep sending confidential dividend cheques to your old house.

• The Risk: New residents might open your mail (fraud risk) or simply return it to the sender.
• The Freeze: Once a registrar receives “Return to Sender” mail, they legally must freeze your account. They place a “Gone Away” marker on your file, stopping all future payments until you prove who you are.

How to Update Your Address You cannot just call them up and say “I moved.” Because shares are financial assets, the security is tighter than a utility bill.

Method 1: The Online Portal (Fastest) If you already have a login for the registrar’s portal (e.g., Equiniti Shareview or Computershare Investor Centre), you can usually update your address online instantly.

Method 2: The Paper Form (Most Common) If you hold paper certificates, you usually need to send a signed “Change of Address” form.

• Download: Get the form from the Registrar’s website.
• Sign: It must be signed by all named holders (e.g., if you own shares jointly with your spouse, both must sign).
• Post: Send it via Recorded Delivery.

What if I don’t know who the Registrar is? If you have shares in 5 different companies (e.g., Tesco, Sainsbury’s, BT, Aviva, and Shell), you might need to contact three different registrars. Use Divica to instantly find the correct address for every single company in your portfolio.