How to check if a director is disqualified
5 min read
A bridging lender's guide to the Companies House disqualified directors register: how to search it, how to read a result and why every director of a borrower SPV should be checked.
Why it matters to lenders
A disqualified director is banned from being a director or taking part in running a company, usually for between 2 and 15 years. A borrower company run by a disqualified person is a serious warning sign, and it may mean the person you are dealing with is acting unlawfully.
How to search the register
- Go to the Companies House search service and choose the disqualified directors search.
- Search using the person's first name and surname as they appear on the company's officer list.
- Open any close result and compare date of birth, address and the companies named in the disqualification.
- Repeat for every active director and, where relevant, for shadow directors or people with significant control you have concerns about.
Reading a result
A result shows the period of disqualification, the reason and the company involved. A matching name alone does not prove it is the same person; use the date of birth and address to confirm. Some disqualifications are imposed by other countries or the courts and may not appear here, so treat the register as one check, not the whole picture.
Example
A borrower SPV lists one director. The register shows a person with the same name disqualified in 2023 for 7 years, with the same month and year of birth. The case is referred for review before any offer is issued.
How Vettsafe helps
Vettsafe searches the register for the named person and every active director of the company, scores the closest match, flags any possible match for review and keeps a screenshot of each search in the report.
Official sources
This guide is general information only. It is not legal, regulatory or compliance advice, and the position in any case depends on its facts. Check the official sources above for current rules.