How to Check Who Owns a UK Company

Since 2016, every UK company must declare its Persons with Significant Control (PSCs) — the individuals or entities that ultimately own or control the company. This information is public, free to access, and one of the most powerful due diligence tools available.

What Is a Person with Significant Control?

A PSC is anyone who meets one or more of these conditions: holds more than 25% of the company's shares, holds more than 25% of the voting rights, has the right to appoint or remove the majority of the board, or has the right to exercise or actually exercises significant influence or control. PSCs can be individuals or corporate entities (known as Relevant Legal Entities or RLEs).

How to Look Up Ownership

On UK Business Finder, you can search for any company by name, company number, or even the PSC's name — and see the ownership details instantly. Click "More" on any company listing to see the full PSC breakdown including names, nationalities, country of residence, and the nature of their control. We hold PSC data for over 2.5 million UK companies.

What the Control Levels Mean

• 25%+ — owns or controls more than 25% but not more than 50%
• 50%+ — owns or controls more than 50% but less than 75%
• 75%+ — owns or controls 75% or more (near-total control)
• Board control — has the right to appoint or remove the majority of the board
• Significant influence — exercises significant influence or control without holding shares directly

Red Flags to Watch For

When reviewing PSC data, be cautious if: the company has no PSC data filed (this is a legal requirement — missing data may indicate poor compliance), the PSC is a corporate entity registered in a secrecy jurisdiction, all control sits with a single foreign-resident individual with no apparent connection to the business, or the PSC details have been recently changed multiple times in quick succession.

Foreign Ownership

UK Business Finder lets you filter companies by foreign-controlled status. On any industry/region page, use the "Foreign-controlled" quick filter to see only companies where the PSC is resident outside the UK. This is useful for understanding overseas investment patterns in specific sectors.

Identity Verification Changes in 2026

From November 2025, all new directors and PSCs must verify their identity with Companies House before appointment. Existing directors and PSCs must complete verification by the end of 2026. This is a major upgrade to data quality and means PSC records will become increasingly reliable. Companies that fail to verify their officers will be unable to file confirmation statements.