How do I read a Companies House charge before I call the company?

A charge on Companies House is the security a company has given for a loan, a mortgage being one example. To read one before a call, note the date it was created, the lender named, what the charge covers and whether it is outstanding or satisfied. A new charge shows that a company has recently borrowed, which can mean growth, a purchase or a refinancing. It does not tell you which, so treat it as a reason to ask, not a conclusion.

What the entry shows

GOV.UK guidance says a company must register a charge within 21 days of its creation, counting from the day after, or it may be hard to recover the debt if the company becomes insolvent. The filed charge then appears on the company's public record. Each entry gives the creation date, the person or business entitled to the charge, a brief description and the status.

Because the deadline is short, the registration date is a good guide to how recent the borrowing is. Check both the creation date and the registration date.

What it can mean for a seller

The lender tells you something. A high street bank or asset-finance firm suggests equipment or working capital. A property lender suggests premises. The description may name land, plant or all of the company's assets. Each points to a different kind of supplier: equipment, fit-out, insurance, accountancy, recruitment.

A satisfied charge shows a loan repaid, which is a weaker reason to call than a new one. Several charges in quick succession suggest active borrowing.

Turning it into a call

Open with what you read, not with a guess. For example, say that you saw a charge registered this month and ask what the company is investing in. Our guide on opening a cold call with a public record gives wording. Do not assume why the money was borrowed. Also check that you have the right company: many names are similar, and the company number settles it.

Finding them in volume

In the week 7 October 2026 to 14 October 2026, Lockley's index recorded 2,366 new charges registered, against 7,024 the week before, from the Companies House charges register. Reading that many by hand is not practical. Lockley reads the register each night and links each finding to its record, and our guide on finding companies that registered a new charge describes the approach.

Checks before you call

Confirm the company is active and that the charge belongs to the entity you intend to call. A group often has several companies, and the borrowing may sit in a holding company while the trading company is the one you want. Look at the officers and the latest accounts to see how the company is structured.

Check the date against your own timing. A charge registered last week is a fresher reason to call than one from a year ago, because the plans it funded may already be under way. Our guide on how fresh a UK buying signal should be discusses this.

Lastly, remember that the register shows the security, not the loan terms. You will not see the amount borrowed or the interest rate, so avoid quoting figures you cannot see.

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