question about companies house registration

[SunshineAgain]

A company has carried out work on the exterior of my property and I am not happy with various aspects of the situation including how they were appointed and the autonomy they were given so I have been looking into them a bit. Their website says they have been established for over 35 years but the companies house records show they have been listed for 3 years plus a few months. Is there a simple, harmless explanation for this?

Thanks for your help, I am quite out of my depth but trying mt best!

You can run a business without being a registered company. Lots of businesses aren't companies and never will be.

Ok, thanks. I thought since there was all the accounts filed information etc that people making a lot of money would have had to do that every year. It's hard to find the right thing online when you're not even sure what to type into google! So thankyou for your time

Only limited companies have to be registered with Companies House

They may be running as a sole trader or partnership - which would not show on Companies House

One thing you could try is to go to their local library and ask to see copies of local newspapers from 5 or 6 years ago and see if they advertised there.

Thanks for the advice. I was wondering initially if they had been one of these companies that renames themselves and then continues trading to avoid debts and bad reviews but it seems from what you are all saying its possible there's an innocent explanation

My dad's company ran as a sole trader even though he employed several people for years before becoming a limited company.

It's VAT registration that depends on your turnover, not being limited.