What is Residential Address?
In the simplest term, a residential address is an address where you live or reside. For example, suppose you want to invite friends or family to your residence. A residential address is what you will give to them. This is the address they will look up on a map or input into a GPS to find their way. Therefore, a residential address can be defined as the house number, street, and city of your residence (where you live).
You cannot simply use the address of where you are at the moment as a residential address. A location can only qualify as a residential address if you live there for at least 183 days of the year. In addition, you must prove that you have lived in the location for the required period. It is common for individuals to have multiple residential addresses. For example, students may use two residential addresses based on their needs- school address or home address. When they are in school, it is expected that any package they receive be delivered to the school. Alternatively, the home address becomes their primary address at home. In this case, two residential addresses can be alternated to avoid confusion and to receive items in the correct location.
Furthermore, filling in the residential address is often required when registering for most services. For example, you must include your residential address when registering a vehicle with the DVLA (for UK residents).
Difference between Residential Address & Physical Address?
A residential address is a physical address, but a physical address may not always be a residential address. No doubt, residential and physical addresses are similar. Before we dive into their differences, let us examine a physical address.
A physical address is the exact location of a house, which can be used for personal or business purposes. You can register businesses with a physical address and receive mail at the location.
In addition, a physical address may be for a business, religious center, recreational center, residential building, and more. This is where it differs from a residential address, which is used to describe a place where one lives.
Furthermore, a physical address falls within an administrative jurisdiction, which dictates taxes, zoning laws, and mortgage regulations. More so, the geographical location of a building determines access to social infrastructures like transportation, internet, sanitation, and security.
For example, a virtual mailing address is a physical address that is not residential. Alternatively, if you receive mail at your home, your residential address is also your physical address.
