As part of the registration process, you provide administrative details such as a contact name and address, and technical information such as which Internet Service Provider (ISP) you use. It is essential to ensure that this information is kept up to date.
You will also need to renew your registration periodically. A .uk domain name registration is valid for two years, and the holder, or 'registrant', has the first option to renew. Your registration agent will normally send you a warning notice when renewal is coming due, but renewal is your responsibility. You can 'positively renew' your domain name up to six months before the registration is due to expire. You also have a 30-day grace period after the registration expires in which to renew.
Similar rules apply to other domain names, such as .com. In some cases, these need to be renewed on an annual basis.
If you do receive a renewal notice, check it carefully and make sure that it is from your registration agent. Some unscrupulous businesses send letters prompting you to authorise renewal (with them). This allows them to take control of your domain name until you pay them a substantial fee. There have also been reports of scam renewal letters being used as a way to obtain credit card details.
If you fail to renew the domain name in time, the domain name will be available for anyone to register and someone else might get there before you do.
