Companies and individuals using a .uk domain name must register it every two years - or face losing it, the national registry for UK domain names has recently announced.

Nominet UK has implemented a change in procedure to free unused Web addresses.

The registry has always had a two-year renewal policy, but has never enforced it until now.

The managing director of Nominet UK, Lesley Cowley, said: 'We will send a reminder when the domain name is due for renewal but if payment is not received within 30 days, the name will be suspended for a further 60 days before being cancelled.

Suspension means that the Web site and e-mail addresses associated with the domain name will no longer work.

However, the domain name can be renewed at any point during this period and services will be resumed.'

The renewal charge is 5 for the two years, or slightly higher if done through a registration agent.

Domain name holders can check when their name is set for renewal by running a search on www.nominet.org.uk.

Names can be renewed up to six months in advance.

Customers can also opt for an automatic renewal option, whereby the domain name will be renewed every two years without any need for positive action.

Nominet will include the fee on the next invoice sent to the registration agent, which will then recoup it from the customer.

Rachel Rothwell