New regulations coming into force in April 2027 will require certain contractual control agreements affecting registered land in England and Wales to be submitted digitally to HM Land Registry.
Further to the government announcement of 9 March, The Provision of Information (Contractual Control) (Registered Land) Regulations 2026 (‘the Regulations’) legislation has been made and will come into force on 6 April 2027.
Information about certain land agreements such as options, conditional contracts and pre-emption rights where those agreements give a person the power to control how land is used or developed, is to be submitted digitally to HM Land Registry (HMLR) through a regulated conveyancer.
The Regulations cover registered land in England and Wales.
| Dates to note | Action to take |
|---|---|
| New rights granted on or after 8 June 2026 but before the Regulations come into force on 6 April 2027 | Submit the required information to HMLR by 6 October 2027 (once the new service is made available) |
| New rights granted on or after the Regulations come into force on 6 April 2027 | Submit the required information to HMLR within 60 calendar days |
| Existing right changed or assigned on or after the Regulations come into force on 6 April 2027 | Submit the required information to HMLR within 60 calendar days |
A Practice Guide on how to prepare for the new requirements on contractual control agreements is available.
These Regulations are part of the government’s wider commitment to increasing transparency in the land market.
HMLR’s digital platforms for the submission and management of this information are currently being developed. Through close working with customers and stakeholders, we will make sure they are easy for everyone to access and use. We encourage users to get involved in testing prototypes and sharing their feedback and ideas – sign up to take part in HMLR Contractual control user research.
For more information, visit: Contractual control agreements - GOV.UK.
To submit questions or provide feedback, email: contractualcontrolsteam@landregistry.gov.uk