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.
Following changes announced by the government in March, The Provision of Information (Contractual Control) (Registered Land) Regulations 2026 legislation has been made and will come into force on 6 April 2027. The regulations cover registered land in England and Wales.
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, must be submitted digitally to HMLR through a regulated conveyancer.
Required information about new rights granted on or after 8 June 2026 but before the regulations come into force on 6 April 2027 must be submitted to HMLR by 6 October 2027 (once the service is made available).
Required information about new rights granted on or after 6 April 2027 must be submitted to HMLR within 60 calendar days. Existing rights changed or assigned after 6 April 2027 must also be submitted within 60
The information to be submitted includes the date, parties and title or description of the underlying agreement, identifying when the agreement which granted the right was entered into, what it is called, and the parties involved.
The regulated conveyancer reporting the information to HM Land Registry must provide their individual professional registration number and the name of the authority that issued it, along with the details of the grantee and grantor. Full details of the information to be submitted are available at contractual control agreements – GOV.UK.
The 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,” HMLR said. “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.
A practice guide and regular updates on how to submit the required information and the necessary formatting will be provided over the coming months.
To submit questions or provide feedback, email contractualcontrolsteam@landregistry.gov.uk
