Contractual control agreements: guidance added ahead of April 2027 rules

HM Land Registry added a link to preparation guidance on contractual control agreements on 26 October 2026, ahead of new digital reporting requirements for registered land in England and Wales. The rules cover certain agreements that give someone control over how land is used or developed.

The update directs readers to the registry’s practice guide, Contractual control rights (PG 84). It follows earlier changes to the announcement on 8 July 2026, when HM Land Registry added information about application requirements.

Which contractual control agreements will need reporting?

According to HM Land Registry, the requirements apply to certain options, conditional contracts and pre-emption rights where they confer power over land use or development. The announcement is therefore concerned with contractual rights over land, rather than simply identifying its registered owner.

The registry says the required information must be submitted digitally through a regulated conveyancer. Its announcement limits the geographical scope to registered land in England and Wales; it does not describe a UK-wide reporting system.

The legal basis is the Provision of Information (Contractual Control) (Registered Land) Regulations 2026. HM Land Registry confirms that the legislation has been made and will come into force on 6 April 2027, rather than being a proposal awaiting consultation.

How the disclosure rules fit the development agenda

HM Land Registry says the regulations form part of the government’s commitment to making the land market more transparent. Its announcement follows a government announcement on 9 March and was first published on 12 June 2026.

The changes sit within a wider period of policy activity affecting development in England. The government has also published a ministerial letter on National Planning Policy Framework priorities, highlighting housing supply and economic growth.

For councils preparing development plans, the government has separately extended the legacy local plan submission deadline to March 2027 for qualifying English authorities. That extension concerns plan preparation, while HM Land Registry’s announcement addresses information about contractual control of registered land.

HM Land Registry sets out its approach to the digital service

HM Land Registry says the digital platforms for submitting and managing contractual control information are still being developed. The announcement therefore sets out the reporting framework while work on the service continues.

The registry says it is working with customers and stakeholders on accessibility and ease of use. Its development process includes prototype testing and user feedback, providing a route for practical experience to inform the system before submission begins.

Alongside the available preparation guide, HM Land Registry says further updates will explain how to submit information and the formatting required. Those operational details are distinct from the statutory dates already set out in its announcement.

When do the submission deadlines apply?

HM Land Registry identifies a transitional group covering new rights granted on or after 8 June 2026 but before the regulations take effect. Required information about those rights must be submitted by 6 October 2027, once the new service is available. The reporting requirement therefore reaches back to agreements made before commencement.

For new rights granted on or after 6 April 2027, the registry states that the submission deadline is 60 calendar days. This creates a rolling reporting period rather than the single October deadline applying to the transitional group.

Existing rights also fall within the timetable when they are changed or assigned on or after 6 April 2027. HM Land Registry says the required information must then be submitted within 60 calendar days, making later changes to rights relevant as well as the original grant.