The Law of Property (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1989 has radically altered the law relating to the formalities required in respect of a contract for the sale of land. It has repealed s 40 of the Law of Property Act 1925 and in its place s 2( 1) of the 1989 Act provides:
‘A contract for the sale or other disposition of an interest in land can only be made in writing and only by incorporating all the terms which the parties have expressly agreed in one document or, where contracts are exchanged, in each.’