Yes, websites in the UK can be legally required to be accessible, and for most organisations the practical answer is simple: if disabled users are put at a disadvantage, you are likely falling short of the law. The Equality Act 2010 applies to businesses, charities and public bodies, and it creates a duty to make reasonable adjustments. For public sector organisations, the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) Accessibility Regulations 2018 add a stricter requirement to meet accessibility standards and publish an accessibility statement.
If you’re responsible for a website, the real question is not whether accessibility matters; it’s what the law actually expects, where the risks sit, and how far you need to go to stay on the right side of it.
The Equality Act 2010: The Legal Baseline
The Equality Act 2010 is the core law behind UK website accessibility. It does not name websites in a neat checklist, but it does require service providers to make reasonable adjustments so disabled people are not placed at a substantial disadvantage.
That matters because the duty is anticipatory. In plain English, you should not wait for someone to complain before fixing obvious barriers.
Who does it cover?
The Equality Act applies across the board:
- Private businesses of any size
- Charities and non-profit organisations
- Public bodies and government departments
- Sole traders offering services to the public
What counts as a reasonable adjustment online?
The law does not give a technical formula, but common examples include:
- Adding alt text to images so screen reader users understand them
- Making sure the site works with a keyboard alone
- Using enough colour contrast for readable text
- Providing captions or transcripts for audio and video
- Avoiding flashing content that could trigger seizures
A small business is not judged the same as a national retailer, but no one is exempt from the duty. If your website blocks disabled users from buying, booking or contacting you, that is the kind of barrier the Act is designed to prevent.
Public Sector Accessibility Regulations 2018: Stricter Rules for Public Bodies
If you work in the public sector, there is a second layer of law on top of the Equality Act: the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) Accessibility Regulations 2018.
These regulations are more specific than the Equality Act and they come with clearer obligations.
What is required?
1. Accessibility standards
Public sector websites and apps must meet the recognised accessibility standard used by the government framework. In practice, that means aiming for WCAG 2.2 Level AA as the current benchmark, while older references to WCAG 2.1 AA still appear in guidance and legacy material.
2. An accessibility statement
You must publish a statement that explains how accessible your site is, any known issues, and how users can request help or an alternative format. It should be reviewed regularly and kept up to date.
Who does this apply to?
- Government departments and agencies
- Local authorities and councils
- NHS trusts and healthcare providers
- Universities, colleges and most schools
- Publicly funded institutions and charities
There are limited exemptions, mainly for archived content or very old legacy systems, but most new and updated content must comply. If you are unsure whether your organisation falls under these regulations, the GOV.UK accessibility guidance is the best place to check.
What Happens if Your Website Is Not Accessible?
This is the part most articles gloss over. The consequences are different for public and private organisations, but neither should treat accessibility as optional.
Public sector organisations
Public sector websites are actively monitored for accessibility compliance. If issues are found, organisations are expected to fix them. Persistent non-compliance can escalate to the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), which has formal enforcement powers.
Private sector organisations
There is no dedicated UK regulator that checks private company websites against WCAG line by line. That does not mean there is no risk. The Equality Act still applies, and a disabled person who cannot access your service, complete a booking, or submit a form may have grounds for a claim.
Accessibility failures shut people out of your sales funnel, your support channels, and your contact routes. That is why this is increasingly being treated as a business risk, not just a compliance issue.
Why Accessibility Is Good for Business, Not Just Compliance
Meeting the legal minimum is the floor, not the finish line. Accessible websites tend to perform better because they are easier to use, easier to navigate and easier to trust.
- Wider audience: Around 14.6 million people in the UK live with a disability, so poor accessibility can shut out a sizeable market.
- Better SEO: Proper headings, alt text and semantic HTML help both users and search engines.
- Better usability for everyone: Captions help in noisy places, clear navigation helps on mobile, and strong contrast helps in bright light.
- Stronger reputation: Inclusive design signals that you take customers seriously.
For most businesses, the commercial case is obvious once you stop seeing accessibility as a niche technical task and start seeing it as part of normal website quality.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the law apply to small businesses?
Yes. The Equality Act 2010 applies to any business providing goods or services to the public. The scale of what is considered reasonable changes with size and resources, but small businesses are not exempt.
Do private companies have to follow WCAG?
Not by name, no. But WCAG 2.2 Level AA is the practical benchmark most accessibility specialists, regulators and lawyers use when judging whether a site is reasonably accessible.
Do public sector websites need an accessibility statement?
Yes. Public sector organisations must publish and maintain an accessibility statement that explains the site’s level of compliance, known issues and how users can get help.
How do I check whether my website is accessible?
Start with an automated audit using tools such as WAVE or Axe, then follow up with manual testing. Automated tools catch common issues, but they will not spot everything.
If you want a proper view of where your site stands, get in touch with our team and we’ll talk it through.
