Website accessibility law

Website accessibility law in United Kingdom

The Equality Act 2010 requires service providers, including online ones, to make reasonable adjustments so disabled people are not put at a substantial disadvantage. The UK is not bound by the European Accessibility Act.

Low to moderate exposure for private websites. Claims are possible but uncommon; the duty is to make reasonable adjustments, with no fixed web standard for private sites.

Quick answers

Does website accessibility law apply to my business in United Kingdom?
Equality Act 2010 (ss. 20 and 29) applies to: Anyone providing services to the public in Great Britain, including online.
What accessibility standard must a website meet in United Kingdom?
No fixed technical standard for private websites; WCAG 2.2 AA is the usual benchmark.
How is website accessibility enforced in United Kingdom?
Individual claims in the county court (sheriff court in Scotland); the Equality and Human Rights Commission can act.
What are the penalties for an inaccessible website in United Kingdom?
Compensation and court orders, decided case by case.

The laws

Equality Act 2010

ss. 20 and 29

Who is covered
Anyone providing services to the public in Great Britain, including online.
Standard
No fixed technical standard for private websites; WCAG 2.2 AA is the usual benchmark.
Enforcement
Individual claims in the county court (sheriff court in Scotland); the Equality and Human Rights Commission can act.
What it can cost
Compensation and court orders, decided case by case.
Key dates
In force since October 2010.
Impact on your website
A site that blocks disabled customers can be a failure to make reasonable adjustments.

What it means for your website

  • The duty is anticipatory: you should plan for disabled users before anyone complains.
  • Public sector bodies have a separate WCAG-based regulation (2018).
  • Selling into the EU from the UK brings the European Accessibility Act into play for those customers.

How Jralo helps in United Kingdom

  • Daily checks against WCAG 2.2 A and AA with axe-core. Automated testing finds many, not all, problems.
  • A dated, independently timestamped record of what was checked and fixed, so you can show what you did and when.
  • Website Mechanic fixes problems in your code and opens a pull request for you to review.
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Good to know

  • Few website cases have been decided, so there is little guidance on what counts as reasonable.

Sources

  1. Equality Act 2010, section 29
  2. Equality Act 2010, section 20

General information, checked 9 October 2026. Not legal advice. Laws, guidance and enforcement change; speak to a qualified lawyer about your situation.