Accessibility Statement UK: What It Must Include

Quick Answer

Public sector websites in the UK are legally required to publish an accessibility statement under the Public Sector Bodies Accessibility Regulations 2018, updated at least annually. Private businesses are not strictly required to publish one under the Equality Act, but doing so is strong evidence of good-faith compliance efforts and is genuinely useful if you fall under the European Accessibility Act.

Who Must Publish One

Public sector organisations: Mandatory under the 2018 Regulations, monitored by the Central Digital and Data Office
Businesses covered by the European Accessibility Act: Must publish a statement covering their conformance status with EAA-relevant services
Private businesses generally: Not strictly mandatory, but strongly recommended as evidence of reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act

What a Complete Statement Should Include

The name of the website or service it covers
A statement of your commitment to accessibility
Your current conformance level against WCAG 2.2 (fully conformant, partially conformant, or non-conformant)
A list of known accessibility issues, described honestly rather than glossed over
Contact details for reporting accessibility problems or requesting reasonable adjustments
The date the statement was last reviewed and when it is next due for review

Why Honesty Matters More Than Perfection

The strongest accessibility statements, including the ones published by UK government departments themselves, openly list known failures rather than claiming full compliance. A statement admitting specific issues, alongside a credible plan to fix them, carries more legal and reputational weight than a vague claim of full accessibility that a quick check could disprove.

A Simple Template Structure

Introduction. Name the site and state your commitment to accessibility.
Conformance status. State your current WCAG 2.2 level honestly.
Known issues. List specific, concrete problems rather than generic disclaimers.
Feedback and contact. Give a real email address or contact method for accessibility issues.
Preparation and review. State when the statement was prepared and when it will next be reviewed.

How Often to Update It

Public sector statements must be reviewed at least annually. Private businesses without a strict legal deadline should still review at least yearly, and immediately after any significant website redesign, since a statement referencing an old version of your site quickly becomes misleading.

What Happens If a Statement Is Inaccurate

For public sector sites, an inaccurate or missing statement can result in the organisation being publicly named by the Central Digital and Data Office. For private businesses, an inaccurate statement claiming full compliance when clear issues exist can actually work against you in a discrimination claim, since it undermines any argument that you acted in good faith.

Do E-Commerce Sites Need a Different Statement?

The core structure stays the same, but e-commerce sites covered by the European Accessibility Act should be explicit about which parts of the checkout and payment journey have been tested, since this is exactly the area EU enforcement has focused on so far. See our guide on the European Accessibility Act for UK businesses for the specific EAA scope.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do private businesses need an accessibility statement in the UK?
Not strictly under the Equality Act, but it is strongly recommended as evidence of reasonable adjustments, and required if the European Accessibility Act applies to you.

How often should an accessibility statement be updated?
At least annually for public sector sites, and at least yearly, or after any major redesign, for private businesses.

What should an accessibility statement include?
Your conformance level, a list of known issues, contact details for reporting problems, and the date it was last reviewed.

Is it better to claim full compliance or list known issues?
Listing known issues honestly is stronger, both practically and legally, than an unverified claim of full compliance.

Do e-commerce sites need a different type of statement?
The structure is the same, but EAA-covered e-commerce sites should be specific about checkout and payment journey testing.