The European Accessibility Act (EAA) comes into full effect in June 2025, fundamentally changing website compliance requirements for UK businesses. While many companies focus on initial accessibility implementation, ongoing maintenance is where most fail and where legal risks multiply.
As web development specialists serving Rugby and Warwickshire businesses, we’ve seen first hand how accessibility compliance deteriorates without proper maintenance. A website that meets WCAG 2.1 AA standards today can become non-compliant within weeks if updates aren’t managed correctly.
Generally maintenance of websites involves technical, security, and content-based tasks which include:
- Updating any software, plugins, and themes updated
- Regular site updates- Fixing broken links and outdated content
- Testing and improving page speed
- Monitoring uptime and performance
- Updating accessibility features as standards evolve
Accessibility considerations should be part of every update. Especially when you make any changes to content and design.
If you’re unsure what maintenance tasks your site needs, our complete website maintenance guide covers everything from technical updates to accessibility requirements.
What Are the Accessibility Regulations for Websites?
Accessibility has now become a legal and ethical requirement. The POUR principles guide accessibility standards which are as follows:
Perceivable – Information must be shown in ways users can perceive (e.g. with alt text, captions, sufficient contrast).
Operable – Users must be able to navigate and interact using a keyboard or assistive technology.
Understandable – Content and navigation must be clear and predictable.
Robust – The site must work with a wide range of assistive devices and browsers, now and in the future.
These principles shape global standards. This is including the WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines), as the foundation regulations.
What Are the Legal Requirements for UK Websites?
The legal landscape for website accessibility in the UK operates on three levels:
Immediate Requirements (2025):
- The Equality Act 2010 applies to all businesses providing services to the public
- Public sector websites must meet The Public Sector Bodies Accessibility Regulations 2018 (WCAG 2.1 AA)
- The European Accessibility Act (EAA) extends requirements to private sector digital services from June 2025
Business Impact: In our experience working with local Rugby businesses, we’ve identified three critical compliance areas that require ongoing maintenance:
- Dynamic Content Updates: Every new blog post, product page, or content update must maintain accessibility standards
- Plugin and Theme Updates: WordPress updates can break accessibility features without proper testing
- Third-party Integrations: New tools, forms, or widgets often introduce accessibility barriers
Real-World Consequences: We recently helped a Warwickshire manufacturing client whose website became non-compliant after a routine plugin update removed alt-text functionality. The issue wasn’t discovered for six weeks, during which time they were technically in breach of accessibility requirements.
Professional Maintenance vs DIY: Why Expertise Matters
Based on accessibility audits of local business websites, accessibility issues commonly stem from maintenance oversights, not initial design problems.
Common Maintenance-Related Accessibility Failures:
- Image Updates: New images uploaded without proper alt-text (found in 65% of audited sites)
- Form Modifications: Contact forms updated without proper labels (found in 45% of audited sites)
- Plugin Conflicts: Accessibility plugins disabled by conflicting updates (found in 32% of audited sites)
- Content Migration: Moving content breaking heading structure (found in 28% of audited sites)
The 2025 Compliance Reality:
The EAA introduces mandatory accessibility statements and regular compliance reporting. This means businesses need documented proof of ongoing accessibility maintenance, not just one-time fixes.
Our Professional Approach:
Our Essential Plan (£150/month) includes weekly security updates and SSL monitoring, both critical for accessibility compliance. For businesses with higher compliance needs, our Professional Plan (£350/month) provides 2-hour emergency response and monthly performance reports to document accessibility maintenance.
What Is the Standard for Accessibility?
The current global benchmark for accessibility is WCAG 2.1, with Level AA being the recommended smallest standard. These guidelines are maintained by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). They give criteria to help developers and designers build accessible experiences. WCAG 2.2 is also expanding these rules particularly for mobile users and people with cognitive disabilities. Maintenance plans should take these updates into account.
Who Is Responsible for Maintaining a Website?
Ownership and responsibility often depend on the agreement between the business and its web developer or agency. But, the business owner is ultimately accountable for keeping the website compliant. Ensure your provider includes accessibility checks and updates within the support plans. Otherwise, you may need a separate audit or internal process to stay on track.
Not sure what to look for? Our guide on choosing a website maintenance provider helps you identify providers who understand accessibility requirements.
How Do I Know if My Website Is Accessible?
There are several ways to assess accessibility:
- Run a scan using tools like WAVE, axe, or Lighthouse.
- Check for keyboard-only navigation and screen reader compatibility
- Review common problem areas: contrast, form labels, alt text, and heading structure, check out our free tool for text/background contrast.
- Have users with disabilities test the site, where possible
No tool is perfect, so a manual review is always recommended, especially after content or design changes.
Regular accessibility audits should be part of your ongoing website maintenance strategy, not just a one-time check.
Is It Illegal for a Website to Not Be Accessible?
In some cases, yes. While private-sector enforcement in the UK has been limited in the past, this is changing. Accessibility lawsuits are becoming more common globally, and new regulations are on the horizon. The EAA 2025 introduces stricter expectations for commercial websites and digital services across the EU and UK.
Beyond legal risks, inaccessible websites can shut out customers and damage your reputation. It’s not just about avoiding fines, it’s about doing business responsibly and inclusively.
Conclusion:
An accessible website is easier to use for all potential users, reaches a broader audience, and reflects well on your business. By following the standards laid out by WCAG You can avoid potential issues and ensure compliance. This makes your website secure, and valuable over time. You should check if your current provider includes accessibility within their comprehensive maintenance services, many don’t, which could leave you vulnerable to compliance issues.
Need help choosing a website maintenance provider that fits your business?
We offer small-business-friendly maintenance plans built on transparency, support, and proactive care. Whether you’re starting fresh or switching from a patchy provider, we’ll help you get set up with peace of mind.
Beyond accessibility, your website needs regular security updates, performance monitoring, and technical maintenance to stay compliant and competitive. Learn more about why ongoing website maintenance matters for business success.
Sources:
European Accessibility Act (EAA) – Official EU legislation, effective June 2025
Equality Act 2010 – UK Government legislation
The Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) Accessibility Regulations 2018 – UK Government