Accessibility Statement

1. The standard we work toward

We aim to meet the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1, Level AA. We treat that as the target we build against and measure ourselves by.

We are deliberately not claiming to have fully achieved it. No independent accessibility audit of this site has been carried out, and we would rather tell you that plainly than publish a conformance badge we cannot stand behind. Our automated accessibility checks currently pass without errors, but automated tools only detect a minority of real accessibility problems -- they cannot judge whether a link's text makes sense out of context, whether a reading order is logical, or whether a custom control behaves the way a screen reader user expects. Those need human testing, and where we have not done it we do not claim it.

2. What is in place today

• Semantic structure. Pages use real headings, lists, and landmark regions rather than styled text, so assistive technology can present an outline and let you skip between sections.
• Keyboard operability. Interactive controls are reachable and operable by keyboard, and focus is visible when you move through them.
• Text alternatives. Meaningful images carry alternative text, and images that are purely decorative are hidden from assistive technology instead of being announced as noise.
• Colour and contrast. Body text and interface text are set against backgrounds chosen for contrast, and we never rely on colour alone to carry meaning -- risk levels and statuses are always also stated in words.
• Zoom and reflow. Layouts are responsive and reflow rather than breaking or requiring horizontal scrolling when text is enlarged.
• Reduced motion. Animation is minimal and respects the operating-system "reduce motion" preference.
• Readable form fields. Inputs are labelled, and font sizes on mobile inputs are set to avoid forced zoom on focus.

3. Known limitations, stated honestly

These are areas we already know are weaker. Listing them is not an excuse -- it tells you what to expect and shows what we are working on:

• The interactive map. Address selection uses a visual map component from a third-party library. Map interaction is inherently visual and is the least accessible part of this site. You never have to use the map: the address search box accepts a typed address and works without touching it. If the map is a barrier for you, email us the address and we will send the research back to you directly.
• Data-dense report sections. Property reports contain comparison tables and grouped findings. We believe these are navigable, but they have not been tested end-to-end with every major screen reader, and complex data presentation is where problems most often hide.
• Third-party components. Sign-in and payment steps are handled by external providers whose interfaces we do not control and cannot directly fix. If you hit a barrier in one of those, tell us -- we will both raise it with the provider and find another way to get you what you need.
• No independent audit yet. Our testing to date is automated tooling plus our own manual keyboard checks, not a formal third-party assessment.

4. Using this site without a mouse

Every task on this site -- searching an address, generating a report, reading a guide, buying a placement -- is designed to be completable by keyboard. Tab moves forward, Shift + Tab moves back, Enter or Space activates, and Esc closes dialogs. If you find a control you cannot reach or operate this way, that is a bug on our side -- please report it.

5. How we handle what you report

Accessibility problems are treated as functional defects, not cosmetic requests. When you report one we acknowledge it within 5 business days, fix what can be fixed quickly, and give you a realistic timeframe for anything larger. Where a fix will take time, we will offer you a way to get the same information in the meantime. Barriers affecting a third-party component are raised with that provider, and we will tell you honestly when something is outside our control rather than leaving you without an answer.