Accessibility

Westport Property Accessibility Statement

https://www.westportproperty.co.uk/

Westport Property is a RICS-regulated Chartered Surveyors practice based in Dundee, Scotland, providing residential letting, property management, commercial agency, and surveying services across Tayside. We are committed to ensuring that our digital presence is accessible, inclusive, and easy to use for everyone, including visitors who rely on assistive technologies or who have visual, auditory, cognitive, or motor impairments.

This Accessibility Statement relates to the website accessible at www.westportproperty.co.uk/ (the “Website”). It sets out our current level of accessibility compliance, areas we are actively working to improve, and the ways in which you can contact us if you experience any difficulty.

We believe that every person, whether a prospective tenant seeking student accommodation, a landlord reviewing management options, or a business looking for commercial space in Dundee, deserves a seamless and barrier-free digital experience.

1. Legal and Regulatory Framework

Westport Property recognises and respects its obligations under the following legislation and guidelines:

Equality Act 2010: This Act requires organisations to make reasonable adjustments to ensure that disabled persons are not placed at a substantial disadvantage when using goods or services, including digital services such as our Website.
Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018: Although Westport Property is a private-sector business, we voluntarily align with these regulations as a benchmark of best practice and in recognition of their purpose: to ensure equal access to digital services for all.
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA: Published by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), WCAG 2.1 AA represents the internationally recognised standard for web accessibility. Our Website aims to meet this standard, and we are actively working towards conformance with WCAG 2.2.
Scottish legislation: We operate primarily in Scotland and acknowledge relevant Scottish guidance on accessible services, consistent with the obligations of the Equality Act 2010 as it applies in Scotland.

Private-sector organisations such as Westport Property are not subject to the mandatory requirements of the Public Sector Accessibility Regulations; however, the Equality Act 2010 imposes a duty on all businesses providing services to the public to make reasonable adjustments for people with disabilities. We are committed to meeting and exceeding this duty.

2. Our Commitment to Accessibility

Westport Property is committed to ensuring our Website is accessible to the widest possible audience, regardless of ability, technology, or circumstance. We aim to achieve this by:

Designing and maintaining our Website in accordance with WCAG 2.1 Level AA success criteria
Conducting regular internal reviews and, where appropriate, independent accessibility audits
Providing accessible alternatives to content that cannot be made fully accessible
Responding promptly and constructively to all accessibility-related feedback and requests
Training our team to consider accessibility in all digital communications and content updates
Working with our technology and content partners to maintain accessible standards over time

We recognise that accessibility is an ongoing responsibility, not a one-time exercise. This statement is reviewed annually, and we update it whenever significant changes are made to the Website.

3. Technical Specification

The Website relies on the following technologies to function correctly and to support accessibility features:

HTML5: Semantic markup for clear document structure and compatibility with assistive technologies
CSS3: Presentation and responsive layout to support varied screen sizes and user preferences
JavaScript: Used for enhanced interactivity; critical functionality is operable without JavaScript where possible
ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications): Applied to dynamic content and interface components to communicate roles, states, and properties to screen readers

We have also taken the following practical steps to support accessibility:

All meaningful images include descriptive alternative (alt) text
Colour contrast ratios meet or exceed the WCAG 2.1 AA minimum of 4.5:1 for normal text
The Website can be navigated entirely by keyboard, without reliance on a mouse or pointer device
Page titles are descriptive and consistent with page content
Headings follow a logical hierarchy to support screen reader navigation
Links are written with descriptive text rather than generic phrases such as “click here”
Forms include clearly associated labels and error messages
No content flashes more than three times per second, in compliance with seizure-risk guidelines
Focus indicators are visible for keyboard navigation

4. Navigation and Usability

We have designed the Website to support a range of navigation methods and user preferences:

Keyboard Navigation

All interactive elements, including menus, property search filters, contact forms, and call-to-action buttons, are accessible via keyboard alone. Tab order is logical and follows the visual flow of each page. A visible focus indicator is displayed at all times when navigating by keyboard.

Screen Readers

The Website has been built with screen reader compatibility in mind. Semantic HTML elements, ARIA landmarks, and descriptive link text are used throughout. We test against commonly used screen readers, including NVDA, JAWS, and VoiceOver.

Skip Navigation

A “Skip to main content” link is provided at the top of each page, enabling keyboard and screen reader users to bypass repetitive navigation and proceed directly to the primary content.

Zoom and Text Resizing

The Website supports browser-level text resizing of up to 200% without loss of content or functionality. Responsive design ensures the layout adapts appropriately across devices and screen sizes.

Colour and Contrast

We do not rely on colour alone to convey information. All visual information, such as property availability, status indicators, and form validation, is supplemented by text labels or icons with alternative descriptions.

Timeout and Session Management

Where time-limited sessions are used (for example, within any logged-in landlord or tenant portal areas), users are warned in advance of timeout and given the opportunity to extend their session.

5. Documents and Downloadable Content

Westport Property may make various documents available for download on the Website, including tenancy-related information, commercial property details, and service guides. We are committed to making these documents as accessible as possible.

PDF Documents

We acknowledge that PDF documents can present particular challenges for users of assistive technologies. We are working to ensure that:

New PDFs produced by Westport Property are tagged, include descriptive document titles, and are structured to be readable by screen readers
Where a PDF cannot be made fully accessible, an accessible HTML or plain-text alternative is provided on request (see Section 8)
Older PDFs on the Website are reviewed and remediated as part of our ongoing accessibility programme

If you require any document in an alternative format, including large print, plain text, or audio, please contact us using the details provided in Section 8.

Other File Formats

Where other formats are used (such as Word documents or spreadsheets), we apply accessibility best practices, including the use of heading styles, descriptive file names, and adequate colour contrast within documents.

6. Third-Party Tools and Embedded Content

Certain functionality on the Website is provided by third-party services. While we endeavour to select tools that meet accessibility standards, we do not have full control over third-party content and cannot guarantee its complete compliance.

Third-party integrations currently or potentially used on the Website may include:

Property search and listings technology: Used to display available properties for rent and sale. We work with providers who maintain accessibility as part of their development standards.
Mapping tools: Interactive maps are used to show property locations. Where a map is not accessible to all users, textual address information is provided alongside.
Contact and enquiry forms: Third-party contact or booking form widgets. Where possible, we ensure labels, error messages, and ARIA attributes are correctly implemented.
Live chat or virtual assistant tools: If deployed, these will be configured to include keyboard accessibility and screen reader support.
Analytics and performance tools: These operate in the background and do not affect the user-facing accessibility of the Website.

If you encounter an accessibility barrier on any third-party feature embedded within our Website, please let us know (see Section 8). We will take reasonable steps to address the issue or provide an accessible alternative route to the same information or service.

7. Known Accessibility Limitations

We are transparent about the areas of our Website that do not yet fully meet accessibility standards. The following limitations have been identified and are being addressed as part of our continuous improvement programme:

Issue	Impact	Planned Action
Some older PDF property particulars lack accessibility tags	Screen reader users may find the document structure unclear	Ongoing PDF remediation; tagged versions available on request
Certain property listing images may have incomplete alt text descriptions	Visually impaired users may miss contextual image information	Content audit underway; all new images tagged from Q2 2026
Some interactive map features have limited keyboard operability	Keyboard-only users may find map navigation difficult	Working with the map provider on a WCAG-compliant update
The third-party live chat widget may not fully support ARIA roles	Screen reader users may experience inconsistent interaction	Under review with the provider; text-based contact remains available

We are committed to resolving known issues in a timely manner. If a specific issue is causing you difficulty in accessing any of our services, please contact us directly, and we will make every reasonable effort to provide the content or service through an alternative means.

8. Feedback and Accessibility Support

We welcome feedback from users who encounter accessibility barriers on our Website. Your experience helps us identify issues and improve the service for everyone.

How to Report an Accessibility Issue

If you have experienced difficulty accessing any part of the Website, or if you require content in an accessible alternative format, please contact us using any of the following methods:

Email	info@westportproperty.co.uk
Telephone	01382225517
Post	3 Old Hawkhill, Dundee DD1 5EU, United Kingdom
Subject line	Accessibility – Website

When getting in touch, it would be helpful if you could include:

The URL (web address) of the page you were visiting
A brief description of the issue you encountered
The assistive technology or browser you are using (if known)
Your preferred contact method and any format preferences for our response

Our Response Commitment

We aim to acknowledge all accessibility enquiries within two working days and to provide a substantive response or resolution, including an accessible alternative where required, within ten working days. Where a matter requires further investigation or involves a third-party supplier, we will keep you informed of progress throughout.

Formal Complaints

If you are not satisfied with our response to an accessibility concern, you have the right to escalate your complaint. In Scotland, you may contact the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), which is responsible for enforcing the Equality Act 2010:

Equality and Human Rights Commission; Scotland: www.equalityhumanrights.com | Telephone: 0161 829 8100

9. Enforcement and Escalation

Whilst Westport Property is a private-sector organisation, we take our accessibility obligations seriously. Under the Equality Act 2010, if a person with a disability is treated less favourably due to a failure to make reasonable adjustments, including to digital services, they may have the right to bring a claim.

We strongly encourage anyone who experiences a barrier on our Website to contact us directly in the first instance so that we can resolve the matter quickly and informally. We are committed to fair, respectful, and constructive engagement on all accessibility matters.

Where a resolution cannot be reached directly, the following bodies can provide guidance or assist with a formal complaint:

- Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC): www.equalityhumanrights.com, the statutory body responsible for enforcing equality legislation in Great Britain
- Citizens Advice Scotland: www.citizensadvice.org.uk/scotland, for information on your rights under the Equality Act
- RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors): As a RICS-regulated practice, Westport Property is subject to RICS conduct standards, which include obligations to treat all clients and members of the public fairly and equitably

10. Disproportionate Burden

At this time, Westport Property has not invoked a claim of disproportionate burden in relation to any accessibility requirement. We are committed to making all reasonable efforts to address accessibility issues within our Website.

Should a future assessment determine that certain improvements would constitute a disproportionate burden relative to the benefits provided to users with disabilities, we will document this assessment fully, make it publicly available, and continue to provide accessible alternatives to any content or functionality that cannot be remediated.

11. Statement Review and Updates

This Accessibility Statement was first published in April 2026 and will be reviewed in full no later than April 2027, or sooner in the event of significant changes to the Website.

We are committed to continuous improvement and to keeping this statement accurate, transparent, and up to date. If you believe that any information in this statement is incorrect or out of date, please contact us using the details in Section 8.

Westport Property: Making Dundee’s Property Market Accessible to All