UK Act of Parliament 2010 United Kingdom

Equality Act 2010

View on legislation.gov.uk (opens in a new tab) Ask Guv about this Act

At a glance

What's here

63 compliance obligations, 121 practical guides across 5 topics · 26 journeys · 2 statutory instruments

Penalty landscape

14 of 63 obligations carry a fine up to £1,000. 12 carry different penalties and 37 have no criminal penalty — flagged in the list below.

Who this Act binds

Business-side actors with duties under this Act, ranked by how often they appear.

  • Any Person 45
  • Employer 8
  • Director or Officer 2
  • Data Controller 1
  • Trader 1

Plus 6 non-business duties on Crown ministers, regulators, local authorities or tribunals — shown collapsed under each section below.

Step-by-step journeys using this legislation

Walkthroughs that take you from a real business situation to compliance.

Relevant guidance

Practical guides for businesses affected by this Act, ordered by how closely they engage with it.

Direct — cites this Act

15 guides

Supporting — topic alignment

92 guides

Mentioned in related content

14 guides
View all 121 guides →

Other Acts binding the same actors

For each actor bound by this Act, the other UK Acts that bind them most often. Useful for understanding the full compliance landscape facing each role.

Any Person also bound by 749 other Acts (top 5 shown)
Employers also bound by 171 other Acts (top 5 shown)
Directors and Officers also bound by 224 other Acts (top 5 shown)
Data Controllers also bound by 7 other Acts (top 5 shown)
Traders also bound by 219 other Acts (top 5 shown)

What this Act requires

Sections that create concrete duties on businesses or carry penalties. Procedural and definitional sections are folded into the “Browse other sections” expander at the bottom of each group. Click any section title to read the source text on legislation.gov.uk.

Part 1 — Socio-economic inequalities

Browse 2 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement

Part 2 — Equality: key concepts

Browse 25 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
s.019

Indirect discrimination: same disadvantage

Part 3 — Services and public functions

Browse 3 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement

Part 4 — Premises

s.033

Disposals, etc.

  • Do not discriminate, harass, or victimise when selling or letting premises Any Person
s.035

Management

  • Prevent discrimination, harassment, and victimisation in premises management Any Person
Browse 5 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement

Part 5 — Work

s.040

Employer duty to prevent sexual harassment of employees

  • Prevent sexual harassment of employees Employer
s.041

Contract workers

  • Protect contract workers from discrimination, harassment, and victimisation Director or Officer
s.044

Partnerships

  • Prevent discrimination, harassment, and victimisation in partnerships Employer
s.047

Barristers

  • Prevent discrimination, harassment, and victimisation in legal chambers Employer
s.048

Advocates

  • Prevent discrimination, harassment, and victimisation of legal advocates Any Person
s.053

Qualifications bodies

  • Ensure non-discriminatory practices in professional qualifications Any Person
s.057

Trade organisations

  • Prevent discrimination, harassment, and victimisation in trade organisations Any Person
s.058

Official business of members

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Local authorities must not discriminate against or harass their members Local authority
Browse 36 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
s.060

Discriminatory statements

Part 6 — Education

Browse 14 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement

Part 7 — Associations

s.102

Guests

Amended 2 times
  • Prevent discrimination, harassment, and victimisation of guests Any Person

Part 8 — Prohibited conduct: ancillary

s.112

Aiding contraventions

Unlimited fine Amended 1 time
  • Aid another in breaching equality duties Any Person
  • Aid another to breach Equality Act discrimination rules Any Person

Part 9 — Enforcement

s.124

Remedies: general

Amended 7 times
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Tribunal may award compensation or recommendations for discrimination Tribunal / Court
s.124

Remedies: compensation uplift in sexual harassment cases

Amended 7 times
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Tribunal must consider compensation uplift in sexual harassment cases Tribunal / Court
s.139

Equal pay audits

Amended 1 time
s.140

Extension of time limits because of mediation in certain cross-border disputes

Amended 2 times
s.140

Extension of time limits because of alternative dispute resolution in certain cross border or domestic contractual disputes

Amended 2 times
s.140

Extension of time limits to facilitate conciliation before institution of proceedings

Amended 2 times
Browse 1 other section in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement

Part 10 — Contracts, etc.

Part 11 — Advancement of equality

Part 12 — Disabled persons: transport

s.164

Disabled passengers: duties of drivers

Fine up to £1,000
  • Fail to carry disabled passenger or their equipment Any Person
  • Fail to carry disabled passenger, wheelchair or mobility aids Any Person
s.165

Disabled passengers: assistance to identify and find vehicle

Fine up to £1,000 Amended 15 times
  • Fail to assist disabled passenger to find vehicle Any Person
  • Fail to assist disabled passenger to identify/find vehicle Any Person
  • Fail to help a disabled passenger find a taxi or private hire vehicle Any Person
s.167

Disabled passengers: duties of operators of private hire vehicles

Fine up to £1,000 Amended 9 times
  • Refuse booking for disabled passenger or charge extra duty Any Person
s.170

Assistance dogs in private hire vehicles

Fine up to £1,000 Amended 7 times
  • Refuse booking or charge extra for assistance dogs Any Person
  • Refuse booking or charge extra for assistance dogs in private hire Any Person
  • Refuse or overcharge for assistance dogs in private hire vehicles Any Person
s.176

Accessibility certificates

Fine up to £2,500 Amended 1 time
  • Operate a public service vehicle without required accessibility certificate Any Person
  • Use a public service vehicle without an accessibility certificate Any Person
  • Use a public service vehicle without required accessibility certificate Any Person
s.181

Information for bus passengers

Amended 1 time
s.181

Exemptions etc

Amended 1 time
s.181

Guidance

Amended 1 time
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Secretary of State must issue and review guidance on bus passenger information Crown / Minister / Government department
s.181

Interpretation

Amended 1 time
s.188

Forgery, etc.

2 years imprisonment Amended 1 time
  • Forge, alter or misuse exemption or accessibility certificates Any Person
  • Forge or misuse exemption, accessibility or approval certificates Any Person
Browse 2 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement

Part 13 — Disability: miscellaneous

Part 14 — General exceptions

Part 15 — Family property

Browse 3 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement

Part 16 — General and miscellaneous

Browse 8 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement

Schedules

s.sch009

Work: exceptions

Unlimited fine
  • Make false or misleading statement about a work offer Any Person
  • Make false or misleading statement about lawful work treatment Any Person
  • Make false statements regarding occupational requirements Any Person
s.sch017

Disabled pupils: enforcement

Fine up to £1,000
  • Fail to comply with tribunal document or attendance requirements Any Person
  • Fail to comply with tribunal document or evidence requirements Any Person
Browse 20 other Schedules — structural / supplementary
Read the full Act on legislation.gov.uk (opens in a new tab)

Official guidance

Authoritative sources published by regulators or government explaining this legislation.

Enforcement and responsible bodies

The regulators that administer or enforce this legislation.

Employment Tribunal

Primary

HM Courts and Tribunals Service — Employment Tribunals

Statutory tribunal enforcing individual employment-rights legislation across Great Britain. Hears complaints under the Employment Rights Act 1996 (unfair dismissal, written particulars, time …

RSH

Regulator of Social Housing

Regulates registered providers of social housing in England. Sets and enforces standards for governance, financial viability, and consumer outcomes including safety, quality, …

SRA

Solicitors Regulation Authority

Regulates solicitors and law firms in England and Wales. Sets standards, authorises firms, investigates misconduct, and can impose sanctions including fines and …

Ofqual

Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation

Regulates qualifications, examinations, and assessments in England. Approves and monitors awarding organisations. Maintains the Register of Regulated Qualifications.

OfS

Office for Students

Independent regulator for higher education in England. Registers and monitors higher education providers. Ensures students receive quality education and value for money.

CIW

Care Inspectorate Wales

Registers and inspects social care and childcare services in Wales. Regulates care homes, domiciliary care, children's homes, and childminders.

EHRC

Equality and Human Rights Commission

Statutory body responsible for enforcing equality and non-discrimination laws. Provides guidance on the Equality Act 2010, conducts inquiries, and can take enforcement …

Connected legislation

2 statutory instruments

These instruments amend, apply, or refer to this Act. They may not all create direct business obligations.

Explore more

Browse legislation

Find other UK business legislation with related guidance.

Regulators

Learn more about the bodies that enforce this legislation.