Our Accessibility Commitment
HomeNest is committed to ensuring digital accessibility for people with disabilities. We are continually improving the user experience for everyone and applying the relevant accessibility standards to ensure the highest level of inclusion across all our platforms, services, and digital touchpoints.
Accessibility is not an afterthought at HomeNest — it is a core principle that guides the design and development of our rental management platform, client portal, and all digital communications. We believe that every property owner, tenant, and member of our team deserves equal access to our services.
📅 Last Reviewed: January 2025
This accessibility statement was created on January 15, 2025, in accordance with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA.
Our Principles
- Inclusive Design: We design our products and services with accessibility in mind from the ground up, not as an add-on.
- Continuous Improvement: We regularly audit and test our digital properties to identify and resolve accessibility barriers.
- User-Centered Approach: We actively seek feedback from users with diverse abilities to inform our accessibility improvements.
- Employee Training: Our development, design, and content teams receive ongoing accessibility training.
- Transparency: We openly communicate our accessibility efforts, conformance status, and known limitations.
Conformance Status
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) defines requirements for designers and developers to improve accessibility for people with disabilities. It defines three levels of conformance: Level A, Level AA, and Level AAA.
✅ Current Conformance Level
HomeNest's digital properties are partially conformant with WCAG 2.1 Level AA. Partially conformant means that some parts of the content do not fully conform to the accessibility standard.
| Level | Status | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Level A | Conforming | All Level A success criteria are met across our main platform. |
| Level AA | Partially Conforming | Most Level AA criteria met. Some third-party content and legacy features have known issues (see limitations below). |
| Level AAA | Not Tested | Level AAA is not currently our target conformance level. We aim to achieve it in phases. |
Accessibility Conformance Procedures
HomeNest has evaluated the accessibility of this website and its associated applications through the following procedures:
- Automated accessibility testing using industry-standard tools (axe, WAVE, Lighthouse) integrated into our CI/CD pipeline.
- Manual accessibility audits conducted quarterly by our dedicated accessibility team.
- User testing with individuals who have a range of disabilities, including visual, auditory, motor, and cognitive impairments.
- Review of all new content and features against WCAG 2.1 Level AA success criteria before release.
Accessibility Features
Our platform includes a comprehensive set of accessibility features designed to support users with diverse needs:
Screen Reader Support
Full compatibility with JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver, and TalkBack. All interactive elements have proper ARIA labels and roles.
Keyboard Navigation
Complete keyboard accessibility with visible focus indicators, logical tab order, and skip navigation links.
Color & Contrast
All text meets WCAG AA contrast ratios (4.5:1 for normal text, 3:1 for large text). No information conveyed by color alone.
Zoom & Scaling
Content remains usable when zoomed up to 200% and 400%. Font sizes can be adjusted via browser or our accessibility toolbar.
Readable Content
Clear, simple language. Headings follow a logical hierarchy. Forms include descriptive labels and error messages.
Alternative Text
All meaningful images include descriptive alt text. Decorative images are properly hidden from assistive technologies.
Media Accessibility
Video content includes captions and audio descriptions. Audio content includes transcripts.
No Time Limits
No pages or forms have automatic time-outs that cannot be adjusted or disabled by the user.
Compatible Technologies
Our website and applications are designed to be as compatible as possible with current versions of major browsers, on both desktop and mobile devices, along with assistive technologies.
Assistive Technologies
Our platform has been tested with the following assistive technologies:
- Screen Readers: JAWS (2022+), NVDA (2021+), VoiceOver (macOS & iOS), TalkBack (Android)
- Screen Magnification: ZoomText, Windows Magnifier, macOS Zoom, Browser zoom
- Switch Devices: Dasher, Eye-gaze systems, Sip-and-puff devices
- Speech Recognition: Dragon NaturallySpeaking, Windows Speech Recognition, Voice Control (macOS), Voice Access (Android)
Browsers & Devices
We test and support the following browser-device combinations:
- Google Chrome (latest 2 versions) — Windows, macOS, Android, iOS
- Mozilla Firefox (latest 2 versions) — Windows, macOS
- Microsoft Edge (latest 2 versions) — Windows, macOS
- Apple Safari (latest 2 versions) — macOS, iOS
- Samsung Internet (latest 2 versions) — Android
Keyboard Navigation
All of our interactive content can be operated using a keyboard alone. Below are the keyboard shortcuts and navigation patterns used throughout our platform.
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Move to next focusable element | Tab |
| Move to previous focusable element | Shift + Tab |
| Activate a button or link | Enter or Space |
| Open a dropdown menu | Enter or Space or ↓ |
| Navigate dropdown items | ↑ / ↓ |
| Close a dropdown or modal | Esc |
| Skip to main content | Alt + 1 |
| Jump to search | Alt + S |
| Jump to footer | Alt + 9 |
💡 Tip
A visible focus indicator (a golden ring) shows which element currently has keyboard focus. You can also use your browser's built-in developer tools to inspect the focus order of any page.
Known Limitations
Despite our best efforts to ensure everything is accessible, there may be some limitations. Below is a description of known limitations and potential solutions.
⚠️ Third-Party Content
Some third-party content embedded on our platform (such as certain map widgets and payment processing forms) may not fully meet WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards. We are actively working with our vendors to improve the accessibility of these components. In the meantime, alternative text-based options are provided where possible.
🚧 Legacy Documents
Some older PDF documents and downloadable lease templates hosted on our platform were created before our current accessibility standards were adopted. These are being progressively updated. If you encounter an inaccessible document, please use the feedback form below to report it, and we will provide an accessible alternative within 2 business days.
Planned Improvements
Our accessibility roadmap for 2025 includes:
- Q1 2025: Complete remediation of all known Level AA non-conformities in the tenant portal.
- Q2 2025: Implementation of cognitive accessibility features (simplified reading mode, dyslexia-friendly font option).
- Q3 2025: Full accessibility audit and remediation of all PDF documents and downloadable templates.
- Q4 2025: Achieve full WCAG 2.1 Level AA conformance across all digital properties and begin testing for Level AAA.
Report an Accessibility Issue
We're sorry if certain areas of this site aren't accessible to some users. We'll try to accommodate your request and provide the information or service you request, subject to an undue disruption of the site. Please use the form below to let us know if you encounter accessibility barriers.
📬 Response Time
We aim to acknowledge all accessibility feedback within 1 business day and provide a substantive response within 3 business days. For urgent accessibility barriers that prevent you from accessing our services, please use the direct contact information below.
Accessibility Contact
If you experience any barriers on this website, or have feedback about our accessibility efforts, please get in touch using any of the methods below.
Accessibility Team
Our dedicated accessibility team is here to help. You can reach us through any of the following channels:
Phone
TTY/TDD
Mailing Address
HomeNest Accessibility Team
123 Property Lane, Suite 100
San Francisco, CA 94102
External Complaints Process
If you are not satisfied with our response to your accessibility concern, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the relevant external body. In the United States, you may contact:
- U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division — https://www.ustaxcourt.gov
- Technical Assistance on Electronic and Information Technology Accessibility — https://www.section508.gov
- Disability Rights Advocates — https://www.disabilityrightsadvocates.org
Accessibility Resources
Here are some helpful resources for learning more about web accessibility and using assistive technologies:
- WCAG 2.1 Guidelines (W3C) — The international standard for web accessibility.
- Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) — W3C's initiative for web accessibility.
- Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act — U.S. federal accessibility requirements.
- WAI Evaluation and Repair Tools — Tools to help you evaluate and fix accessibility issues.
- WebAIM (Web Accessibility In Mind) — Free accessibility resources and training.
- The A11Y Project — A community-driven effort to make web accessibility easier.
- WAI Assistive Technology Resources — Information about screen readers and other assistive technologies.