Do You Have to Publish Terms & Conditions on Your Website in the UK?

If you’re running a business in the UK — whether you sell crystals online or mow lawns locally — you’ve probably asked yourself: “Do I legally need Terms & Conditions on my website or webpage?”

The short answer is: no, not strictly.

There’s no blanket law that forces every business to publish Terms & Conditions (T&Cs). But before you close this post, there’s an important catch:

What the Law Actually Requires

Even if you don’t publish a T&Cs page, UK consumer law does require you to give certain information to your customers before they agree to buy from you.

This comes mainly from two key sets of regulations:

• Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013

  
  

  • Your business name, address, and contact details

  • A clear description of the goods/services

  • The total price (including taxes and delivery)

  • How and when payment is made

  • Cancellation rights (usually a 14-day cooling-off period for online sales)

  • Delivery arrangements

  • Your complaints/returns process

    
    

• Electronic Commerce Regulations 2002

  
  

  • Your business identity (name, address, email)

  • Details of any professional/regulatory body (if applicable)

  • VAT number (if registered)

If you don’t provide this information clearly, you’re not compliant — even if you’re a small trader.

Why Bother With T&Cs?

Strictly speaking, you could scatter all that required info across your site. But in practice, having a dedicated Terms & Conditions page makes life easier:

• ✔ Covers all your legal obligations in one place

• ✔ Sets clear rules on cancellations, refunds, and liability

• ✔ Builds trust with customers

• ✔ Helps prevent disputes before they happen

Real-World Examples

• Crystal shop online → You must explain delivery times, refund policies, and who you are. A T&Cs page is the easiest way to stay compliant.

  
  

• Local gardener → Less formal, but still needs to make clear what’s included in the price, how payment works, and what happens if a job is cancelled. A short “service terms” page is useful here.

  
  

Bottom Line

It’s not a legal requirement to publish Terms & Conditions — but it is a legal requirement to provide all the information that T&Cs usually contain.

So while you won’t get fined for skipping a T&Cs page, failing to provide the required info could land you in hot water. Publishing T&Cs is the simplest, safest way to stay on the right side of the law.

Thinking of adding Terms & Conditions to your site? Keep it simple, cover the legal basics, and adapt them to your business.

To see a basic template of a UK Small Business Terms and Conditions please check out our post Sample Terms & Conditions Template for a UK Small Business.

Legal Disclaimer

We are not lawyers, and the information provided in this blog post is for general informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice and should not be relied upon as such.

Laws and regulations can change, and requirements may vary depending on your specific business or industry. You should seek professional legal advice before publishing or relying on any Terms & Conditions for your business.