Empty Homes Management Policy

Succession Policy

Disrepair Policy

Repairs and Maintenance Policy

Ensures that headings in PDF documents follow a logical hierarchical order for accessibility.

## What this means

Headings in a PDF should be arranged in a logical sequence, much like a table of contents in a book. This means using a consistent hierarchy of heading levels (like Heading 1 for main titles, Heading 2 for subsections, etc.). Headings should not skip levels abruptly (e.g., jumping from Heading 1 directly to Heading 3).

## Why it matters

1. **Accessibility**: Screen readers rely on a logical heading structure to navigate content, making it essential for users with visual impairments.
2. **Readability and Navigation**: A well-structured document with logically ordered headings enhances readability and allows all users to navigate the content more efficiently.
3. **Consistency and Professionalism**: Logical heading order reflects a professional approach to document creation and helps maintain consistency across documents.

## How to fix

1. **Review Heading Levels**: Check your document to ensure that headings follow a sequential order without skipping levels.
2. **Modify Headings**: If any headings are out of order, adjust them using your PDF editing tool to align with the logical structure.

## Testing Methodology

Silktide's checks your PDF to identify the sequence of headings. It flags PDFs where the heading order is not 
hierarchical (e.g., a Heading 3 directly following a Heading 1).

Headings in a PDF should follow the sequence Heading 1 > Heading 2 > Heading 3 without skipping intermediate headings.
It is acceptable to 'go back' to previous styles/headings but the sequence should then continue without missing headings.

### Limitations
- **Contextual Analysis**: Silktide might not fully grasp the context behind the document's structure, so manual review is recommended for complex documents.
- **Styling Variations**: Variations in styling that are not properly tagged might not be detected accurately.

## Further Reading

- [Understanding WCAG: Headings and Labels](https://www.w3.org/WAI/WCAG21/Understanding/headings-and-labels.html)
- [How to Organize PDF Content with Accessible Headings](https://www.adobe.com/accessibility/pdf/pdf-accessibility-overview.html)

	Title / URL	Issues
	Empty Homes Management Policywww.uttlesford.gov.uk/media/10218/Empty-Homes-Management-Policy/pdf/empty-homes-management-policy-2025.pdf?m=1766139068367	1
	Succession Policywww.uttlesford.gov.uk/media/11374/Succession-Policy/pdf/succession-policy-2025.pdf?m=1766054786687	1
	Disrepair Policywww.uttlesford.gov.uk/media/8707/Disrepair-Policy/pdf/disrepair-policy-2025.pdf?m=1766050556363	1
	Repairs and Maintenance Policywww.uttlesford.gov.uk/media/6707/Repairs-and-Maintenance-Policy/pdf/repairs-maintenance-policy-2025.pdf?m=1766048779500	1

Ensure PDF headings follow a logical order

Uttlesford District Council

Where this issue has occurred