Gypsy and Traveller sites
If you are a member of the Gypsy or Traveller communities, you might find a pitch on:
a council owned site
a privately owned site that has a licence
Most council and private sites are permanent.
Some councils have transit sites for shorter stays.
How to apply
You can contact the council in a local area to apply to live on a council site.
Ask if the council has a Gypsy and Traveller liaison officer who you can speak to.
Search for a Gypsy and Traveller liaison officer on the Friends, Families and Travellers website. The liaison officer may also be able to tell you about private sites in the area.
Your agreement
When you move on to a site you are given a written agreement. This should set out:
the site rules
your pitch fees
the site manager’s responsibilities
notice times if you want to leave
Costs
Costs will usually include:
pitch fees
council tax
utilities
Help with costs
You can claim benefits to help with pitch fees if you are struggling with costs.
You can apply for council tax support on GOV.UK. Your council tax bill will be reduced if you get council tax support.
Facilities
Facilities on sites can include:
space for a caravan
space to park vehicles or a second caravan
toilets, showers or baths
storage space
Leaving the site to travel
You can usually keep your pitch when you are travelling.
Your pitch agreement may say how long you can be away for.
You can also check with the site manager. Ask for any agreement about the time you can be away for in writing. You keep paying your pitch fees and council tax while you are away.
How to complain about sites and treatment
You can complain to the site manager if you are not happy with the facilities or conditions.
If you live on a council site or are upset about the council's behaviour towards you:
make a complaint to the council
tell the council’s liaison officer about the problem
If you are homeless or facing eviction
You could be homeless if, for example:
you're facing eviction from a site
you need to leave because of domestic abuse or violence
you have nowhere to legally park your caravan, mobile home or boat
You can ask the local council for help if you're homeless or facing eviction in the next 8 weeks.
Find out more about homeless help for Gypsy and Traveller communities.
Inheriting a pitch or mobile home
Your pitch goes to your husband, wife or civil partner if you lived together in the mobile home.
If you don't have a married or civil partner, it can pass to another family member who lives with you. This includes an unmarried partner.
Partners or family members who live with you can stay on the pitch.
If you don't have a partner or family member living with you, your mobile home can be passed to your next of kin or to someone else in a will.
They need the site owner's permission to live on the site.
Still need help?
You can get specialist advice and support from:
Last updated: 7 October 2024
