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One in six travellers’ caravans were sited on unauthorised properties last year,
according to the latest government statistics, encouraging landowners to take stronger security measures to prevent the costly process of removing unlawful tenants on their property.
The latest figures show that last year was a three-year record, with 3,481 caravans sited on prohibited grounds, compared to 2,660 in 2014[1].
“Whether its travellers, squatters or an illegal rave, an increasing trend of the unlawful occupation of a site causes many problems for landowners, both economically and environmentally.” Explains Carlos Rosa, from VPS, whose property services company have a specialist eviction, security and site protection team to deal with the issue. “Recently a vacant pub’s car park was taken over by travellers, just after contracts had been exchanged to sell the property. The occupation of the land could easily have jeopardised the sale, let alone the incoming business and their employees’ livelihoods.”
There are around 300,000 travellers living in the UK, and contrary to popular belief, most live in housing. However, approximately a 100,000 are thought to be living on the road or at sites[2]. The government estimates there are about 21,000 travellers’ caravans in the UK and Northern Ireland[3].
Since squatting in a residential building in England and Wales became a criminal offence in 2012, many more commercial premises have been targeted, with an estimated doubling of legal proceedings against squats taking place. Thousands of unauthorised caravans, squats and illegal raves are reported annually.
“There’s often a considerable clean-up cost after an eviction of unlawful travellers or squatters, which sometimes amounts to a six figure sum.” Mr Rosa says. “Proper protection makes economic sense, as the cost of moving travellers from a site will far outweigh the cost of preventing initial entry, and will also guard against high incidences of arson and vandalism.”
About 60 fires a day occur in the UK in, or next to, empty properties, according to fire statistics.
In the unlawful occupation of the pub car park, VPS’ traveller eviction service was utilised. A 48hr eviction was sought and implemented with the travellers’ removal; concrete bollards were deployed to car park entrances, and the action allowed the sale to be completed.
Download our case study on the travellers’ eviction from the public house car park.
[1] Table 4: Historic Count of Traveller Caravans, January 1979 to July 2016, https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/traveller-caravan-count-july-2016
[2] https://www.travellersaidtrust.org/pdfs/grant%20makers%20fact%20sheet%2009.pdf
[3] https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/traveller-caravan-count-july-2016 (and from there links to Welsh, Scottish and Northern Ireland equivalents)