Today, Friends, Families and Travellers (FFT) has released new research documenting the substandard living conditions on local authority Gypsy and Traveller sites.
The research, which surveyed residents across 10 counties in England, found that 24 households reported a total of 129 health and safety hazards in just a year. These hazards include:
- Severe damp and black mould.
- Raw sewage backups.
- Faulty electrics that led to fires.
- “Unbearable” rat infestations where vermin ate through car wires and home insulation.
Of the 117 issues officially reported by residents, fewer than one in ten were dealt with by site owners adequately.
Residents described a culture of blame-shifting and neglect, with many being told there were “no funds” for repairs, forcing families to pay out of their own pockets for essential maintenance like soakaways and drainage.
These failures are set within wider issues around systemic environmental racism, where the risks posed by hazardous site locations are compounded by lack of accountability.
The report identifies a “legal gap” as the root cause of these conditions. Currently, Gypsy and Traveller sites are not explicitly included in the definition of a “dwelling” under the Housing Act 2004 or “social housing” under the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008. This exclusion means that residents cannot benefit from the protections of the Decent Homes Standard or the oversight of the Social Housing Regulation Act 2023.
Without meaningful reform, residents will continue to be exposed to preventable harm and systemic discrimination.
FFT is also calling for:
- A national assessment of conditions on Gypsy and Traveller sites, informed by meaningful engagement with residents and representative organisations.
- The Government to review the effectiveness of the legal and regulatory framework governing conditions on Gypsy and Traveller sites, including access to justice, enforcement mechanisms and routes to redress.
- Clear guidance on the duties of Gypsy and Traveller site owners and managers regarding maintenance, repair and health and safety standards.
This report demonstrates the urgent need for national housing standards and regulatory protections to be extended to Gypsy and Traveller sites, alongside effective enforcement and accountability for local authorities.
[ENDS]
About Friends, Families and Travellers (FFT)
Friends, Families and Travellers is a leading national charity that works to end racism and discrimination against Gypsy, Roma and Traveller people and to protect the right to pursue a nomadic way of life.
Media Contact
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Additional Resources
‘They know the issues, they don’t care’: Living conditions on local authority Gypsy and Traveller sites. Friends, Families and Travellers. June 2026. Read.
Environmental racism, segregation and discrimination: Gypsy and Traveller sites in Great Britain. Alice Bloch and Katharine Quarmby. February 2024. Read.
The Renters’ Rights Bill (2024-25) and the need for protections against disrepair on Gypsy and Traveller sites. Friends, Families and Travellers. Read.
