About the Gypsy and Traveller community
The Gypsy and Traveller community are people who are dedicated to living a travelling existence, or who come from a travelling background. This page explains more about who the Gypsy and Traveller community are and provides an overview of accommodation-related issues affecting them.
Where Gypsy and Traveller communities live
Although Gypsy and Traveller communities see travelling as part of their identity, they can choose to live in different ways:
Some Gypsy and Traveller people are permanently 'on the road', moving regularly around the country from site to site
Others live permanently in caravans or mobile homes, on sites provided by the council, or on private sites
Some Gypsy and Traveller communities live in settled accommodation during winter or school term-time and then travel during the summer
Others may be settled altogether in 'bricks and mortar' housing
When on the road, they may stay in:
sites provided by local councils
privately owned sites run by Gypsies/Travellers or holiday caravan sites
unauthorised sites on unused land
Issues Gypsy and Traveller communities face
Accommodation provision
The traditional travelling way of life is threatened by a shortage of suitable campsites and stopping areas. In Scotland, there are currently no official 'transit' sites where Gypsy and Traveller people can stop over while travelling, while many council-run sites are situated in bad locations, often due to historic reasons and travelling patterns, with inadequate facilities and limited access to services. This means that Gypsy and Traveller communities are often forced to stop in unauthorised areas, which can lead to problems and confrontations with local communities.
Eviction
Laws that protect tenants in settled housing often don't apply to Gypsy and Traveller communities living on sites, which means that often they can be moved on fairly easily. The section on eviction and rights of Gypsy and Traveller people explains more.
Discrimination and harassment
Unfortunately, many people are prejudiced against the Gypsy and Traveller community and their way of life. As a result, travelling people are likely to face a great deal of discrimination and harassment. There are steps you can take to deal with housing discrimination.
Help improve rights for Gypsy and Traveller communities
Working with the council
Councils should involve members of the Gypsy and Traveller community when drawing up plans and strategies. They may do this by:
putting a poster up on your site notice board, inviting Gypsy and Traveller people to a meeting
working with liaison organisations or other voluntary agencies to recruit representatives
consulting the site's residents' association, if there is one
Campaigning to end discrimination
Organisations such as Friends, Families and Travellers campaign to change the law in the UK and Scotland and improve the rights of the Gyspy and Traveller community.
If you need housing advice, contact us for free.
Last updated: 29 December 2014
Housing laws differ between Scotland and England.
This content applies to Scotland only.