Security of Tenure

Gypsies and Travellers living on local authority Gypsy sites have no security of tenure. The Caravan Sites Act (CSA) 1968 simply provides that possession can be obtained by a local authority if it gives a resident four weeks notice to quit and then obtains a possession order from a court. There is no requirement that the local authority proves that it would be reasonable for possession to be granted and the courts used to have no power to suspend the operation of such a possession order. This lack of security of tenure is in stark contrast to the security of tenure enjoyed by council tenants living in conventional housing (under the Housing Act 1985).