Rapid, documented support for unauthorised occupied vans, campervans and vehicle encampments on private and local-authority land across England and Wales.
It may look like an ordinary builder’s van. Inside, it may be someone’s permanent home.
Van dwelling generally means using a van or converted vehicle as a temporary or permanent home. Stealth camping is an informal expression commonly used where someone sleeps or resides in a vehicle while avoiding the outward appearance of camping.
Neither expression creates a separate legal status or an automatic right to remain on land. Equally, the appearance of a van does not prove that it is occupied unlawfully.
Most people living in vehicles cause no difficulty. The issue for a landowner or public authority arises where an occupied vehicle remains without consent, breaches a relevant restriction, obstructs access, creates safety or environmental concerns, or develops into a wider unauthorised vehicle encampment.
The operational work may look similar, but the decision-making and legal responsibilities are different. We establish the correct instruction before deploying agents.
For PLCs, managing agents, retail parks, industrial estates, developers, farms, vacant sites and private car parks.
Operational support under the authority’s selected legal power, policy, delegated decision and public-law responsibilities.
This work is closely related to traveller and trespasser removal, but no single power applies to every occupied van. The instruction must distinguish trespass, parking, highway, residential and public-law issues.
This service description concerns England and Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland have different legal frameworks and require separate assessment.
A practical eight-page guide for private landowners, PLCs, managing agents and local authorities dealing with van dwellers, stealth camping and other unauthorised occupied vehicles.
The guide explains the different considerations for private and local-authority land without suggesting that every occupied vehicle can be handled in the same way.
PDF · 8 pages · Version 1.0
Published September 2026
General information, not legal advice. Applies to England and Wales only. Each occupied-vehicle case must be assessed on its individual facts.
The quickest sustainable outcome is often achieved through clear authority, early communication and a realistic departure arrangement.
We check the client’s authority, land, known history, vehicle status, access and intended outcome.
We record vehicles, apparent occupation, immediate hazards, vulnerability indicators and operational risk.
The position is explained clearly. Voluntary and controlled departure is prioritised wherever appropriate.
Any authorised attendance is planned, evidenced and followed by a written outcome and recommended next steps.
Some occupied vans are obvious. Others retain commercial markings, covered windows or an ordinary panel-van exterior. Neither camouflage nor discretion creates permission to stay; equally, an unusual-looking van is not proof of trespass.
Our assessment is based on evidence: where the vehicle is positioned, who controls the land, whether consent exists, whether the person is residing there and what restrictions or legal powers apply.
That evidence-led distinction protects the client as well as the vehicle occupant.
Occupied vehicles may be homes. Children, disability, health needs, pregnancy, age and other vulnerabilities must be identified and escalated appropriately.
The authority retains its equality, human-rights, safeguarding, housing and public-law responsibilities. Our role is to support and implement its documented decision.
Instructions, risk decisions, notices, photographs, attendance activity and outcomes are recorded for the client’s operational and governance file.
We do not prescribe one route for every occupied vehicle. We establish the facts and help the client implement the route it has lawfully selected.
These independent sources explain the statutory framework and the language commonly used around vehicle dwelling. General-interest articles are included for background only and should not be treated as legal advice.
UK Bailiffs does not control third-party content. Inclusion of a link does not amount to endorsement of every statement on the linked page.
Provide the site, authority, vehicle and occupation details available to you. Photographs can be taken or uploaded through the form. Every instruction is reviewed before acceptance and deployment.
For private landowners, managing agents, PLCs, councils and authorised professional clients.
We will ask for the land address, ownership or management authority, vehicle numbers, known occupation, previous communication, photographs and any immediate welfare or safety concerns.
