The rising problem of fly-tipping – implications for real estate owners

Fly-tipping is a growing problem in the UK after figures for 2024-25, released by the government in February 2026, showed another rise in numbers – and hinted at a significant impact for the real estate sector.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) revealed local authorities in England alone dealt with 1.26m incidents across 12 months – an increase of 9% from the previous year. ¹

For context, the number of fly-tipping incidents recorded in 2018-19 was 957,000 – which means numbers have risen 29% in six years.

England, which has a land area of 50,301 square miles, now sees more than 25 fly tipping incidents per square mile across the country each year.

There remains a genuine impact on the real estate sector, with 4,000 incidents reported on commercial industrial estates and 10,000 on ‘other’ sites including agricultural and railway sites.

Many other incidents, on private land, could be missing from the statistics – especially if real estate and landowners were responsible for clearing them or chose not to file a report to local authorities.

The problem brings financial, safety and business-related risks, including: 

• Devaluation of residential and commercial property by reducing the desirability of those properties.
• Financial impacts on land and property owners, with costs for removal often substantial. Under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, Local Authorities and the Environment Agency have legal powers to require landowners to clear fly-tipped waste from their land. They also have powers to enter the land and clear it and may seek reimbursement for costs related to it. ²
• Anti-social behaviour from those dumping the waste and potential environmental impacts.
• Health risks from hazardous waste which may include harmful chemicals or asbestos – and can also attract pests.
• Potential interruption of business and reputational damage.
• Other financial impacts such as reduced rental income or a requirement to invest in security.
• Increased risk that costs incurred could exceed insurance coverage.
• The risk of fines and punishment if real estate businesses fail to clean up.

This year, the government has urged councils to take tougher action against fly tippers, including crushing their cars and using video evidence to name and shame perpetrators.³ 

However, the solution for real estate owners is not so simple - and with court prosecutions down 9% last year, the focus should be on prevention and deterrent.

Risk management solutions recommended by insurance and security professionals include:

• Installing CCTV in high-risk areas, to act as a deterrent and to help identify perpetrators. 
• Rapid alarm response systems to support a fast response.
• Mobile security patrols to deter intruders.
• Ad-hoc guarding provision.
• Physical perimeter protection. 
• Ensuring gates remain closed and locked.
• Staying in touch with local police and updating employees and local businesses on any suspicious activity.
• Reporting fly-tipping incidents on private land to the Local Authority in the first place. It is the landowner’s responsibility to remove waste dumped on private land – but if the waste is toxic, or a public health issue, the council may well decide to take action.

As always, having the right insurance in place with sufficient cover limits, is crucial to mitigate risk and protect business interests. Clearance costs for serious waste dumping can be high and should not be underestimated.

If you require any guidance or have a specific query on any of the issues above, relating to your insurance package or risk management programme, please get in touch:

David Sabine, Executive Director of Real Estate Practice
e. [email protected]
m. +44 (0) 7719 939 881

¹  https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/fly-tipping-statistics-for-england/fly-tipping-statistics-for-england-2024-to-2025

²   https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/SN05672/SN05672.pdf

³    https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/2175619/uk-brink-fly-tipping-crisis-councils