The History of SQUASH: From Campaign to Resource Hub

SQUASH has been part of the UK housing landscape since 2011. What began as a grassroots campaign against the criminalisation of squatting has evolved into a comprehensive resource hub for property guardianship and alternative housing solutions. This is our story.

Origins: The SQUASH Campaign (2011)

SQUASH was founded in May 2011 as "Squatters' Action for Secure Homes" in response to the government's consultation on criminalising squatting. The campaign brought together housing activists, legal experts, and concerned citizens who believed that criminalisation would harm vulnerable people without addressing the root causes of empty properties and housing insecurity.

Launch in the Houses of Parliament

On 25 May 2011, SQUASH was officially launched at an event in the Houses of Parliament, hosted by supportive MPs. The launch brought together:

• Housing policy experts
• Legal aid lawyers
• Homelessness charities
• Academics researching housing and urban policy
• Current and former squatters

The parliamentary launch gave the campaign immediate credibility and media attention. Major outlets including the BBC, The Guardian, and Wired covered the campaign, helping to bring the debate about squatting and housing into public consciousness.

Key Arguments Against Criminalisation

From the outset, SQUASH made several key arguments:

• Civil remedies already existed: Property owners could evict squatters quickly through Interim Possession Orders
• Most squatters were vulnerable: Research showed squatters were predominantly homeless people, not organised criminals
• The "homeowner nightmare" was rare: Cases of homeowners returning to find squatters were extremely uncommon
• Criminalisation would be costly: Police, courts, and prisons would bear new burdens
• Empty homes were the real problem: Hundreds of thousands of homes stood empty while people were homeless

The Fight Against Section 144 (2011-2012)

Throughout 2011 and into 2012, SQUASH led the opposition to what would become Section 144 of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act.

Campaign Activities

The campaign engaged in numerous activities:

• Research and reports: Publishing evidence on the reality of squatting and the likely impact of criminalisation
• Parliamentary briefings: Providing detailed briefings to MPs and Lords
• Media engagement: Countering misleading narratives about squatters
• Public events: Organising protests and public meetings
• Legal analysis: Working with lawyers to understand and critique the proposed law

Lords' Opposition

In February 2012, the House of Lords initially rejected the squatting provisions. Lord Bach, Lord Avebury, and other peers argued that the law was unnecessary and would primarily harm homeless people. However, the House of Commons overturned this rejection in March 2012.

Passage of Section 144

Despite significant opposition, Section 144 LASPO received Royal Assent in May 2012 and came into force on 1 September 2012. While this was a defeat for the campaign, SQUASH continued to monitor the law's implementation and document its impact.

Research and Documentation (2012-2015)

Following the law's passage, SQUASH shifted focus to documenting its effects:

Key Publications

• "Criminalising the Vulnerable" (2011): Analysis of who squatters actually were
• "Can We Afford to Criminalise Squatting?" (2012): Cost analysis of criminalisation
• "Squatting Statistics" (2015): Comprehensive data on convictions and impact
• "Homes Not Jails" (2015): Report on the ongoing housing crisis

The Daniel Gauntlett Case

In March 2013, Daniel Gauntlett, a homeless man in Kent, died after being prevented from squatting in an empty property. His death brought renewed attention to the human cost of criminalisation. SQUASH followed the subsequent coroner's inquest in 2014, which raised important questions about the law's impact on vulnerable homeless people.

Evolution: Becoming a Resource Hub (2015-Present)

As the years passed, the landscape of alternative housing changed. Property guardianship emerged as a significant housing option, offering a legal alternative for people seeking affordable accommodation in empty buildings.

The Shift to SQUASH 2.0

Recognising these changes, SQUASH evolved from a single-issue campaign to a broader resource hub. The name evolved too:

• Original: Squatters' Action for Secure Homes
• Current: Supporting Quality Affordable Secure Housing

This evolution allowed us to maintain our core mission - supporting people seeking affordable, secure housing - while addressing the changed legal and practical landscape.

Current Focus Areas

Today, SQUASH provides information and resources on:

• Property Guardianship: Comprehensive guides to becoming a guardian, understanding rights, and comparing companies
• Housing Law: Information on Section 144 LASPO, squatters' rights where they still exist, adverse possession, and empty property regulations
• Housing Crisis: Analysis of empty homes, affordable housing shortages, and alternative solutions
• European Perspectives: Information on housing and squatting law in other European countries

Our Values

Throughout our evolution, certain values have remained constant:

• Housing as a right: Everyone deserves safe, secure, affordable housing
• Evidence-based advocacy: Decisions should be based on facts, not stereotypes
• Supporting the vulnerable: Those most affected by housing insecurity deserve support and information
• Practical resources: Information should be accessible and useful
• Independence: Our resources are independent and not influenced by commercial interests

Media Coverage

Over the years, SQUASH and our work have been covered by major media outlets including:

• BBC News
• The Guardian
• Wired
• HuffPost UK
• The Independent
• Vice

This coverage has helped bring housing issues to wider public attention and contributed to ongoing debates about housing policy.

Looking Forward

The UK housing crisis continues. Empty homes stand vacant while homelessness rises. Property guardianship has grown but faces ongoing questions about rights and standards. New challenges emerge around housing affordability, security of tenure, and the rights of those in alternative housing arrangements.

SQUASH continues to provide independent, evidence-based information to support people navigating these challenges. Our goal remains the same as it was in 2011: to support quality, affordable, secure housing for all.