Campaigners demand councils are held 'accountable' over RAAC issues

Now Wilson Chowdhry, chairman of the UK RAAC Campaign Group, told The Herald that he wants to hold local authorities and developers “accountable”, blaming them for constructing homes using the “substandard” concrete, which has a lower lifespan than that of traditional materials. 

A petition, which was submitted to the Scottish Parliament at the end of July, calls for a national fund to be set up to support homeowners and tenants affected by RAAC, and demands that a public inquiry into the causes of the crisis be carried out. 

It is estimated that more than 2,000 homes across the UK could be demolished, the majority of which are in Scotland. From Aberdeen to Clackmannanshire, hundreds of families have been affected by the uncertainty. Earlier this year RAAC was identified in more than 500 council and private properties earlier this year.

Estimated demolition could cost between £20m and £25m and take up to four years while rebuilding could cost £130m and take between five and 15 years.

Mr Chowdhry’s interest in the RAAC crisis began in the autumn of 2023, after his daughter, Hannah – a University of Aberdeen law student and first time home buyer – was informed her home, located in the Balnagask neighbourhood of the city, was at risk. 

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  He said: “My daughter bought her home in July 2023. She earned the 30,000 deposit through hard work… [then] Aberdeen City Council wrote a letter to her saying she had a ceiling with RAAC, which had the potential of collapse due to water damage.”

A year later, Mr Chowdhry has emerged as one of the leading advocates for homeowners who unknowingly purchased properties that contained RAAC. Now, he wants to bring the debate to Holyrood. 

Reading from a list of demands,Mr Chowdhry remarked: “We want to hold the council, the housing associations, and the developers accountable for the use of substandard materials… and creating this health and safety risk.”

The campaign also wants to ensure surveyors are liable for undeclared defects, create a register of high risk buildings across Scotland, and prevent banks from charging interest on outstanding loans.

“People who lose their home because of health and safety issues should have their first time buyer status reinstated,” Mr Chowdhry noted.

The campaign faced a setback in mid-August, after Aberdeen City councillors voted to demolish properties containing RAAC and reimburse owners at market value, after subtracting the cost of remediation. Mr Chowdhry was not impressed.

“I have immense disappointment that councillors made that decision,” he said. “It was an easy gesture and an out for the council, thrusting the decision onto homeowners who are some of the most deprived in [Scotland].”

The petition, which was posted online at the end of July, is currently being considered by parliamentary staff. The full text of the petition can be read here.

If increased assistance is not provided,Mr Chowdhry warned that many people will face difficulties paying off their mortgages and securing new property. 

“What about people who are on palliative care? What about the elderly? They can’t restart employment to pay off their mortgages,” he said.

“People who earned a living working hard will now be left in financial ruin. They will not be able to pass on a legacy to their loved ones.”

Responding to a request for comment, Housing Minister Paul McLennan told The Herald that the Scottish government “takes RAAC very seriously,” and is holding regular meetings to “ensure best practice” is taking place. 

McLennan added: “We recognise that this will be a worrying time for those homeowners who have concerns about RAAC in their homes. While homeowners are responsible for their own building maintenance costs, local authorities can provide advice on what support may be available. That support may include advice, guidance, and information on potential sources of funding. 

“We continue to work closely with local authorities, and we are seeking to meet with the UK Government to discuss funding sources.”

In a statement, a COSLA spokesperson said that local authorities had “acted responsibly” in response to the crisis, adding: “The safety of everyone in Scotland’s local authority buildings is of paramount importance to councils. We treat the safety of everyone within our facilities extremely seriously.”

“Safety is the central consideration for councils and there is robust guidance to ensure these settings are safe for the public to be in.”

An Aberdeen City Council spokesperson said: “We will be negotiating with private homeowners to buy their properties, voluntarily, at market value, which would be the valuation of the property at the current date. Additionally, we will be willing to meet reasonable legal and professional costs along with home loss and disturbance payments. 

“We will work with homeowners to assess their housing options and identify any support that can be offered in rehoming. And we will continue to offer support to impacted individuals and families as they go through this process, and as they settle into new homes and communities. 

“The UK and Scottish Governments will be notified of the Council’s decision, including the financial impact on the Council and private owners. We will request a joint meeting with UK and Scottish Government ministers to discuss funding support for the short and longer-term housing development requirements.”