Petition for Accountability and Support for Homeowners and tenants affected by RAAC in Torry, Aberdeen and across the UK

Watch BBC interview (here)

We are now united with several Scottish RAAC Communities including; Chestnut Grove Homeowners Association (Craighill), the Little Boghead RAAC Action Group (Bathgate), A Fair Deal for Dean South Homeowners and the people of Avon Estate in Linlithgow. We are also now joined by Hirwaun Community RAAC Campaign from Wales (click here) and the community of Knights Estate in Basildon.

Discover the unified response of homeowners and tenants across the country by delving deeper (here). WARNING: Prepare to encounter distressing accounts, including individuals who paid £18,000 for homes valued at £110,000 and are now burdened with mortgage repayments. Learn about the cover-up that allowed an issue first exposed 20 years ago to escalate into the current crisis. Uncover the attempts by one local council to intimidate 10 homeowners residing in ghost towns plagued by neglect and isolation.

We, the undersigned concerned citizens, draw your attention to a critical issue affecting the homeowners across the UK. In November 2023, Aberdeen City Council sent letters to residents, including young individuals like 19-year-old law student Hannah Chowdhry, disclosing the use of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) in the roofs of their homes—a substandard building material now posing serious risks. Read more (here)

RAAC, exposed as a potential hazard, puts thousands of buildings, constructed by Aberdeen City Council, at risk of collapse. In the Balnagask area alone, approximately 500 homes are believed to be affected. While Aberdeen City Council owns a substantial housing stock of 23,000 homes, the issue seems confined to the Balnagask area. Read more (here)

Initially, Aberdeen City Council offered no support to private homeowners, despite their responsibility for the use of RAAC in property construction. Though they claim to be exploring potential funding from National Government and external sources, they have yet to confirm direct support for private owners. Many homeowners now face inspection bills of up to £2000, with the looming threat of additional expenses reaching tens of thousands for necessary roof replacements. In an email to Wilson Chowdhry, father of Hannah Chowdhry, they wrote: "...at this point in time we are working to formulate a plan around what may be required for both tenants and owners of these properties, by undertaking a full risk assessment and appraisal of options. This will allow us to determine what, if any, work is required and related projected costs, and to identify what funding may be available both for ACC and any other affected parties. Unfortunately, at this point in time, we cannot confirm ACC directly will be in a position to support private owners and meet the needs of private and council tenants." Councils across the UK are adopting a uniform stance of denying assistance to homeowners and neglecting to provide relief to private tenants. Shockingly, council tenants who have poured considerable resources into enhancing their homes are now facing displacement without any form of compensation, tearing them away from the communities they cherish.

We, the undersigned, believe:

1. Aberdeen City Council, along with many others across the UK, are accountable for the use of RAAC in the construction of properties in the Balnagask area. They should be obliged to fund inspections and repairs for all affected homes, regardless of ownership. We demand that they accept responsibility for the danger they have imposed on hundreds of families and provide the support necessary to alleviate the socioeconomic crises they are facing.

Therefore, we petition:

1. The Scottish Government, Welsh Assembly, Northern Ireland Assembly, and UK Government should allocate a national fund to support struggling homeowners and tenants in their respective nations who purchased ex-council homes without being informed about the use of substandard building materials.
2. The UK Government to allocate a national fund to support all people affected by RAAC. This would mean providing financial assistance for inspections repairs, and evacuations irrespective of whether properties are council-owned or not.
3. Aberdeen City Council and all other councils involved in this RAAC scandal to reconsider their decision to withhold financial assistance from homeowners and private tenants who are facing difficulties, particularly those who were misled by the absence of notification regarding (RAAC) in their properties. It is imperative that these councils take responsibility for the hazardous conditions present in these properties and fulfil there obligation to rectify them.
4. The Scottish, Welsh, and Northern Ireland Parliaments, as well as the UK Parliament, should enact legislation that holds councils and housing associations accountable for constructing properties with substandard materials such as reinforced Autoclaved RAAC. These organizations should be legally liable for any defects discovered later and obligated to rectify them. Any homes sold by these entities must clearly disclose associated risks at the time of sale. Furthermore, pre-purchase Home Buyer Reports and home surveys should be mandated to identify any such defects, with solicitors and RICS surveyors ensuring compliance. They should also be held liable for any failure to identify such risks.
5. Public inquiry into the practices of councils and housing associations concerning RAAC. This inquiry would investigate how these entities conducted business related to RAAC, including the handling of property sales, disclosure of RAAC presence, and the response to homeowner concerns.

Article 11 (1) of the The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) was adopted in 1966 and has been ratified by 153 States. The UK was one of the nations to subscribe to this international law, which states:

"The States Parties to the present Covenant recognize the right of everyone to an adequate standard of living for himself and his family, including adequate food, clothing and housing, and to the continuous improvement of living conditions. The States Parties will take appropriate steps to ensure the realization of this right, recognizing to this effect the essential importance of international cooperation based on free consent."

We urge both levels of government to act swiftly to address this crisis, ensuring the safety and financial well-being of affected homeowners and tenants.