London, UK – On Wednesday, September 4, 2024, letters and a petition were submitted to 10 Downing Street calling for immediate support for homeowners and tenants across the UK who are affected by the RAAC (Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete) housing crisis. The letters were addressed to Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Housing Minister Angela Rayner, urging the UK Government to establish a national fund to assist councils and housing associations. This initiative aims to prevent unsuspecting homeowners, who were sold properties without knowledge of RAAC issues, from facing homelessness and insurmountable debt due to mistakes made by councils and the Government during the 1960s and 70s construction of ex-council homes, which were later sold off under the Right-to-Buy scheme whose lauded values were failed.
The visit to Number 10 was sparked by Aberdeen City Council's recent decision to demolish and rebuild over 500 homes in the Balnagask area of Torry due to the presence of RAAC. This decision, made during a full council meeting on August 21st, 2024, impacts approximately 366 council-owned homes and 138 privately-owned residences, leaving many homeowners facing severe financial distress. Additionally, the letter highlighted failures by West Lothian Council to provide concrete solutions for homeowners dealing with RAAC, leaving them in a state of uncertainty and limbo. The situation is further compounded by the plight of residents recently evacuated from their homes in Tillicoultry, who are also left without clear resolutions to their RAAC-related issues.Watch as our petition is submitted to number 10:
The submission was delivered by Wilson Chowdhry, Chairman of the UK RAAC Campaign, along with Angelica Malone, a council tenant from Basildon who is still awaiting a new home after her previous property was confirmed to be RAAC-infested. They were joined by their daughters, Teagan Malone and Willow Chowdhry, and Ben Buckland, a former Scots Guard, who played the bagpipes to emphasize the importance of the event.
The UK RAAC Campaign is pressing the Government to take swift and decisive action to rectify the longstanding issues caused by RAAC in housing, which have left many families in precarious situations. The petition highlights the need for a national fund that would help cover the costs of repairs, replacements, and the rehousing of affected individuals, ensuring that no homeowner is left behind due to circumstances beyond their control.
Letter to the Prime Minister and Housing Minister:
"Dear Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Housing Minister Angela Rayner,
We write to you on behalf of the thousands of homeowners and tenants across the UK who have been severely impacted by the RAAC housing crisis. It has come to our attention that many residents have been sold homes without knowledge of RAAC issues, resulting in unexpected homelessness and financial burdens. We urge the Government to establish a national fund to support councils and housing associations in managing this crisis effectively.
The legacy of these ex-council homes, initially intended to provide equitable housing and a legacy for future generations, has turned into a nightmare for many due to the failures of previous government schemes. It is imperative that the current Government takes responsibility for these past mistakes and provides the necessary support to prevent further hardship for affected homeowners and tenants.
...We look forward to your urgent attention to this matter and await your response."
Concerns Over Valuation Discrepancies and Lack of Council Response in Basildon
Concerns have been raised by affected homeowners in Basildon regarding the valuation of their homes, which have been significantly undervalued by council-appointed surveyors compared to independent assessments. These homeowners have authorized Mr. Chowdhry to represent them in discussions about the discrepancies in valuations. However, multiple emails sent by Mr. Chowdhry and Christine Brady to Basildon Council representatives—including Jonathan Tizzard (Director of Property Services), Emma Perry (Head of Housing), Luke Rapley (Head of Asset Management), Jennifer Hemmingway (Councillor for Housing), and Thomas Burrows (Councillor for Regeneration and Growth)—have gone unanswered.
Council's Rejection of Petition for Public Participation
In a bid to address these issues and seek answers, the UK RAAC Campaign Group attempted to submit an online petition that could permit public participation at a council meeting to discuss the concerns of tenants and homeowners. The text of the petition read:
"In October 2023, Basildon Borough Council informed residents of the Knight Estate that their homes contained dangerous crumbly concrete (RAAC) in the roofs, posing a severe risk of collapse. To mitigate this issue, the Council has offered voluntary agreements to homeowners who are being forced to vacate their properties. However, these offers fall up to £70,000 short of comparable market valuations. The presence of RAAC in the roofs is the direct result of the Council's decision to build these homes using substandard materials before selling them to unsuspecting buyers. Despite the urgency, the Council has continued to ignore email requests seeking approval for designated representatives to speak on behalf of the homeowners. Furthermore, they have failed to provide suitable rehousing options for several Council tenants who remain at risk of their roofs collapsing."
We petition Basildon Council to:
1.Provide fair pre-RAAC-declaration valuations in voluntary agreements for homeowners affected by RAAC who are at risk of losing their homes.
2.Respond promptly to email inquiries from concerned groups and residents, ensuring transparent communication.
3.Allow homeowners the option to authorize designated individuals to communicate on their behalf.
4.Offer a compensation grant of £1000 to private tenants who have been made homeless due to RAAC.
5.Guarantee that all remaining Council tenants are offered suitable rehousing options that meet their needs by the end of September.
Basildon Borough Council rejected the petition, citing that it disclosed personal information and named individuals. Despite adjustments to the petition to remove specific references (we simply removed the name of Knights Estate) and comply with the Council’s guidelines, the revised petition was also rejected with the explanation that it was too similar to a previously submitted petition.
Mr. Chowdhry and Angelica Malone expressed frustration at the Council's actions, describing them as part of a pattern of neglect and obstruction aimed at stifling resident voices and preventing public participation in council meetings. In response, Mr. Chowdhry has written an open letter to the Chief Executive, the Complaints Team, and the Leader of the Council, calling for an opportunity for public participation at a council meeting where the RAAC crisis is discussed and for their petition to be registered and supported by the wider Basildon community.
Council tenant, Angelica Malone, said:
“I am deeply distressed by the ongoing delays in finding us a new home. We’re living in a ghettoised community where council services have been reduced, empty properties are being vandalised, and my young children are now constantly frightened. To make matters worse, we are living under the constant threat of a collapsing roof due to the RAAC issues. I’m calling for a move before the end of September because these delays mean I’ll have to juggle relocating with getting my children to school, something that could have been avoided if the move had happened during the school holidays. It’s incredibly frustrating and unfair to be left in this unsafe and uncertain situation for so long.”
Wilson Chowdhry, Chairman, UK RAAC Campaign Group said:
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