Official UK Parliament Petition: RAAC Homeowners Demand National Fund and Legislative Change

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The UK RAAC Campaign Group is proud to announce that, after a series of revisions, the House of Commons Petitions Committee has approved and published their petition, titled:

"RAAC Homeowners Justice: National Fund, Legislative Reform & Public Inquiry Now!"

The petition, now live on the UK Parliament petitions website, calls for urgent government action to support RAAC-affected homeowners and tenants, including:

1. Establishing a national fund to provide financial aid to those affected.
2. Launching a public inquiry into council and housing association practices concerning RAAC.
3. Introducing protective legislation to safeguard homebuyers and ensure accountability for structural defects.

The Case for Change
RAAC-affected homeowners, many of whom purchased ex-council properties under the Right-to-Buy scheme, are facing severe financial and housing insecurity. The campaign highlights:

• The risk of bankruptcy and homelessness for affected families.
• The need for a high-risk building register and mandatory reporting by surveyors and solicitors.
• The importance of holding developers accountable for construction defects for up to 60 years—an extension from the current 30-year limit under the Building Safety Act.
• The necessity to ban mortgage interest charges on condemned properties and restore first-time buyer status for affected homeowners.

Advocating for Justice
Wilson Chowdhry, Chair of the UK RAAC Campaign Group and petition creator, emphasized the importance of this petition:

“This petition has the potential to drive real change. If we gather 10,000 signatures, the Government must respond. With 100,000 signatures, we could secure a Parliamentary debate. These measures are critical for preventing homelessness and ensuring justice for homeowners affected by no-fault structural defects.”

Mr. Chowdhry expressed his appreciation for the committee’s approval but noted the challenges in ensuring the petition text accurately reflected the concerns of campaigners. While the initial draft omitted some key demands, the final version now includes nearly all of the campaign’s priorities. Unfortunately, the House of Commons Petitions Committee mistakenly published an earlier revision of the petition. However, in an email received today, an officer confirmed that the online petition has been corrected. She apologized for the error, stating, "We have updated the published version of the petition and will be contacting signatories to inform them of the minor changes to the text due to the publication mistake."

During the petition process, Mr. Chowdhry discovered that one aspect of his request had already been addressed through recent legislative changes. An officer from the Petitions team wrote: "We have reviewed your requested change and have suggested the below draft. Having looked at your addition on GPSR, we believe this is already covered under the Building Safety Act, which allows individuals to sue construction companies for defects up to 30 years old. This is the core principle of GPSR. Additionally, there is similar legislation currently under consideration in the House of Lords." Mr. Chowdhry was also informed that such laws currently apply only in England and Wales, not Scotland.

Mr. Chowdhry is now advocating for this very new law to be extended to cover a minimum of 60 years, given the long-term nature of property investment. He is also seeking to introduce similar laws in Scotland by adding an addendum to an existing petition with the Scottish Parliament Petition Committee. Mr. Chowdhry believes that such laws would provide invaluable protection for new homeowners, and he is also calling for these protections to be made retrospective, ensuring fairness for those affected by past defects.

He added:

“The UK Government must act to end the suffering of RAAC homeowners. Fair laws could eliminate mortgage interest on condemned properties, restore first-time buyer status, and ensure developers are held accountable for defects for 60 years. These changes would provide long-term security and fairness for homeowners.”

Homeowners affected by RAAC are facing a crisis, with many on the verge of bankruptcy and homelessness. They are burdened by the immense cost of urgent roof repairs, while others have been evacuated from their homes and are now paying both mortgages and rent for temporary accommodation. In some cases, councils are offering far less than their properties' worth, paying only current market value for homes that have significantly depreciated due to the presence of RAAC. This is especially unfair, as these properties were originally built by local councils and sold under the Right to Buy scheme. In an effort to reduce costs, RAAC was used as a cheaper alternative to concrete, leaving homeowners with structurally unsafe properties in desperate need of expensive repairs. As a result, many are trapped in a financial nightmare, unable to afford the repairs, and facing the very real risk of losing their homes—through no fault of their own.

A Call to Action
The UK RAAC Campaign Group urges the public to support the petition and rally friends and family to sign. Every signature counts in the fight to prevent bankruptcy and homelessness for RAAC-affected communities.

Sign the petition now and help us secure the justice and reform RAAC homeowners deserve (click here).