The UK RAAC Campaign Group has today issued a powerful open letter to the Scottish Housing Minister, senior Renfrewshire Council leaders, and the two housing associations responsible for RAAC-affected homes in Linwood and Erskine.
The letter is addressed to:
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Màiri McAllan MSP, Scottish Housing Minister
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James Purvis, Asset Manager, Linstone Housing Association
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Barry Thompson, Property Management Officer, Bridgewater Housing Association
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Councillor Lorraine Cameron, Provost, Renfrewshire Council
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Councillor Iain Nicolson (SNP), Leader, Renfrewshire Council
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Councilllor Marie McGurk, Housing Convener, Renfrewshire Council
The message is clear: residents have been left abandoned, unsupported, and trapped in unsafe RAAC homes, while the responsible organisations continue to deflect responsibility rather than work together.
A Crisis Growing More Severe While Authorities Pass the Buck
Hundreds of families across Renfrewshire — including 339 properties in Linwood, Erskine, and surrounding communities — are living in homes now known to contain dangerous RAAC panels.
Many residents face:
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homes that cannot be sold
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repair bills of £20,000–£30,000
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inability to obtain loans due to credit or age
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collapse of long-term financial security
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fear over the structural safety of their properties
Despite this, affected residents have been pushed back and forth between housing associations, Renfrewshire Council, and the Scottish Government, with none taking ownership of the crisis.
A recent reply from the Housing Minister’s Private Office declined a meeting with residents and advised them to “liaise with the local authority” — even though the Council insists RAAC homes under housing associations or in private ownership are not its responsibility.
This confusion has left homeowners in despair.
Breaking Down the Failings — Organisation by Organisation
The open letter identifies the failures of each body clearly and separately, preventing any further confusion or blame-shifting.
Linstone Housing Association (James Purvis – Asset Manager)
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No fair or transparent buy-back programme has been put forward.
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Cancelled or avoided meetings with residents.
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No financial options, payment plans, or timelines have been shared.
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No clarity on what happens to residents who fail probity checks or cannot fund repairs.
Bridgewater Housing Association (Barry Thompson – Property Management Officer)
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Also failed to propose any buy-back or shared-equity pathway.
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Meetings frequently cancelled or restricted to internal discussions.
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No plan for residents who cannot afford repairs or loan repayments.
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Little transparency on long-term structural strategy.
Renfrewshire Council (Provost Cameron & Leader Nicolson)
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Only the Council can initiate a voluntary acquisition programme — yet no such process is being explored.
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Without Council approval, RSLs cannot apply to the Affordable Homes Supply Programme (AHSP).
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Their absence from key meetings makes any discussion on funding or solutions effectively pointless.
Scottish Government / Scottish Housing Minister
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Declined to meet residents directly.
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Issued advice that contradicts local realities.
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Provided no funding route, despite knowing AHSP requires council-led applications.
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Failed to coordinate a crisis response involving all key partners.
Residents Facing ‘Impossible Choices’
The letter highlights the reality for many families:
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Homes valued at nearly zero
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No option to remortgage
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Structural fears over roofs they cannot afford to replace
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Emotional strain of living in a home deemed unsafe
Resident Jodie Hillcoat described the situation clearly:
“People are frightened. Many can’t get finance, and others simply can’t afford to lose what little equity they have. Families are stuck — unable to sell, unable to move, unable to live without fear.”
A Viable Funding Pathway Already Exists — But Requires Cooperation
The Affordable Homes Supply Programme (AHSP) could enable:
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RAAC remediation
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Buy-backs
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Structural replacement
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Rehousing
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Shared-equity solutions
But this can only happen if:
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Housing Associations cooperate, and
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Renfrewshire Council agrees to sponsor and approve applications
At the moment, neither is happening.
What the UK RAAC Campaign Group Is Calling For
The open letter requests:
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An urgent meeting with the Scottish Housing Minister, including residents and the UK RAAC Campaign Group.
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Mandatory attendance by Renfrewshire Council at all RAAC-related meetings.
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Direct meetings between Linstone/Bridgewater and residents within 14 days.
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A clear financial plan outlining buy-backs, payment options, and support for those who cannot meet probity checks.
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Immediate use of AHSP funding routes.
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A cross-agency statement clarifying responsibility to end the current cycle of denial.
A Clear Message: “Residents Have Waited Long Enough”
The letter closes with a firm demand for urgent, coordinated action. Families have been patient under extraordinary strain — but patience has limits.
The Campaign Group stresses that any future meeting must include:
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Renfrewshire Council
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Housing Associations
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Scottish Government
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UK RAAC Campaign Group
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Affected residents
Without all partners at the table, progress is impossible.
The letter and accompanying email have now been sent to all relevant parties. Residents await their response.
Join the Fight
If you or someone you know is affected by RAAC, or if you want to support our campaign, follow us on social media and get in touch. Together, we can make sure no one is left to face this crisis alone.
Sign our petitions:
📧 Email: wilson@aasecurity.co.uk
📢 Twitter/X: https://x.com/WilsonChowdhry
#RAACScandal #Petition2113 #ScottishParliament #SupportRAACVictims #EndTheSilence
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