Scotland’s Latest RAAC Update: Progress, Problems, and the Growing Need for UK-Wide Action
On 7 November 2025, the Cabinet Secretary for Housing provided the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee with a written response to their review of Building Standards—a review to which Wilson Chowdhry, Chairman of the UK RAAC Campaign Group, had submitted evidence (click here). In her reply, Mairi McAllan offered an important update on Scotland’s national response to Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC). Annex C of her letter gives the clearest insight yet into how the Scottish Government views the crisis—and what actions it is, and is not, prepared to take. You can read the full response from Mairi McAllan, which was forwarded to Mr Chowdhry in recognition of his role as a contributor to the Committee’s review. (here).
For thousands of homeowners and tenants trapped in unsafe or uninsurable properties, the update is a mixture of welcome steps forward and deeply concerning gaps.
1. Guidance on RAAC: Progress—but still too slow
The update confirms that the Scottish Government has been working with professional bodies to improve official guidance on RAAC in domestic settings.
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A consumer-facing guide from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) was finally published in April.
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Technical guidance, led by the Institution of Structural Engineers, is still in the final stages and due by the end of the year.
Once complete, this guidance will be shared across local authorities, housing organisations, industry bodies, and the new RAAC in Housing Leadership Group. The Government also intends to brief the financial services sector—including insurers and mortgage lenders—to help them understand the implications.
This is a crucial step: without consistent, trusted technical guidance, many homeowners remain stuck in limbo because banks and insurers refuse to engage. But it is also a reminder that nearly two years after RAAC triggered emergency closures across Scotland, domestic guidance is only now nearing completion.
2. Financial Support: A patchwork, not a plan
The Cabinet Secretary reiterates that the Scottish Government “fully supports” councils trying to find solutions for affected households—but stops short of committing national funding.
Aberdeen gets flexibility, not funding
The only concrete financial measure in the update is the decision to give Aberdeen City Council flexibility over an old £10m infrastructure commitment. This allows the council to redirect its own freed-up money towards RAAC if it chooses. The Scottish Government is explicit, however, that how Aberdeen uses the money is entirely up to them.
For residents, this remains a far cry from dedicated RAAC remediation funding.
Calls for a UK-wide fund
The Cabinet Secretary stresses again that only the UK Government has the financial capacity to create a UK-wide RAAC remediation scheme. She argues that Westminster bears responsibility because many affected homes were sold under Right to Buy—before housing powers were devolved.
Despite repeated letters to both the former Deputy Prime Minister and the current Secretary of State for Housing, the UK Government position remains unchanged: no RAAC fund for residential properties.
For homeowners trapped in danger zones, this ongoing governmental stalemate provides no relief.
3. Why Scotland refuses to use the Building Safety Levy for RAAC
The update makes clear that the forthcoming Scottish Building Safety Levy (SBSL) will not be used for RAAC remediation.
The reasoning?
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SBSL is designed to pay for cladding remediation.
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Using it for RAAC would require “extensive assessment and consultation.”
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Current developers would object to paying for structural defects dating back to the 1950s–70s, long before they existed.
This position avoids a political battle with today’s construction industry—but leaves RAAC homeowners wondering where support is supposed to come from.
4. Access Problems in Mixed-Tenure Blocks
One of the most common issues reported by residents—especially in terraced and mixed-tenure properties—is gaining access for surveys and repairs when some owners refuse.
The Government acknowledges this is “continuing to be raised” and confirms that officials are now exploring whether additional legislative powers could be given to councils to force access where safety is at risk.
This is a significant shift. Until now, councils often claimed they had no legal mechanisms to compel uncooperative owners, even when RAAC posed a severe structural risk.
5. The Scottish Government’s Role: Coordination, but limited intervention
The Cabinet Secretary emphasises Scotland’s national leadership in RAAC response:
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The RAAC Cross Sector Working Group (established August 2023)
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National data gathering across public buildings
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Ongoing engagement with structural engineers
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A new RAAC in Housing Leadership Group
She highlights that Scotland’s data collection is significantly stronger than England’s, criticising the UK Government’s “desk-based exercise” in comparison to Scotland’s full survey programme.
However, coordination is not the same as funding—and for many affected households, coordination alone does not stabilise their homes, pay for surveys, or resolve insurance dead-ends.
6. What’s Still Missing?
Despite the flurry of activity described in the update, several major gaps remain:
No dedicated funding
Neither the UK nor Scottish Government has committed financial support for homeowners.
No national remediation strategy
Councils are left to develop their own approaches, resulting in postcode-based disparities.
No interim safety measures for displaced households
Residents forced from their homes—some for over a year—still have no clarity on compensation or long-term housing solutions.
No legal framework for rapid access or emergency repairs
The exploration of new powers is welcome, but it comes very late in the crisis.
Conclusion: Acknowledgement without action will not fix RAAC
The Cabinet Secretary’s update shows that Scotland recognises the scale of the RAAC crisis. The Government is coordinating, gathering data, drafting guidance, and meeting with councils and residents. These are important steps.
But for homeowners and tenants still living with collapsing roofs, unaffordable repairs, and uninhabitable homes, the message remains deeply unsatisfying:
There is still no funding.
There is still no national remediation programme.
And there is still no plan for how ordinary residents are supposed to survive this crisis.
With both governments pointing to each other, the people living in RAAC-affected homes continue to pay the price.
The Scottish Government may call for a UK-wide RAAC remediation fund—but until real money and real legislative solutions are put on the table, thousands of families remain stuck in danger and uncertainty.
Wilson Chowdhry, Chairman of the UK RAAC Campaign Group, stated:
"Ultimately, while a UK-wide approach would be the most logical and equitable solution, the absence of Westminster leadership cannot become an excuse for continued paralysis. The Scottish Government has a clear duty of care to the people who live here. RAAC homes exist in Scotland today, and the families trapped within them cannot wait on political negotiations that may never bear fruit.
"If the UK Government will not act, then Holyrood must. Whether through emergency legislation, targeted financial mechanisms, or a bespoke Scottish RAAC remediation programme, the responsibility to protect Scottish residents from structural danger rests squarely with the Scottish Government. The crisis is real, immediate, and growing—and Scotland must find a solution, regardless of what Westminster chooses to"
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.
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📧 Email: wilson@aasecurity.co.uk
📢 Twitter/X: https://x.com/WilsonChowdhry
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