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Months on from a major breakthrough, the UK RAAC Campaign Group hopes affected homeowners are now benefiting from vital relocation support
Earlier this year, the UK RAAC Campaign Group achieved an important breakthrough for families affected by Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) in Aberdeen.
After listening to the experiences of distressed homeowners and raising their concerns directly with Aberdeen City Council, the campaign helped secure a practical solution to one of the biggest barriers facing families trying to move forward:
How can people relocate when they cannot access the money needed to begin the process?
The answer came in March 2026, when Aberdeen City Council confirmed that advance payments could be considered for eligible homeowners participating in the voluntary acquisition process.
This was a significant moment for RAAC families who had spent months explaining that the problem was not unwillingness to move — it was the financial reality of moving.
The Problem Was Clear: Families Were Trapped
RAAC homeowners have faced an extraordinary situation.
Many were forced to leave properties they had worked hard to own, while still carrying the emotional and financial burden of homes they could no longer safely occupy.
Although the voluntary acquisition process provided a route forward, families highlighted a major practical obstacle.
Moving requires money.
Deposits for alternative accommodation, removal costs, temporary arrangements and other expenses all have to be paid before families can rebuild their lives.
The UK RAAC Campaign Group raised this issue directly during a meeting on 5th March 2026 between Wilson and Hannah Chowdhry and senior Aberdeen City Council representatives Stephen Booth and Gail Beattie.
The campaign proposed that homeowners should be able to access part of their agreed acquisition payment earlier, or alternatively be given greater flexibility around moving deadlines.
The message was simple:
“Families cannot relocate without the financial means to do so.”
A Positive Change Was Delivered
Following those discussions, Aberdeen City Council confirmed a new approach.
The Council advised that homeowners taking part in the voluntary acquisition process who were facing difficulties progressing their move could be considered for an advance payment of up to 20% of the agreed market value of their property.
The support was designed to help families secure alternative accommodation and overcome the financial barriers preventing them from moving forward.
The arrangement included safeguards to ensure the process could be managed properly, including requirements around formal missives, agreed dates of entry and solicitor involvement.
For many homeowners, this represented a much-needed recognition of the reality they had been highlighting for months. Mr Booth wrote:
With regard to the specific issue of financial assistance, discussions took place during the spring of 2026 concerning the practical difficulties some homeowners were experiencing in progressing relocation while awaiting completion of the voluntary acquisition process. Following consideration by officers through the Council's RAAC governance arrangements, it was agreed that advance payments could be considered in appropriate circumstances to assist homeowners who wished to proceed with a voluntary sale but who were experiencing financial barriers to moving.
As a result, communications issued to homeowners during March 2026 advised that, where appropriate, the Council may make an advance payment of up to 20% of the agreed market value of a property. This was subject to a formal missive being in place, an agreed date of entry, and payment being capable of being progressed through solicitors. The purpose of this arrangement was to provide practical assistance to homeowners who required support in securing alternative accommodation before settlement of their sale.
The position remains that homeowners participating in the voluntary acquisition process who experience difficulties in progressing a move should contact the Council's RAAC team so that their circumstances can be considered on an individual basis and appropriate support explored.
A Victory Achieved Through Listening and Persistence
The UK RAAC Campaign Group welcomes this development as an example of what can be achieved when affected families are heard.
The breakthrough did not happen by accident.
It came because homeowners shared their experiences, campaigners raised concerns, and decision-makers were challenged to consider solutions based on the real-life circumstances of those affected.
Wilson Chowdhry said:
“This was never about confrontation. It was about ensuring that the voices of RAAC families were heard and that practical barriers were addressed. Families needed a workable route forward, and we are pleased that this support became available.”
Months Later: We Hope Families Are Benefiting
As we reflect on this important milestone, our hope is that RAAC-affected homeowners who needed this assistance have now been able to access it and use it to begin rebuilding their lives.
For those still struggling to move forward, we encourage them to engage with Aberdeen City Council’s RAAC team and explore whether this support may apply to their circumstances.
No family should remain trapped simply because they cannot afford the immediate costs associated with relocation.
The Campaign Continues
While this was a significant victory, the UK RAAC Campaign Group recognises that many challenges remain.
RAAC families across the country continue to seek fairness, transparency and support as they navigate a crisis they never created.
The early payment concession shows that progress is possible when concerns are properly raised and practical solutions are pursued.
This breakthrough belongs to every homeowner who spoke out, shared their story and refused to allow their situation to be ignored.
Together, we continue to stand with RAAC families and campaign for a fair resolution.
The RAAC crisis is not just about concrete—it is about accountability.
And we are far from finished.
📧 Email: wilson@aasecurity.co.uk
📢 Twitter/X: https://x.com/WilsonChowdhry
#RAACScandal #Petition2113 #ScottishParliament #SupportRAACVictims #EndTheSilence
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