PLEASE JOIN OUR 'UK RAAC CAMPAIGN GROUP' FB PAGE
Date: February 3, 2024
Torry, Aberdeen - Residents of Torry, Aberdeen were taken by
surprise upon receiving a letter from Aberdeen City Council in November 2023,
revealing that their homes were constructed with Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated
Concrete (RAAC) in the roofs. This revelation has raised serious safety
concerns, as RAAC is now recognized as a substandard building material, putting
thousands of houses at risk of potential collapse.
Please sign RAAC petition (here)
Approximately 500 homes in the Balnagask area of Torry are
believed to be affected, with fears mounting about the structural integrity of
these buildings. While Aberdeen City Council has clarified that other
properties under their ownership, totaling 23,000 homes, remain unaffected, the
gravity of the situation in Torry has left residents anxious and uncertain
about the future of their homes.
In a recent letter addressed to council tenants and
homeowners (including those who purchased ex-council properties), the city
council outlined plans for inspection surveys within council properties.
However, property owners were advised to arrange and bear the costs of their
own surveys, with little to no support offered by the council.
One concerned homeowner, 19-year-old Hannah Chowdhry, shared
her worries about the situation, expressing concerns about the potential chaos
and financial burden. She highlighted the lack of response from Aberdeen City
Council to her queries and emphasized the impact this revelation could have on
her investment in her first home and fears of her roof collapsing while she was present in her home (click here).
In response to the crisis, her father Mr. Wilson Chowdhry, inquiring
about inspection costs, contacted Fairhurst and Partners a contractor currently providing services to Aberdeen City Council The estimated cost for a
preliminary cursory inspection alone was staggering at £500, with potential expenses
reaching up to £2000, excluding any repair costs that might follow.
Despite the alarming situation, Aberdeen City Council has stated that they won't be providing financial support to homeowners for their costs. Instead, they are exploring options with external bodies, including the national government, in the hope of determining a comprehensive plan for addressing the crisis. The priority will be to cover costs for their own council homes but they hope it will extend to private homeowners.
RAAC gained national attention in recent years, particularly
after a primary school building in Gravesend, Kent, collapsed in 2018, leading
to multiple school closures across the UK (click here). The concrete material, used as a cheaper
alternative in construction between the 1950s and 1990s, is known for its
brittleness and susceptibility to moisture absorption, putting buildings at risk
of deterioration.
Aberdeen City
Council assures residents that a full risk assessment is underway, and they are
actively seeking guidance from local and national government to minimize the
impact on affected parties. An officer wrote to Mr. Chowdhry, stating,
"... at this point in time, we are working to formulate a plan around what
may be required for both tenants and owners of these properties, by undertaking
a full risk assessment and appraisal of options. This will allow us to
determine what, if any, work is required and the related projected costs.
The situation
echoes a nationwide concern, emphasizing the need for coordinated efforts to
address the challenges posed by RAAC in buildings across the country.
Wilson Chowdhry expressed his dissatisfaction, stating,
"It is unacceptable that Aberdeen City Council is disavowing
responsibility for homes constructed on a budget, now revealed to be
structurally substandard.
"For every penny they saved, unsuspecting buyers of
these properties are now burdened with thousands of pounds in expenses.
"My 19-year-old daughter, who diligently saved for her
first home, is now confronted with a severe financial predicament due to the
callous cost-cutting measures adopted by ACC.
"I am aware of numerous older homeowners grappling with
the dilemma of either straining their finances for inspections and repairs or
risking a potential roof collapse by taking no action."
"This is a tragic example of how inefficient and insouciant Aberdeen Council is, they have exhibited a dereliction of duty by transferring the danger they created."
Hannah Chowdhry, has created a petition seeking support from the Scottish devolved Parliament and UK Parliament, you can sign it (here)
No comments:
Post a Comment