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Dear Mr.
Norris and other listed politicians.
I thank Mr
Norris for his response regarding the pressing issue of Reinforced Autoclaved
Aerated Concrete (RAAC) and the legislative changes I outlined. While I
appreciate the acknowledgment of the concerns raised, I find the reply deeply
unsatisfactory and inattentive to the severity of the crisis affecting
thousands of homeowners across the UK, including my daughter in Aberdeen.
Mr Norris
has indicated that “building safety is a devolved issue” and suggested this is
a matter for the Scottish Government. However, this fundamentally misrepresents
the scope of my proposals. Many of the legislative reforms I proposed,
including amendments to the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, the
Finance Act 2003, and the introduction of laws akin to General Product Safety
Regulations for housing, are UK-wide measures that fall squarely within
Westminster's jurisdiction. For example:
- Amendments
to the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000: I proposed allowing
homeowners to reduce existing loans to capital payments without interest,
specifically to provide relief to those whose properties have been
rendered uninhabitable due to structural defects.
- Amendments
to the Finance Act 2003: I requested a provision to renew the first-time
buyer status for affected homeowners, ensuring they can access existing
supportive schemes to secure new homes.
- Legislation
akin to the European General Product Safety Regulations (GPSR): This would hold developers
accountable for rectifying safety issues like RAAC and cladding in homes
they built, regardless of resale status. This responsibility aligns with
the principle that manufacturers must address safety defects in vehicles
over their lifetime, a law derived from European frameworks.
- Amendment
to the Insurance Act 2015: Provide affordable insurance options for
homeowners in high-risk areas and encourage insurers to offer specialized,
low-premium products for properties with RAAC damage Establish a
government-backed insurance scheme for RAAC-affected homes, offering
specialized coverage for the unique risks of RAAC.
The
dismissal of these proposals as devolved issues suggests that Mr Norris did not
review my letter with the care it warranted.
Furthermore,
Mr Norris’s letter neglects to address the concerns raised by Scotland’s
Housing Minister, Paul McLennan, who has written to my daughter, Hannah,
stating:
"Previously
the Chancellor had committed to ‘spend what is necessary’ to deal with the
issue of RAAC. However, no funding has been forthcoming, including in the
recent budget. In addition, as the UK Government has failed to inflation-proof
their capital budget, this has resulted in nearly a 9% real-terms cut in our UK
capital funding between 2023-24 and 2027-28. We will continue to call on this
UK Government, and any future incoming UK Government, to commit to this funding
as previously pledged."
This
exchange reflects the broader political impasse, with both governments blaming
each other, while families and individuals like my daughter bear the burden.
Homeowners are not concerned with which government provides the necessary
funding—they simply need a fund to exist to prevent financial ruin.
Mr Norris’s suggestion that
homeowners should bear the cost of repairing their homes reflects a troubling
lack of awareness regarding their financial realities. Aberdeen City Council
has estimated that the cost of repairing RAAC-affected roofs could reach as
much as £71,000, a figure that is entirely out of reach for most affected
individuals. These homeowners predominantly belong to some of the UK’s most
deprived communities, frequently appearing high on indices of deprivation. Many
lack the financial means or creditworthiness to secure loans, leaving them
trapped in an impossible situation with no realistic way to bear such
staggering costs.
For example,
my daughter, a full-time law student aged 20, cannot secure the financial
resources to cover such repairs. The majority of RAAC-homeowners in Aberdeen
affected by RAAC are aged between 65 and 90, and many are ineligible for
mortgage advances. Suggesting they undertake repairs without a robust national
support system ignores the immense scale of this crisis.
Moreover, the
response overlooks the fact that the homes affected by RAAC were built by
councils using public funds and sold under the UK Government's Right to Buy
scheme. This scheme, touted as a pathway to homeownership and financial
security, has failed these homeowners. The promise of equitable housing and
secure homes has been replaced with financial hardship and the threat of
bankruptcy and homelessness.
Perhaps you
are unaware that in Clackmannanshire, 30 families affected by RAAC are now
burdened with paying mortgages on uninhabitable buildings, alongside council
rent and futile insurance policies that provide no coverage for RAAC-related
issues. During a recent meeting with council officials and an elected member, a
single mother broke down while sharing the overwhelming financial pressure she
faces, particularly as she prepares to welcome her third child. A couple also
became emotional, describing the profound negative impact the RAAC crisis has
had on their lives. Shockingly, a local councillor expressed frustration that
these families did not fully appreciate the "huge pressures" on
councillors tasked with making decisions that have stripped them of their homes
and futures.
This blatant
lack of empathy and the bureaucratic indifference displayed by governments and
councils are appalling. I urge you to familiarise yourself further with this
issue to grasp the devastating toll it is taking on these families and others:
https://wilsonsthirdway.blogspot.com/2024/11/raac-affected-homeowners-outraged-by.html
Have you engaged with the Scottish Government regarding its responsibilities towards the homeowners affected by RAAC? Perhaps you could advocate for a portion of the £3.4bn Treasury budget, as outlined by Chancellor Rachel Reeves, to be allocated specifically for RAAC remediation and voluntary property purchases. Alternatively, you could consider designating these funds yourselves. Over 1,000 individuals are at risk of bankruptcy and homelessness, yet governments at both levels continue to fail to respond decisively. This is no longer just a building safety issue - it is a public health and housing emergency.
I would also like to remind you of
the significant financial interventions the UK Government has made in the past.
During the 2008 financial crisis, £137 billion was allocated in cash injections
and loans to banks, alongside £1,029 billion in guarantees. Surely, it is
reasonable to now expect the financial industry to play a role in resolving
this crisis, particularly through legislative changes aimed at reducing the
interest burden on affected homeowners. Furthermore, could a similar loan
scheme or grants not be offered to struggling families who are on the brink
of homelessness? Or is the Government’s primary objective to safeguard commerce
at the expense of the people it is meant to serve?
Lastly, I must highlight your
failure to address my proposals for enhanced home-buying surveys, which would
include mandatory assessments of construction materials and their long-term
safety implications. Implementing such measures could prevent future crises
like RAAC and cladding from wreaking havoc on more families. A scheme of this
nature is urgently needed across the UK, not just in Scotland. I am also
preparing to meet with the Chief Executive and Leader of Basildon Council to
negotiate a fair deal for homeowners being offered inadequate compensation for
their RAAC-affected homes. This issue is not confined to Scotland, it is a
nationwide crisis that demands a comprehensive and unified response.
I urge you
to revisit my letter with the seriousness it deserves and to reconsider the
legislative and financial support required to assist RAAC-affected homeowners.
The Labour Party’s commitment to fairness and justice must extend to those
caught up in this scandal. As the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for
Local Growth and Building Safety, you are in a position to advocate for a
national fund and legislative reforms to provide immediate and long-term relief
to those affected.
I eagerly await your response to
this letter.
Yours Sincerely
Wilson
Chowdhry
Chairman, UK RAAC Campaign Group
wilson@aasecurity.co.uk
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