By Wilson Chowdhry – Chairman, UK RAAC Campaign Group
The crisis facing RAAC-affected homeowners in Aberdeen continues to escalate, with aging infrastructure, inadequate support, and a pressing need for safe, sustainable housing solutions. As part of our ongoing efforts to ensure no community is left behind, the UK RAAC Campaign Group has submitted a comprehensive proposal to Aberdeen City Council (ACC). Our plan is rooted in fairness, feasibility, and legal precedent—and most importantly, in the lived experiences and voices of local residents.
🔍 Learning from Clackmannanshire: An Equitable Model
Our proposal draws inspiration from recent successful negotiations with Clackmannanshire Council. There, we are helping to establish a full roof replacement scheme that significantly reduced costs—from £39,000 to £20,000 per homeowner. Residents also chose to contribute £9,000 to include cavity wall insulation and external rendering, bringing their homes closer to modern standards and improving energy efficiency. The council is seeking additional support from the Scottish Government to further reduce the financial burden.
This balanced approach—preserving homes rather than demolishing them—offers a model Aberdeen can adopt.
🧓 Who’s Affected? – Survey Insights
A recent survey of RAAC-affected homeowners in Aberdeen highlights just how vulnerable many residents are:
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45% are aged 65+
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35% have a disability or long-term health condition
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10% are households with children under 18
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100% want their roof fixed or full compensation at pre-RAAC market value
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100% are dissatisfied with current VA (Voluntary Acquisition) valuations
These numbers underline the importance of an inclusive, compassionate solution.
🏠 What We’re Proposing
Our proposal to Aberdeen City Council includes the following six key elements:
1. A Full Roof Replacement Scheme
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Council-led coordination of RAAC roof replacements, drawing on economies of scale.
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Cost reductions negotiated with contractors.
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Homeowners supported through low- or no-interest council-backed loans or grants.
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Homeowners retain their homes, avoiding forced relocation.
2. Optional External Upgrades
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Homeowners may opt-in to additional work—cavity wall insulation and external rendering.
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These upgrades could be loan-funded or secured via bulk-purchase discounts coordinated by ACC.
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Improvements would boost energy efficiency and long-term property value.
3. Access to Government Funding
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ACC should apply for Scottish Government funding to ease costs.
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Full use of financial assistance options under the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 should be made.
4. Legal and Policy Alignment
Our proposal helps ACC meet key statutory obligations:
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Local Government in Scotland Act 2003 – Pursue “best value,” including social outcomes.
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Fairer Scotland Duty (Equality Act 2010) – Actively reduce socio-economic disadvantage.
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Community Empowerment Act 2015 – Promote public participation in decisions.
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Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 – Provide financial help for essential repairs.
5. A Challenge to Narrow “Best Value” Thinking
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ACC’s “market value” approach risks homelessness and financial ruin for older or vulnerable homeowners.
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“Best value” must factor in community welfare and long-term stability—not just short-term savings.
6. Preventing Demolition by Default
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Evidence from other councils shows some are leveraging RAAC to clear “undesirable” buildings.
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Clackmannanshire’s engineers recommended minor works, yet demolition was being considered.
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Without a fully funded redevelopment plan, mass demolition is irresponsible and legally risky (e.g., West Lothian CPO case, 2010).
🛠️ Clarifying the Implementation Plan
Council officers reviewing our proposal asked for clarification, which we welcomed. Here’s how we see the proposal working in practice:
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Where homeowners agree to roof replacements, ACC could repair council-owned homes within the same blocks.
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Alternatively, ACC could prioritise repairs where homeowners form a majority.
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Council homes in those blocks could be retained or used in a home-swap scheme, allowing more residents to stay in the community.
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We prefer loans for energy upgrades but support group purchase schemes if funding is constrained.
Importantly, we are not asking ACC to abandon the Voluntary Acquisition process. Those who wish to move should still be supported. However, remedial works must be a viable alternative for those who want to stay.
🤝 A Call for Action
The UK RAAC Campaign Group urges Aberdeen City Council to adopt a more balanced approach—one that recognises the rights of homeowners, the importance of community, and the legal frameworks that support equitable solutions. Our proposal offers a path forward that is cost-effective, collaborative, and compassionate.
We remain committed to working with the Council, residents, and the Scottish Government to make this happen.
Eleanor Sheppard, Executive Director for Aberdeeen City Council's Families & Communities department wrote:
"I currently have an instruction to explore the feasibility of the 2 options presented by the local group and your option, and I’ll report on the feasibility of the 3 options to Council (your proposal will be appended) and make a recommendation at that point."📢 Join the Movement If you're a homeowner affected by RAAC in Aberdeen and want to stay informed, share your views, or join the discussion, please get in touch or join our local WhatsApp group. Contact wilson@aasecurity.co.uk for more information or join the UK RAAC Campaign Group Facebook page (here).
Together, we can make housing justice a reality.
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