West Lothian RAAC Homeowners Meet Housing Minister Mairi McAllan: Voices, Frustrations, and Urgent Appeals
Homeowners in West Lothian who have been living with the dangers of RAAC (Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete) recently met with Scottish Housing Minister Mairi McAllan to discuss the challenges they face daily in their homes. The meeting brought together residents from Craigshill, Bathgate, Broxburn, and Linlithgow alongside council representatives, campaigners, and officials from Safer Homes. For those affected, the gathering was a chance to be heard after years of uncertainty, frustration, and bureaucratic delays.
From the outset, Minister McAllan made it clear that her intention was to listen. She explained that while the Scottish Government does not have a specific RAAC funding pot due to current economic constraints, she remains committed to pressing the UK Government on financial support and exploring flexible solutions where possible. The meeting was framed around pressing issues such as mortgage access, remediation, demolition, and the wider financial impact on homeowners.
The situation in West Lothian is acute. Councillor George Paul highlighted that 337 private properties have been identified as containing RAAC, spread across several areas, with Craigshill alone accounting for nearly half. While the council has allocated funds to address RAAC within its own housing stock, homeowners are largely left to navigate a complex and uncoordinated system themselves.
For the residents, the human toll of living with RAAC is significant. Karen Chappell shared her distress at being unable to find a buyer for her property, despite multiple offers, because mortgage lenders will not finance RAAC-affected homes. Nicole Eadie, just 31, described the very real risk of financial ruin and bankruptcy if she cannot resolve her property’s status. The sense of helplessness was palpable, with many homeowners frustrated by the lack of a clear framework to access support, whether through grants, loans, or coordinated remediation efforts.
The meeting also highlighted the practical difficulties faced by residents. Graham Black described the near-impossible challenge of finding surveyors willing to assess properties, having contacted over ten companies with little success. Ashleigh Mitchell emphasized that the homes in Chestnut Grove are entirely composed of RAAC, making remediation virtually impossible and likely pointing to future demolition, similar to the approach taken in Aberdeen. The financial, emotional, and logistical burdens on these communities were evident throughout the discussions.
Ashleigh Mitchell, stated:
Safety and wellbeing were recurring themes. Lisa Black spoke candidly about the anxiety of knowing her children were sleeping in defective homes, while other residents described the daily stress of living in properties whose structural integrity is uncertain. The historical knowledge of RAAC risks only added to the frustration. Kerry McIntosh and Rosalind Bell highlighted that councils and housing providers had been aware of the dangers for decades, yet structurally compromised homes were still sold to the public. Kerry called for a public inquiry and insisted that homeowners deserve meaningful solutions, whether through demolition, removal, or “home-for-a-home” arrangements.
During the meeting Kerry Macintiosh, said: "The true and real story of Deans south..... 18 years of pure trauma, PTSD, heart attacks, mental health, suicidal, dirty water, no basic council services, anxiety attacks, collapsing roofs, waterfalls that turned to ice,.... A ghost town.... feeling like we were drowning, and no support was given by West lothian council. My journey like that of many others in West lothian and around Scotland has been one marked by distress and disillusionment. When our homes were condemned we found ourself thrust into a nightmare of uncertainty and fear. The promises of fair compensation and adequate support quickly evaporated leaving us stranded as a sea of despair."
Minister McAllan acknowledged these concerns, noting the lack of coordinated support from local authorities and the emotional and financial strain faced by residents. She committed to creating a leadership group within the Scottish Government to address RAAC comprehensively, engaging with mortgage lenders and insurers to facilitate property sales and financial stability. She also encouraged councils to take a more proactive role in coordinating surveys, remediation, and access to trusted service providers, drawing on examples from other regions in Scotland.
The meeting also underscored the frustration of homeowners with communication and governance. Many spoke of how the RAAC government group had not convened since May 2025, leaving residents without a forum to raise concerns or find guidance. Ashleigh Mitchell highlighted the desperate situation in Chestnut Grove, while Karen Chappell emphasized that key stakeholders, such as Almond Housing, had not been part of meaningful discussions, further compounding residents’ sense of powerlessness.
Reflecting on the meeting after the event, Wilson Chowdhry, Chair of the UK RAAC Campaign Group, thanked Housing Minister Mairi McAllan for taking the time to meet with homeowners but expressed deep disappointment at Almond Housing’s absence. “We appreciate Minister McAllan’s visit and her willingness to listen, but it is frustrating that Almond Housing, who hold critical responsibility for many RAAC-affected properties, did not participate. I personally wrote to the Minister and to Almond Housing—specifically to Iona Taylor, their Asset Manager, and John Davidson, the CEO—requesting their attendance so residents could have their thousands of questions addressed. Yet no commitment or response was provided. Without their engagement, homeowners continue to be left without the answers or support they desperately need.”
Ultimately, the meeting with Minister McAllan reflected both the severity of the RAAC crisis and the determination of homeowners to seek justice and practical solutions. While the challenges are significant, there is hope that with greater coordination, transparency, and proactive engagement, the experiences of West Lothian residents can inform more effective policies and protections for all those affected by RAAC across Scotland.
The voices of these homeowners are clear: they need more than promises—they need support, accountability, and tangible solutions that safeguard their homes, finances, and wellbeing. This meeting was a step toward that, but the road ahead remains long and urgent.
Kerry McIntosh, Co-Vice Chair of the UK RAAC Campaign Group, reflected on the meeting with cautious optimism. “I was pleased that Housing Minister Mairi McAllan was respectful and genuinely listened to homeowners’ concerns. She even had to castigate the Chair of the meeting, Councillor Laurence Fitzpatrick, when he repeatedly tried to shut down community voices. Ashleigh and I have submitted extensive evidence directly to Minister McAllan regarding RAAC properties, and we are very hopeful this will lead to a public inquiry. I would also like to thank Wilson Chowdhry, Chair of the UK RAAC Campaign Group, who was instrumental in making this meeting with the Housing Minister happen. If a public inquiry does not occur, I will continue to pursue justice for the residents affected. Homeowners deserve accountability and real solutions, and we will not stop fighting until they get it.”
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