On 13 January 2026, Renfrewshire Council’s Chief Executive, Alan Russell, issued a formal response to the UK RAAC Campaign Group following our open letter raising urgent concerns about RAAC-affected homes in Linwood, Erskine, and surrounding areas.
While the letter acknowledges that RAAC is a “complex and challenging matter”, it ultimately confirms what hundreds of affected homeowners already feared: Renfrewshire Council does not intend to take responsibility, provide financial support, or offer a pathway out of this crisis for private homeowners.
Acknowledgement Without Action
The Council states it “understands the concerns” of tenants and private homeowners and claims reassurance that Bridgewater and Linstone Housing Associations are taking a “proactive, solution-focused approach”.
Yet for residents living daily with structural uncertainty, this reassurance rings hollow.
Homeowners continue to report:
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Cancelled or delayed meetings
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No costed remediation plans
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No clear timelines
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No acquisition or buy-back offers
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No explanation of what happens if they fail financial probity checks
Acknowledging distress without addressing these realities does not protect families — it prolongs anxiety.
AHSP: A Door Firmly Shut
Perhaps the most significant element of the Council’s letter is its firm rejection of the Affordable Housing Supply Programme (AHSP) as a solution.
Renfrewshire Council states:
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AHSP is being dismissed as ineligible to acquire RAAC-affected homes, despite local authorities being able to apply for funding on behalf of housing associations. With political will, such funding would enable the housing association to act, allowing it to offer RAAC homeowners a fair price using its own funds, as a direct consequence of the grant.
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All AHSP funding is already fully committed to new-build housing
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There is no flexibility within the current Strategic Housing Investment Plan
This position directly contradicts the lived experience of homeowners who have been repeatedly advised — including by government correspondence — to “liaise with the local authority” and explore available funding mechanisms.
The message to residents is clear:
There is no funding, and there will be no reprioritisation.
Passing the Buck — Again
The letter refers residents to the Scottish Government’s “RAAC in Housing” Group, describing it as “the most appropriate forum” for national discussion.
However:
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This group does not provide direct financial support
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Homeowners are not represented
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It offers no immediate solutions for people facing £20,000–£30,000 repair bills
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It does nothing to address collapsing property values or mortgage lock-in
Pointing to a discussion forum is not the same as providing a lifeline.
The Reality for Homeowners
For affected families, the Council’s position translates into impossible choices:
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Stay in unsafe homes
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Take on unaffordable debt — if loans are even available
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Lose all equity built up over decades
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Face long-term financial harm with no public safety net
Many residents are elderly, on fixed incomes, or raising families. Selling is not an option. Moving is not an option. Paying for repairs may not be an option.
Yet the Council concludes there is “no provision” to provide financial support.
What This Letter Really Confirms
Despite careful wording, the Council’s response confirms:
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Renfrewshire Council will not lead on acquisitions
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It will not reprioritise funding
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It will not provide financial assistance
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It considers the issue largely a matter for housing associations and national government
In other words, private homeowners are left stranded between institutions, each deflecting responsibility.
Our Position Remains Unchanged
The UK RAAC Campaign Group maintains that:
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Councils must be active partners, not passive observers
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Funding mechanisms must be adapted to meet an emergency not of residents’ making
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Homeowners must be represented in all discussions
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“Understanding concerns” is not a substitute for action
RAAC is not a theoretical policy issue. It is a structural failure affecting real homes, real families, and real lives.
Until there is a coordinated, funded, cross-agency response, the crisis in Renfrewshire will continue — not because solutions are impossible, but because responsibility is being avoided.
We will continue to press for answers, accountability, and a fair route forward for every affected homeowner.
The fight for justice continues—but today, we move one step closer.
📧 Email: wilson@aasecurity.co.uk
📢 Twitter/X: https://x.com/WilsonChowdhry
#RAACScandal #Petition2113 #ScottishParliament #SupportRAACVictims #EndTheSilence
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