UK: Today I sent a formal open letter to Stephen Booth, Chief Officer of Early Intervention and Community Empowerment at Aberdeen City Council, outlining a series of major concerns around the Council’s response to the ongoing RAAC (Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete) housing crisis. The current proposals, presented to affected homeowners by Aberdeen City Council, have caused widespread distress, confusion, and outrage. 

As Chairman of the UK RAAC Campaign Group, I feel compelled to speak publicly on behalf of those homeowners whose lives have been upended by the discovery of RAAC in their homes—homes that were, in many cases, built by the Council itself and later sold under the UK Government’s Right to Buy scheme. 

A Crisis Mishandled 

In the letter, I made it unequivocally clear that the Council’s current proposals—rushed and lacking in transparency—risk pushing vulnerable homeowners into bankruptcy, homelessness, or both. 

Residents, many of whom are elderly, live with disabilities, or are financially stretched, have been left without any legal or financial certainty. Their questions remain unanswered, their concerns sidelined, and their voices diminished in a process that feels more like a strategic withdrawal of responsibility than a genuine attempt at support. 

The Loan Scheme: “A Financial Ambush” 

The Council's proposal to offer loans for structural repairs was roundly criticised in the letter. Key financial terms remain undisclosed, including: 

Interest rates; 

Length of loan terms; 

Legal costs; 

The impact on owners with little or no equity; 

Whether "missed share" options would be offered in place of shared equity. 

Without this information, I wrote, the proposal is “a financial ambush.” 

Unrealistic Deadlines for Life-Altering Decisions 

Aberdeen City Council has insisted that decisions be made by the end of June—a deadline that passed with homeowners still unclear about the most basic details. For many families, including my own, this was wholly unworkable. My daughter, for example, only returns from a university placement abroad in August, making any family decision on our home impossible before then. 

I have urged the Council to extend the decision deadline, allowing homeowners adequate time for legal advice, family consultation, and due consideration of life-changing proposals. 

Excluded from Contractor Decisions 

It is shocking that homeowners—who often own a majority share of their buildings—have not been allowed to meet contractors or secure alternative quotes. This exclusion violates the principles of partnership and denies residents the chance to seek cost-saving solutions or to assess the viability and quality of the proposed works. 

No timeline for construction has been provided, nor estimates of legal costs. These basic omissions only deepen mistrust. 

Swap Scheme – A Hollow Offer? 

While the Council’s swap scheme reflects a concept I previously recommended, the execution is entirely lacking in substance. There has been: 

No disclosure of available swap properties; 

No description of their condition; 

No assurance of their suitability for displaced homeowners. 

It appears the Council is simply trying to test interest before developing viable alternatives—a misleading and insensitive approach to desperate residents. 

Comparison with Tillicoultry – A Tale of Two Councils 

In stark contrast, Clackmannanshire Council—after extensive resident engagement—agreed to include a contractual guarantee that homeowners would benefit from any future Scottish or UK Government grant schemes. I requested this in both cases. 

Aberdeen City Council has effectively adopted a model I originally proposed, albeit in a far more aggressive and punitive form. Crucially, they have omitted a key safeguard — a contractual guarantee that homeowners would benefit from any future RAAC-related grants. I have now formally requested an explanation for the exclusion of this provision, particularly in light of growing national concern and active political lobbying for government-funded support. 

A Crisis the Council Helped Create 

This disaster is not the fault of residents. These homes were built by local authorities—often with substandard materials and poor long-term oversight—and later sold on to unsuspecting families through Right to Buy. 

Now, many are left paying mortgages on uninhabitable rubble, unable to remortgage, resell, or rebuild their lives. The Council’s current offer of a £5,000 “making good” grant and 10% home loss payment (in some cases only) is insultingly insufficient and fails to account for the emotional, financial, and practical devastation caused. 

Nine Key Demands 

To restore trust and make the process fair and workable, I have requested the following: 

Full financial disclosure of any proposed loan arrangements; 

An extension to the consultation deadline; 

A meeting between homeowners and proposed contractors; 

An explanation for the exclusion of alternative contractor quotes; 

A full inventory of swap properties, including condition and availability; 

Clarity on missed share or equity alternatives; 

A clear position on whether the Council will issue Compulsory Purchase Orders; 

Details on whether a public inquiry would be triggered by such a CPO; 

Transparent communication around all available appeal or complaint mechanisms. 

Time for Accountability 

I have warned Aberdeen City Council that if these concerns are not urgently addressed, the matter will be escalated to national media, political representatives, and regulatory bodies. 

This is not a technical problem; it is a human crisis. And Aberdeen City Council must now choose whether it will stand with its residents—or abandon them to a fate of dispossession and debt. 

Join the Movement 

The UK RAAC Campaign Group is committed to advocating for justice, safety, and transparency for all those affected by the RAAC crisis. 

 If you're a homeowner affected by RAAC or want to support the campaign, get in touch. 
Sign up for updates and upcoming briefings by emailing wilson@aasecurity.co.uk 
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