UK: The Chairman of the UK RAAC Campaign Group, Wilson Chowdhry, has written an open letter to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, and Building Safety Minister Alex Norris, following the government’s decision to reject a statutory public inquiry into the RAAC housing crisis. 

In their reply of 29 July 2025 (ref: MC2025/19353), ministers stated that there were “no grounds” for such an inquiry. Chowdhry’s response expresses deep disappointment at this position, arguing that the crisis is not only about building safety but also about consumer protection, disclosure, and accountability. He highlights that many families, including elderly homeowners, bought their houses in good faith, unaware that they contained RAAC. Years later, they now face financial ruin or homelessness through no fault of their own. 

Introducing ReGrid 

Seeking constructive solutions, Chowdhry introduces the government to ReGrid, a new reinforcement system developed by Structural Repairs Ltd. 

The system has already been used successfully by Network Rail. 

Tests show structural improvements 14 times stronger than traditional reinforcement. 

Installations can typically be completed in just two days per home, without requiring families to move out. 

It offers over 25 years of maintenance-free durability with a lifetime product guarantee. 

Crucially, it is far more affordable than full roof replacements, which many homeowners simply cannot afford. 

Chowdhry urges the government to ensure ReGrid is formally assessed by the Building Safety Regulator, suggesting it could become part of a national cost-effective remediation strategy. 

Wilson Chowdhry, Chairman of the UK RAAC Campaign Group, said:  

“Families bought their homes in good faith, never warned of the hidden danger above their heads. Now many face losing everything — not because of their own mistakes, but because of systemic failures and a culture of silence. To deny them a public inquiry is to deny them justice, and to ignore affordable solutions like ReGrid is to abandon them to despair.” 

A Role for the UK Government 

Although housing is a devolved matter in Scotland, Chowdhry stresses that the scale of the RAAC scandal makes it a UK-wide problem. He challenges the government not to “wash its hands” of the issue and suggests two areas where Westminster could step in: 

Funding Support – working alongside the Scottish Government and Welsh Government to accelerate help for homeowners and prevent mass bankruptcies. 

National Oversight – ensuring ReGrid and other affordable innovations are properly evaluated for use across Britain. 

Mr Chowdhry, added:  

“Every week I speak to families who are breaking under the weight of this crisis. Parents are terrified of losing the roof over their children’s heads, and elderly residents feel abandoned in their final years. These are innocent people who did nothing wrong — they deserve protection, not silence.” 

Conclusion 

The letter concludes by warning that refusing a public inquiry risks repeating the very oversight failures that caused this crisis. At the same time, ignoring credible and affordable remediation options like ReGrid only deepens the suffering of families trapped in unsafe homes. 

Chowdhry notes that in Scotland, Housing Minister Mairi McAllan MSP has already agreed to meet him, and he has invited the First Minister to join the talks following his public statements on the issue. He calls on the UK Government to show the same willingness to engage at the highest level, recognising the national scale and urgency of the RAAC crisis. 

Mr Chowdhry concluded by saying: 

“This is more than a housing crisis — it is a national betrayal of trust. If the government continues to stand by, thousands of ordinary families will be pushed into bankruptcy or homelessness. We will not relent until justice is delivered and safe, affordable solutions are put in place.”