UK: The petition was originally written by Wilson Chowdhry of the UK RAAC Campaign Group, reflecting the growing distress faced by families forced from their homes due to Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC)—a known structural defect now leaving thousands at risk of homelessness, bankruptcy, and long-term trauma.

Why the Petition Was Amended

The original petition called explicitly for a national compensation fund for RAAC homeowners, alongside a public inquiry and legislative reform. However, under parliamentary rules, paper petitions presented to Parliament cannot directly request funding.

As a result, the wording was amended to comply with regulations, while still clearly setting out the injustice faced by homeowners and the urgent need for accountability, reform, and redress.

The Petition Read in the House of Commons

The petition read into the parliamentary record was as follows:

To the House of Commons.

The petition of residents of the United Kingdom,

Declares that many families across the UK face homelessness, bankruptcy and trauma after being forced from homes made unsafe by RAAC (reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete), particularly in former council homes purchased under the right to buy scheme.

The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Government to hold a public inquiry into the handling of RAAC by national and local government; to introduce legislation to require the maintenance of a high-risk building register; to mandate reporting of building defects by surveyors and other professionals; and to introduce sixty-year liability for developers for building defects; and to consider compensation measures such as a ban on levying interest on mortgages on homes condemned after the discovery of RAAC, and the restoration of first-time buyer status for affected homeowners.

And the petitioners remain, etc.

While the language was necessarily constrained, the message was unmistakable: homeowners who did nothing wrong are paying the price for decades of institutional failure.

What Happens After a Petition Is Presented?

Once a paper petition is presented to Parliament—whether spoken aloud in the chamber or placed in the petition bag—it enters a formal parliamentary process:

1. Official Recording

The petition is:

Published in Hansard (the official parliamentary record)

Listed in the Votes and Proceedings of the House of Commons

This ensures the issue is permanently recorded as a matter formally raised before Parliament.

2. Government Response

A copy of the petition is sent to the relevant Government department, which is expected to provide a written response—known as an “observation”—within two months.

This response is also printed in Hansard.

While the Government is not legally required to act, it must respond publicly.

3. Petitions Committee Oversight

The Petitions Committee monitors all presented petitions and may choose to:

Refer the issue to a relevant select committee

Schedule a Westminster Hall debate (rare for paper petitions, but possible)

Tag the petition to future debates on RAAC or building safety, alerting MPs that the public has formally petitioned on the matter

What This Petition Does — and Does Not — Do

It is important to be clear:

It does not trigger a vote

It does not compel the Government to change policy

It forces a formal Government response

t raises the political profile of RAAC

 It strengthens the case for further parliamentary action

Unlike e-petitions, paper petitions do not require a minimum number of signatures to receive a response. Their power lies in formal parliamentary recognition and persistence.

Why This Still Matters

For RAAC homeowners—particularly those trapped in former council homes bought under Right to Buy—this petition represents more than procedure. It is:

A formal acknowledgment of injustice

A demand for accountability

A building block toward systemic reform

What the UK RAAC Campaign Group Will Continue to Fight For

The UK RAAC Campaign Group will continue pressing for:

A full public inquiry into the handling of RAAC by national and local government

Mandatory defect reporting and the creation of a national high-risk building register

Long-term (60-year) developer liability for serious building defects

Protection for homeowners from financial ruin, including mortgage and lending safeguards

A national RAAC remediation and compensation fund, despite this not being permitted within the formal wording of the parliamentary petition

And ultimately, justice for those abandoned by the system

This petition is not the end of the fight — but it is now on the official record of Parliament, where it belongs.

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

“The petition being read into the House of Commons is an important milestone for homeowners affected by unsafe housing. It ensures their struggles are formally acknowledged and forces a government response. I want to be transparent that the part of the petition calling for legislative change was always intended to cover all homeowners of condemned or unsafe homes, not just those affected by RAAC. That focus didn’t come across in the amended wording, and I take responsibility for not reviewing it closely enough, when sent to me prior to submission. Even so, I remain hopeful that the wider legislative reforms will be considered in future debates, and that this petition will help drive lasting justice and protection for all homeowners at risk. I would also like to thank Brian Leishman and his team for their support in presenting the petition and helping raise these critical issues in Parliament.”