Campaigners slam “deeply flawed” Aberdeen RAAC purchase plan
Campaigners have pushed for a better financial statement for more than a year. Image: Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco
Campaigners are speaking out over Aberdeen City Council’s plan to purchase and demolish hundreds of properties containing faulty concrete.
More than 500 homes in the neighbourhood of Torry contain reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC), 138 of which are privately owned.
Council officers revealed that just four homeowners have accepted voluntary acquisition offers for their properties. Around 50 other households have engaged with the local authority.
The local authority has offered homeowners market value for their properties, as well as home-loss and disturbance payments.
However, campaigners say the mooted payments are not enough, especially after the cost of removing RAAC from the properties’ roofs are deducted.
Wilson Chowdhry, chair of the UK RAAC Campaign Group, told the Standard: “The offers of compensation are way lower than anyone could imagine.”
RAAC, a lightweight concrete used between the 1950s and 1990s, is less durable than standard forms of the material – and has been compared to the inner structure of an Aero bar.
Chowdhry added: “From the people I’ve spoken to, the expression has been clear. They are accepting a massive decrease in their home values in exchange for an exit route out of this situation.
“They see no other option.”
The campaigner has launched a petition to the UK government, asking them to set up a national fund for affected homeowners.
Image: Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco
Speaking at a meeting yesterday, council landlord Stephen Booth admitted the local authority was behind schedule.
He said: “We would like to be further on, but we are where we are,” adding, “The council is trying to come up with the market value for these homes based on their current condition, as they are, and it is within the gift of each owner to determine their own view about whether they want to engage with the council during this process or not.”
Independent councillor Alex Nicoll said the council must provide a ‘just and equitable’ settlement.
He said: “We must be able to go back and look at what the pre-RAAC value of these homes were. Many of the owners have come to us and said they cannot accept the RAAC valuations because it leaves them with substantial debt.
“We have to know what a fair price would be to offer the people whose houses are affected.”
Liam Kerr, Conservative MSP for North East Scotland, said the council’s compensation scheme was “deeply flawed”.
He noted: “Pre-discovery of RAAC, these homes had a market value, but post-discovery, that value has been assessed as being significantly less.
“This situation is wholly inequitable, given that the homeowners are not at fault and are the victims of circumstances long pre-dating their purchase.
Image: Supplied
Mr Kerr added: “Many are deeply worried about their future, with losses of potentially £50,000, and are now living in fear that they will not be able to obtain a mortgage for a new home.
“Aberdeen City Council must do the right thing and give homeowners a fair share for their properties.
“That is why I have urged the local authority to put a proper financial support scheme in place to ensure residents aren’t short-changed.”
