CAMPAIGNERS have called on the Scottish Government to provide “immediate financial help” to those who have been affected by reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC), following a report published by the housing watchdog.
The Scottish Housing Regulator published a report on Friday which identified the number of social rented homes that have been built using RAAC.
The regulator reported that 17 landlords have identified the presence of RAAC in some of the homes they provide to tenants, with 2205 homes in total affected, equating to around 0.4% of all homes provided by social landlords in Scotland.
Campaign coordinator for the Scottish Tenants Organisation, Sean Clerkin, has called on the Scottish Government to step in and provide financial support to those who have been affected by RAAC in their homes.
He said: “Local authorities and housing associations need immediate financial help from the Scottish Government to build new safe housing for tenants, given that the Scottish Housing Regulator has published figures from 17 social landlords that 2205 social rented homes have dangerous RAAC in them.
“The additional monies have to be provided now to help all the affected tenants in Scotland.
“Former tenants who bought under right to buy are left also with dangerous and valueless homes and again we would urge the Scottish Government to provide immediate financial help to these homeowners.”
Clerkin added: “Mairi McAllan, the new Housing Minister, has an opportunity here to show that the Scottish Government can step up to the plate financially to help tenants and homeowners to live in new safe homes.
“The Scottish Government has to provide this help now.”
Cabinet Secretary for Housing Màiri McAllan said: “I recognise the difficulty and stress of having a home affected by RAAC and I want to work with Local Authorities, Social Landlords and households to find solutions.
“RAAC is a cross-UK problem, and we have been clear from the beginning that it requires a cross-UK solution. The Scottish Government has repeatedly called on the UK Government to make available a dedicated RAAC remediation fund but they have failed to do so.
“We are continuing to work with local authorities across Scotland as they respond to the impact of RAAC in their areas and we expect all social landlords to be engaging with their tenants and developing plans to remediate RAAC in their homes. The Scottish Government remains closely engaged in this work.”
How many homes and what landlords are affected?
The 17 landlords that have identified the presence of RAAC in some of their homes, and the number of affected social rented homes, are:
- Aberdeen City Council - 366
- Almond Housing Association Ltd - 328
- Angus Council - 25
- Bield Housing & Care - 34
- Bridgewater Housing Association Ltd - 142
- City of Edinburgh Council - 44
- Clackmannanshire Council - 69
- Dundee City Council - 516
- Link Group Ltd - 25
- Linstone Housing Association - 14
- North Lanarkshire Council - 103
- River Clyde Homes - 43
- Sanctuary Scotland Housing Association Ltd - 102
- South Lanarkshire Council - 157
- Stirling Council - 26
- Viewpoint Housing Association Ltd - 130
- West Lothian Council - 81
What is RAAC and why is it dangerous?
RAAC is a lightweight structural construction material used between the 1950s and 1990s in the floors, walls and roofs of some buildings in Scotland, including some residential properties.
It is a cheaper alternative to standard concrete, is quicker to produce and easier to install, but it is no longer used in buildings in Scotland.
RAAC has a lifespan of around 30 years, and its structural behaviour differs significantly from traditional reinforced concrete.
It is susceptible to structural failure when exposed to moisture. The bubbles can allow water to enter the material.
If that happens, any rebar reinforcing RAAC can also decay, rust and weaken and because of this, it is often coated with another material, such as bitumen on roofing panels. But this material can also degrade.
