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Wales Online
19-05-2025
- Business
- Wales Online
Homeowners facing bills of £23,000 to deal with RAAC join call for national emergency fund
Homeowners facing bills of £23,000 to deal with RAAC join call for national emergency fund Dozens of properties in the Gower estate in Hirwaun were discovered to have RAAC with 14 of these being privately owned (Image: Wilson Chowdhry ) Homeowners facing bills of around £23,000 to deal with RAAC in their properties have joined calls for a national remediation fund and emergency government support. Residents in Hirwaun who own their properties which are affected by RAAC say they are being left to deal with the issue which was discovered in 77 homes on the Gower estate back in 2024 and at a recent meeting residents joined forces with the UK RAAC campaign group in calling for a national remediation fund and emergency government support. It's in a bid to prevent what the group calls a 'looming disaster that could see families bankrupted or made homeless'. Reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) is a lightweight building material used in housing between the 1950s and 1980s and it hit the headlines in 2023 structural issues were identified with it. Of the affected homes in Hirwaun 14 were purchased under the Right to Buy scheme and are now privately owned leaving owners facing five-figure repair bills without financial assistance, the group says. One resident said: 'We're stuck. We can't sell, we can't insure, we can't borrow, and we can't afford to fix the problem. We're being left behind.' Article continues below Campaigners are urging the public to back their petition to the UK Government, which demands a national remediation fund, a public inquiry into the handling of RAAC by councils and housing associations, and legal reforms to protect owners of affected homes. The petition must reach 10,000 signatures by June 17 to receive an official response from the government, the group says. To get all the latest on Welsh politics, health, education and more, sign up to our Wales Matters newsletter. A second petition aimed at the Welsh Government will also be launched specifically demanding financial support and long-term solutions for affected residents in Hirwaun. At the recent meeting residents discussed forming a constituted Welsh group aligned with the UK RAAC Campaign to maintain pressure on both the Welsh and UK Governments. They say the silence from mortgage lenders and insurance companies is exacerbating their fears with many now ineligible for standard insurance products and some fearing they may end up facing threats of repossession. Wilson Chowdhry, who is helping to coordinate the campaign, said: 'This is a national issue and needs a national response. If nothing changes people are going to lose their homes through no fault of their own.' The Welsh Government said: 'We recognise how difficult the situation is for all residents affected by RAAC in both private and social homes on the Gower estate in Hirwaun and the strain this is having on them. 'We are working closely with both the local authority and Trivallis to continue to monitor the situation and would strongly encourage all homeowners to undertake surveys to identify the extent of the RAAC within their homes before contacting Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council who stand ready to support them.' Building safety is devolved to the Welsh Government and a national remediation fund for homeowners affected by RAAC is not under consideration by the UK Government. Article continues below The UK Parliament petition can be seen here.
STV News
03-05-2025
- Business
- STV News
Housing minister vows to get answers for RAAC-affected homeowners
The housing minister has vowed to get answers for homeowners in Aberdeen whose homes are affected by the potentially dangerous concrete RAAC. Residents met with Paul McLennan nearby to the affected homes in the Torry area of the city on Friday. They welcomed his visit, but say they need help now. The minister said: 'It's remembering how it's affecting not just residents but their families and the community here too. Torry is a vibrant community. 'There's been a number of actions taken today; we'll be speaking to the UK Finance who represent the banks to talk about the position that some of the residents are in. 'I'll bring some of the other issues that have been raised to me today to the local authority who I'm meeting with later today.' In October 2023, 500 properties in the Balnagask area of Torry were found to be affected by the potentially dangerous material. 18 months on, most council tenants have been moved, and Aberdeen City Council has offered to buy houses from homeowners but for a fraction of their original value to reflect the fact they contain RAAC. Around a hundred homeowners remain, refusing to leave, arguing the deal could leave them in financial ruin. In August 2024, Aberdeen City Council voted to demolish and rebuild all 500 homes. Lynn Winstanley is part of the Torry Community RAAC Campaign and said: 'It was good to speak to the minister today, I don't think he realised the strength of feeling. 'If I had a magic wand the Scottish Government will top up all the payments, so people get a fair deal for their house that would be the ideal scenario. 'Now you walk through the neighbourhoods affected and it's like a ghost town, this situation has changed the whole community.' Ian Lippe, who's also part of the group, explained: 'I'd be out by £50,000, and looking at council options, I'd be going into a bedsit, from a three-bedroom house that I've paid for. 'The Scottish Government need to sort this out, we go back to our houses at night, not our homes, it's not home anymore.' Residents were also joined by two of the 400 homeowners in Dundee who are facing similar challenges. Around 800 houses there are thought to be affected by RAAC. Wayne Hoskins, a homeowner from Dundee said: 'It's around 5,000 houses are affected across Scotland like Livingston for example. 'Our scenario isn't exactly the same as those in Aberdeen, but options to fix the situation comes down to funding which we need from the Scottish government.' The housing minister says he'll provide answers to residents in Torry in the coming weeks and plans to meet with others affected across Scotland. Aberdeen City Council have welcomed Paul McLennan's visit, and said they'll work closely with the Scottish Government to support those affected by RAAC. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
