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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.
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Council yet to agree purchase of any Raac homes
Aberdeen City Council has yet to agree the purchase of any privately-owned homes found to have potentially dangerous concrete, a meeting has been told. The local authority wants to buy the 138 former council properties which contain reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac). This would be through a process of voluntary acquisition but many residents are refusing to engage, amid anger about valuations. Wilson Chowdhry, who chairs the UK Raac Campaign Group, told a council meeting that not a single property deal being completed showed the plan was a "failure". A report for the council said that, as of 20 January, four owners have indicated they would accept an offer but no agreements have been reached so far. A total of 138 private properties and 366 council homes were found to have Raac in their roof panels in 2023. Aberdeen City Council then announced plans to demolish the council homes affected on safety grounds. The council said it would offer market value for the privately-owned properties alongside other legal, home-loss and disturbance payments. Mr Chowdhry was given time to make a deputation at a council meeting on Wednesday morning. He said patience was wearing thin and the process was "stalling". Mr Chowdhry described offers being received by residents as "insultingly low", and highlighted only four people remained in discussions. "This is a humiliating failure," he said. "Not a single property has been acquired." In December, a "disgusted" pensioner whose flat which is set to be demolished said he had been offered £22,000 - well below the £60,000 he believes it is worth. Aberdeen City Council previously said the proposed compensation package for the voluntary acquisition of privately-owned properties was being negotiated on its behalf by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA), an independent organisation. "The discussions to date regarding market value are only being conducted with those home-owners who have given their consent," a statement said. "Each claim is based on its own merit and will vary on individual circumstances. "The council continues to hold meetings with key stakeholders and individuals and are in dialogue with representatives from both the UK and Scottish governments in regards to funding and fiscal flexibility." More stories from North East Scotland, Orkney and Shetland Listen to news from North East Scotland on BBC Sounds Raac stands for reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete. It is a lightweight material that was used mostly in flat roofing, but also in floors and walls, between the 1950s and 1990s. Raac is a cheaper alternative to standard concrete, is quicker to produce and easier to install. But it is less durable and has a lifespan of about 30 years. Its structural behaviour differs significantly from traditional reinforced concrete. It is also susceptible to structural failure when exposed to moisture. The bubbles can allow water to enter the material. Raac is often coated with another material, such as bitumen, on roofing panels. But this material can also degrade. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said Raac is now beyond its lifespan and may "collapse with little or no notice". 'I've been offered £22,000 for Raac flat worth £60,000' Families protest over Raac homes worth 'peanuts' What is RAAC concrete and why is it a safety risk?
