Aberdeen homeowners share debt fear over RAAC-riddled homes

Aberdeen City Council, who plans to demolish the properties, is in the process of relocating the occupants of 364 council-owned flats and have made voluntary acquisition offers for 138 private homes.

A meeting of the council in mid-February revealed that only four offers had been accepted.

Lynn Winstanley, whose property contains the crumbly concrete, says homeowners need to stand their ground for a better deal. 

She added: “It’s been very stressful for everyone. We weren’t planning on selling our home, we would have picked a better economic state.

“A three bedroom house nearby got an offer of £83,000 from the council, the person across the street, also in a three bedroom house, received an offer of £63,000.

“The community is mostly gone now, it’s mostly just homeowners left.”

Torry residents have called for support from the council for over a year. (Image: Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco) The council has offered owners market value for their homes, as well as home-loss and disturbance payments.

However, campaigners say payments are not enough to keep them from going into debt, especially after the cost of removing RAAC from the properties’ roofs are deducted.

Winstanley told The Herald: “Their bullying tactics won’t work — people can’t afford to take a loss on their homes. It’s so difficult for everyone, especially those with young kids.

“The council are punishing homeowners but say they didn’t know the properties contained RAAC when they were council-owned. If they didn’t know, how were we supposed to know?”

Wilson Chowdhry, the chair of the UK RAAC Campaign Group, told The Herald: “The council is clinging to the hope that people will engage, but they are offering a measly amount. The offers of compensation are way lower than anyone could imagine.

“From the people I’ve spoken to, the response has been clear, they can’t deal with the ghost town. People are looking for an exit route out of a horrible situation. They see no other options.

Winstanley agrees, noting: “My sense of safety is gone, especially when I’m coming home late from work. A lot of the empty houses have been damaged, and the council has ripped all the fittings out of them.”

Chowdhry added: “They have intentionally undervalued our properties to facilitate their removal. It’s another clearance.”

“The council is flustered right now. We hold all the cards.”

Hundreds of properties in Aberdeen are to be demolished. (Image: Aberdeen City Council) Homeowners in Tillicoultry, near Stirling, have faced a similar situation since RAAC was discovered in their homes in 2023.

After intense negotiations, Clackmannanshire Council proposed a series of wall and roof repairs for the affected properties, and offered a loan to homeowners to help them pay for the remedial works. 

Chowdhry says he would like to see a similar deal for people in Torry. 

Asked if compulsory purchase orders would be required if people refused to sell their homes, a council spokesperson said that the current voluntary process was the “preferred option”, but did not rule out the possibility.

They noted: “The health and safety of residents remains a priority and that inspections continue to be carried out in RAAC-affected properties.”

The spokesperson also said that council officers will explore alternative options for the buildings, including partial retrofitting rather than demolition.

Homeowners have also blasted the council’s decision to value homes in their current state, rather than assess them based on their value before RAAC was discovered.

However, a spokesperson said the process was being undertaken using "statutory guidance”.

They noted: “The proposed compensation package for the voluntary acquisition of privately owned properties is being negotiated by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA), an independent organisation, on behalf of Aberdeen City Council.

“The discussions to date regarding market value are only being conducted with those homeowners who have given their consent. Each claim is based on its own merit and will vary on individual circumstances.”

The spokesperson added: “This is one of the hardest decisions the council has taken. We recognise the impact this will have on residents, many having lived in their home for many years.

“The absolute priority has to be their safety. The welfare of people is what matters most, and we will continue to offer individuals and families one-to-one support whilst meeting their housing needs as far as possible from existing stock.

“The council will also explore providing a mix of new homes for the longer term, and we look forward to working with the local community and potential partners in developing the regeneration plans.”