Aberdeen community facing 'housing crisis' as around 500 homes built using flawed concrete RAAC

A community in Aberdeen has said it is facing a “housing crisis” after it emerged around 500 council homes are believed to have been built using crumbling concrete.

Aberdeen City Council previously confirmed more than 22,000 council homes are currently being reviewed for the presence of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC).

Approximately 500 homes in the Balnagask area of Torry are likely to be affected by the presence of the concrete.

The material, widely used between the 1950s and 1990s, has been found to be present in many schools and hospitals across the UK and is said to pose a “serious risk”.

Those affected received letters in November 2023 from the council, and fears are now mounting with local residents about the structural integrity of these buildings.

Wilson Chowdhry said his 19-year-old daughter is now facing a “severe financial predicament” after becoming an unsuspected buyer of one of the affected properties.

He said: “It is unacceptable that Aberdeen City Council is disavowing responsibility for homes constructed on a budget, now revealed to be structurally substandard.

“For every penny they saved, unsuspecting buyers of these properties are now burdened with thousands of pounds in expenses.

“My 19-year-old daughter, who diligently saved for her first home, is now confronted with a severe financial predicament due to the callous cost-cutting measures adopted by ACC.

“I am aware of numerous older homeowners grappling with the dilemma of either straining their finances for inspections and repairs or risking a potential roof collapse by taking no action.”

“This is a tragic example of how inefficient and insouciant Aberdeen Council is, they have exhibited a dereliction of duty by transferring the danger they created.”

Aberdeen City Council has “assured” residents that a full risk assessment is under way, and confirmed they are seeking guidance from the Scottish Government.

In an email to Mr Chowdhry, however, the council confirmed that it is unable to support private homeowners, despite rising inspection fees for those affected.

Hannah Chowdhry, a 19-year-old law student, has now launched a petition with the aim that the Scottish Parliament will allocate a budget to support homeowners in the Balnagask area who purchased ex-council homes without being informed about the use of substandard building materials.

The petition also aims for the UK Government to allocate a budget to support all ex-council homes across the UK constructed with “substandard materials”.

You can sign the petition here.

Aberdeen City Council have been contacted for comment.