Housing minister vows to get answers for RAAC-affected homeowners in Aberdeen

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.