Local MSP Liam Kerr has blasted the lack of response to the Aberdeen RAAC crisis, which has left many residents “out of their homes and out of options.”
Aberdeen City Council has set out plans to demolish more than 500 Raac-affected properties in Balnagask, Torry, by 2028.
Scottish Conservative Mr Kerr urged First Minister John Swinney to intervene following Aberdeen City Council’s decision to offer cut-price restorative valuations for those whose ex-council homes contain “crumbly concrete.”
The Torry RAAC Campaign Group estimate that losses on properties could total up to £50,000 each and some may no longer qualify for a mortgage with negative equity.
The Scottish Government has not provided any extra financial support to Aberdeen City Council to compensate Raac homeowners.
At First Minister’s Questions, Mr Swinney offered to arrange a meeting with SNP housing minister Paul McLennan, in order to “determine if there is anything further” the Scottish Government can do.
Mr Kerr said: “Devastated owners of RAAC-affected homes in Aberdeen face being out of pocket, out of their homes and out of options when the council purchase at post-RAAC valuation.
“Claims for compensation from the Torry RAAC campaign group have seen the council point at this government, the local MP point at the UK Government, and this government point at the council.”
John Swinney responded: “I accept the distress, and the uncertainty that this will be causing to members of the public, so I will ask the Housing Minister to look once again at these questions and determine if there is anything further the government could do to try to assist dialogue in this respect.”
Mr Kerr said later:
“Since this frankly awful situation came to light, I’ve been in frequent contact with Aberdeen residents affected by RAAC in their homes.
“As I told the First Minister, they have almost run out of road and no one is taking any responsibility.
“The city council has thrown in the towel. The MP for the area has been conspicuous by his absence. And the buck has audibly stopped with the Scottish Government.
“There has been a crisis of leadership on this matter, which isn’t going to go away.
“I’ll happily meet the housing minister and go over the concerns of Torry residents, preferably with them around the table.
“Everyone is waiting for a decisive move on the part of the SNP government.
“They will not be satisfied with any more ‘listening exercises’.”
