John Swinney has been urged to release cash from an unspent £20 million North East housing fund “as a matter of urgency” to help Aberdeen homeowners get a fair deal on their RAAC homes amid fears of a spiralling debt and mental health crisis among residents.
At First Minister’s Questions, North East MSP Liam Kerr said homeowners in Torry were set to lose tens of thousands of pounds following the depreciation in value of their homes due to the discovery of the dangerous concrete.
It comes as homeowners have been offered damp-riddled and rot-filled flats, in exchange for their Balnagask houses, leaving many on the verge of bankruptcy.
Last week, Aberdeen City Council voted to push ahead with plans to demolish homes found to contain RAAC, despite homeowners not agreeing to a settlement on their property.
In parliament, Mr Kerr, who has been a leading campaigner on behalf of the residents, called on John Swinney to instruct housing secretary Màiri McAllan to release the funds – days after the Scottish Government revealed a £5 billion housing plan.
In his question, Scottish Conservative North East MSP Liam Kerr asked: “There are around 150 homeowners in Aberdeen’s Balnagask area potentially losing tens of thousands of pounds due to RAAC, plunging them into debt and a mental health crises.
“I notified this government of a £20m fund to fix this last Spring, but the cabinet secretary still hasn’t decided whether to release the funds.
“Will the First Minister instruct his cabinet secretary to urgently repurpose the £20m, and if she will not, to use a fraction of the billions promised for housing this week to give the Torry RAAC owners a fair settlement?”
In his response, John Swinney said: “I recognise the importance of the issue that Liam Kerr raises and the worry it will be causing to his constituents.
“The cabinet secretary is actively engaged in considering the proposals that have been put to her, and will come to conclusions very shortly.”
Afterwards, Mr Kerr added: “Both the Scottish Government and Aberdeen City Council should hang their heads in shame for their appalling treatment of homeowners in Torry, who have been left fearing for their futures.
“The SNP government has had all summer to release a support package for residents using the unspent £20m Housing Infrastructure Fund from the City Region Deal.
“Yet we are still waiting for this to be granted, despite residents being told their homes will be demolished within months, losing tens of thousands of pounds in the process.
“This is having a devastating toll on their mental health, with some homeowners fearing bankruptcy.
“Màiri McAllan must stop playing political games with people’s lives and release this support as a matter of urgency.”
