Only four out of 138 private homeowners have indicated they will accept Aberdeen City Council’s purchase offers for their homes affected by dangerous RAAC concrete, highlighting the slow progress of the council’s demolition plan.
The affected properties in the Balnagask area were discovered to contain Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) in their roofing systems in 2023, prompting the council to initiate a voluntary purchase scheme.
“We would prefer to be further along in this process, but we are where we are,” stated corporate landlord Stephen Booth during a recent council meeting, acknowledging the slow progress of negotiations.
The situation has sparked frustration among homeowners, with some claiming they’ve received significantly undervalued offers. John Meiklejohn, who purchased his house for £120,000 three years ago, was informed he might only receive £60,000 in compensation.
“The only thing I can work to get out of this is to get fair compensation for the position that council have put us all in, because this is the council’s fault,” Meiklejohn stated.
RAAC is a lightweight material that was used mostly in flat roofing, but also in floors and walls, between the 1950s and 1990s.
Although a cheaper alternative to standard concrete, it is less durable and has a lifespan of about 30 years.
It is also susceptible to structural failure when exposed to moisture.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has said that RAAC is beyond its lifespan and may “collapse with little or no notice”.
The council plans to demolish and rebuild all 504 affected properties in the city, including 366 council homes, at an estimated cost of £130 million.
