UK: Homeowners across Renfrewshire, are facing an unbearable situation — trapped in homes built with the dangerous concrete material RAAC (Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete), with no support, no answers, and no clear path forward. Despite the mounting anxiety and financial strain on families, their calls for help are being met with silence. 

In early October, Jodie Hillcoat, Chair of the Renfrewshire RAAC Campaign Group, and Wilson Chowdhry, campaigner and community advocate, jointly wrote to Housing Minister Mairi McAllan urgently requesting a meeting to discuss the crisis. More than a month later, they have yet to receive any response. Read letter (here) 

This silence has deepened the despair among affected residents — many of whom fear losing everything they’ve worked for. 

339 Homes, Hundreds of Lives in Limbo 

In Renfrewshire, 339 properties have been identified as affected by RAAC. Of these, 55 are owned by Linstone Housing Association, 122 by Bridgewater Housing Association, and the remaining 177 are privately owned — the second largest number of private RAAC homeowners in any local authority area across Scotland. 

The sheer scale of this crisis makes the lack of government engagement all the more shocking. Hundreds of families are being ignored at a time of real vulnerability. 

All of the affected homes were originally built by the Scottish Special Housing Association (SSHA) — a division of the UK Government’s Scottish Office — before being transferred to housing associations through Scottish Homes, SSHA’s successor. At the time, residents were told that these new local housing associations would ensure affordable, high-quality homes for communities. 

Decades later, that promise has crumbled — quite literally. 

Trapped by Silence and Inaction 

Private homeowners, many of whom purchased their properties directly from the housing associations, now find themselves entirely abandoned. Because the homes were originally built by or transferred through the housing associations, local representatives have refused to meet residents, claiming it is not their responsibility. 

Jodie Hillcot explains: 

“For over a year, we’ve tried to meet our housing associations and elected representatives — but the doors just keep closing. Linstone has never met with residents, and Bridgewater cancelled the meetings we had arranged. We’ve been left completely in the dark, with no guidance and no compassion.” 

Renfrewshire Council has confirmed that no funding will be made available for housing associations, and Linstone has reiterated this stance, claiming that the Scottish Government has offered no financial help. This effectively leaves homeowners shouldering the full cost of repairs — estimated between £20,000 and £30,000 per property. 

No Payment Plans, No Options, No Way Out 

Despite the immense costs involved, no information has been provided by either housing association about potential payment options or financial assistance. 
Homeowners have also received no clarity on whether they might be allowed to defer repayment until after selling their property, an option that could at least allow some to move on. 

In other local authority areas, where families have been unable to meet the financial probity requirements for council-backed loan offers, residents have at least been given the alternative of a voluntary acquisition process — allowing councils to purchase the homes and relieve owners of the financial burden, albeit often at a fraction of the property’s true value. 

However, in Renfrewshire, the housing associations have not offered this solution, leaving affected families with no safety net whatsoever. 

Jodie Hillcot adds: 

“People are frightened. Many can’t get finance, and others simply can’t afford to lose what little equity they have. Some families are growing, but they’re stuck — unable to sell, unable to move, unable to live without fear. Paying for these repairs will eat into equity that should rightfully be theirs.” 

A Letter Ignored — and Hundreds Left in Fear 

The joint letter from Hillcot and Chowdhry to Housing Minister Mairi McAllan sought a meeting to discuss potential support mechanisms for affected homeowners, urging her to act swiftly to prevent further hardship. Yet more than a month has passed without even an acknowledgment from the Minister’s office. 

This failure to respond is particularly unforgivable given the scale of the crisis in Renfrewshire — where 177 private homeowners, alongside hundreds of tenants, remain in limbo. 

Wilson Chowdhry said: 

“The Scottish Government’s silence is shameful. Renfrewshire has one of the highest concentrations of RAAC homes in the country — yet the Housing Minister cannot find the time to speak to the people living in them. These families didn’t cause this crisis — they bought homes in good faith, believing they were safe and well-built. Now they face financial ruin while government departments and housing associations pass the buck. Every day that passes without action deepens the injustice.” 

A Growing Crisis Across Scotland 

The situation in Renfrewshire mirrors a wider crisis facing homeowners across Scotland, where RAAC has been discovered in social housing, public buildings, and private homes. While some councils and housing associations have taken proactive steps to assess and support affected residents, Renfrewshire’s homeowners feel completely abandoned. 

“We need leadership, empathy, and urgent solutions,” said Hillcoat. “Instead, we’ve been met with silence. We are ordinary families — teachers, carers, shop workers — not developers or speculators. We just want safe homes and a fair solution.” 

Advocating for Solutions: The Affordable Housing Solutions Programme 

Given the lack of financial support for affected homeowners and the uncertainty surrounding repair costs, Wilson Chowdhry, in his capacity as Chair of the UK RAAC Campaign Group, has written to the Housing Minister requesting that the Affordable Housing Fund be made accessible to all RAAC-affected regions across Scotland. 

This fund has already demonstrated its potential impact: in Aberdeen, it enabled the council to offer a fairer deal to long-suffering homeowners, helping to alleviate financial pressures and provide a practical pathway for resolving RAAC-related issues. 

In particular, the fund could help address the situation in Renfrewshire, where it is available to both councils and housing associations, offering a potential pathway to support homeowners facing catastrophic repair costs. Some financial flexibility will be required to make this effective, and it is hoped that the Housing Minister will permit its use so that no family is left to bear this burden alone. 

A Plea for Justice 

As winter approaches, uncertainty looms over hundreds of households. Homeowners remain anxious about whether their roofs are safe, whether their homes will hold their value, and whether they will ever receive the support they need. 

Wilson Chowdhry concluded: 

“RAAC has become a national scandal. The Government’s failure to respond is a betrayal of trust — one that puts lives, livelihoods, and mental health at risk. These families deserve to be heard. They deserve answers. They deserve justice.”