Under consideration PE2113: Provide support to RAAC-affected communities
Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to provide support to communities affected by Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) by:
setting up a national fund to assist struggling homeowners and tenants affected by RAAC
initiating a public inquiry to investigate the practices of councils and housing associations concerning RAAC, including investigation of how business related to RAAC was conducted, the handling of safety reports and property sales, disclosure of RAAC, and responses to homeowner concerns
introducing or updating legislation, similar to the General Product Safety Regulations, to ensure developers, councils, and housing associations are held accountable for using substandard property materials, mandate risk disclosure, and make surveyors and solicitors liable for untraced defects. Legislation should also include provision for a comprehensive register of high-risk buildings in Scotland.
Background information
The Scottish Housing Regulator has published information on the presence of RAAC in social housing. 1,994 properties across Scotland are affected with thirteen social landlords reporting RAAC in homes they provide to tenants.
Councils and Housing Associations (HA) across Scotland are denying assistance to homeowners and private tenants. Council tenants now face displacement without any form of compensation for renovating their homes. Residents are being torn from the communities they cherish and depend on. They are being left in financial crisis, and in some cases face roof collapse.
We are seeking identification by RICS qualified surveyors where there may be possible RAAC threat, a requirement for solicitors to check for council disclosures of RAAC, and increased liability for surveyor and solicitor failures to identify defects.
A measure similar to the General Product Safety Regulations, which mandates manufacturers to address safety defects for the lifetime of a vehicle, should be introduced to ensure developers are accountable for rectifying safety issues even after purchase.
1,497 signatures
This petition is now under consideration
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