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Scottish regulator orders landlords to submit information on RAAC

News17 Oct 2023James Wilmore

Scotland’s social landlords have been ordered to provide information to the regulator about potentially unsafe concrete across their stock after “several” providers found it in homes. 

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Reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete
Aberdeen City Council said RAAC was “likely to have been used” in around 500 homes in the Balnagask area of the city
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Scotland’s social landlords have been ordered to provide information to the regulator about potentially unsafe concrete across their stock after “several” providers found it in homes #UKHousing

The Scottish Housing Regulator (SHR) has given housing associations and councils a deadline of 31 October to respond to establish the extent of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) in the country’s social housing. 

 

In a letter to landlords last week, the SHR said: “While it is likely that RAAC is not widespread in homes provided by social landlords, several landlords have identified the presence of RAAC in some of the homes they provide.”

 

This month Aberdeen City Council said RAAC was “likely to have been used” in around 500 homes in the Balnagask area of the city.

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RAAC is a lightweight material that was used between the 1950s and 1990s in the floors, walls and roofs of some buildings as a cheaper alternative to standard concrete. It has a lifespan of around 30 years.

 

The material has been thrown into the spotlight after last month 174 schools and colleges in England were identified as having the crumbling concrete. 

 

The SHR said RAAC’s presence “does not necessarily present an immediate risk”.

 

However it added: “The safety of tenants and residents is of paramount importance, and so it is critical that landlords have a good understanding of the presence and condition of RAAC in the homes they provide and that they have an appropriate plan for its management.”

In checking for RAAC, the SHR said that landlords should “seek suitably qualified advisors where necessary”.

 

The regulator said the information it gets will “assist in the development of an appropriate policy response”. 

 

Last month the Regulator of Social Housing said it understood that RAAC was not “widespread” in social housing in England but landlords needed to have mitigation plans. 

 

Housing secretary Michael Gove said last week that social housing providers would be expected to fund the cost themselves of removing RAAC, where it is discovered in homes. 

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Asset managementRegulation and GovernanceScotland
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