RAAC - Private Owners Options

Owners can sell their property to the Council at the current Market Value. While the presence of RAAC panels have lowered house values, the Council would make additional payments for home loss, disturbance, and cover legal and professional fees. If you are interested in voluntary acquisition, please email RAAC@aberdeencity.gov.uk indicating this along with your name and address. 

Owners also have the option of making their own home safe. Owners who live in mostly privately-owned blocks or terraces could share the costs to make their roofs safe, and the Council would contribute to cover the costs of any properties owned by the Council. 

The Council strongly advises against this, given the health and safety risks from deteriorating RAAC panels. The Council has a legal duty to intervene where buildings are deemed dangerous or defective, and owners would be liable for repair costs and emergency evacuation at short notice. 

Roof replacement or a house swap. 

If enough owners show interest, the Council will choose terraces for replacement roofs. Owners will be allocated a property similar in size to their own. Some may be able to keep their current property (if their terrace is chosen).  

Replacing the roof will likely cause damage to the property. Judging how much damage will be caused is difficult until the work is underway and so the full costs are unknown. 

To help give owners certainty around costs, they are being asked to contribute a set fee for the roof replacement. The fee may be reduced, depending on final specifications and the result of openly tendered costs.  The maximum set cost to owners is:

• £20,000 for a one-bedroom property 
• £37,000 for a three-bedroom property 
• £44,000 for a four-bedroom property 

The Council will meet all other costs including but not limited to project management, legal fees, removal and storage, consents, safety checks, mortgage and security costs, and making homes ready for occupancy if damage is caused when the roof is removed.

Owners will also be offered a £5,000 cash payment to help make homes ready for occupancy.  Owners who do not require this payment could reduce their costs for a new roof by £5,000. 

The Council is currently working to establish a means of offering a low-cost loan/equity share arrangement to ensure that anyone who is keen to access this option can do so. 

Owners would need to move out during the works. The Council will help cover these costs if required. 

Owners have the option of swapping their current property with a council property in a block where the Council is a minority owner. If the values are different, either the owners or the Council will pay the difference.  

The Council will cover the costs of project management, legal fees, removal costs, disturbance, home loss, mortgage, and security costs, and will also make sure the home is safe and ready to live in. 

The Council would be open to offering similar a loan/equity share arrangements for owners who require it to progress this option. 

To move forward with the new options, the Council needs to gauge interest.  All homeowners will be sent a letter to ask which option will work best for them and owners are asked to respond by the end of June 2025.  The letter will outline the support available to owners to complete the return and explore the options more fully. 

The demolition plans have been paused until the end of June to give owners time to decide which option might work best for them.   

The Council is committed to supporting people through this process by helping them find the best solution for their home and to ensure their safety and well-being.  The letter will outline the support available to owners to complete the return and explore the options more fully.  Our Partner SAMH continues to be available to owners through hearforyou@samh.org.uk.

If you have any questions or need further assistance, please read the supporting material on in this section of our website and do not hesitate to reach out to us.