Aberdeen City Council will next week send a final letter to the remaining dozen homeowners in Torry whose properties were identified as containing reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac), telling them to either arrange surveys and make their homes safe or leave.
Council stresses safety, warns of enforcement
More than 500 homes in the Balnagask area were found to contain Raac in recent years. The local authority led a major relocation programme and has demolished and is replacing affected buildings. The council says more than 360 council tenants have already been re-housed and many private owners have left the area.
Internal council information shows just 12 privately owned properties now remain where owners have not engaged with the authority despite attempts to make contact. The forthcoming correspondence will set out that owners must arrange an assessment and carry out any required work to ensure the property is safe, or vacate the home. Recipients will be asked to reply within 14 days or face “formal enforcement action”.
“[The Council] has duties and powers relating to the safety of privately owned buildings where a danger to occupants or the public exists.”
The council’s update, prepared by an executive director, reiterated that the buildings team’s “primary concern is public safety rather than property acquisition or redevelopment” and that responsibility for maintaining privately owned properties rests with the owner.
What this means for the remaining homeowners
Owners who receive the letter will be presented with two core options. They will need to act quickly to avoid the risk of the council using its powers where a property is judged to be dangerous.
- Commission a professional survey to determine the condition and any immediate risk from Raac roof panels.
- Undertake and complete any necessary works so the property is deemed safe, or choose to vacate.
If owners do not comply within the timescale, the council may consider enforcement measures under building safety legislation where a danger to occupants or the public exists. The statement emphasises that the council’s approach is driven by safety concerns.
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Homes identified with Raac in Balnagask | More than 500 |
| Council tenants re-housed | More than 360 |
| Private owners yet to engage | 12 |
For residents and neighbours, the immediate practical implication is reassurance that the council is continuing to prioritise public safety and will use statutory powers where necessary. For the dozen homeowners concerned, the letter marks a final formal step before the authority considers enforcement.
The council did not provide further detail on the exact nature of potential enforcement measures in the internal update, but stressed the distinction between safety-led intervention and any intention to acquire property for redevelopment.
Further coverage will follow as the council issues the letters and more information becomes available about responses from the homeowners involved.
