Trapped by RAAC
2025Daily newspapers in Scotland have launched a powerful joint campaign to support residents facing financial ruin and homelessness after discovering their homes were built with dangerous RAAC concrete.
The Courier in Dundee led the charge with its Trapped by RAAC campaign. The title was joined by the Aberdeen Press and Journal which highlighted the plight of homeowners in Dundee, Stirling and Aberdeen who have been told they must evacuate their properties. The homes, many purchased through the Right to Buy scheme, were constructed using the same unstable concrete that forced emergency closures of schools and hospitals across the UK last year.
In Dundee alone, nearly 900 homes are affected – more than anywhere else in Scotland. Residents now face the impossible choice of paying tens of thousands of pounds for repairs or selling their homes at a loss for demolition.
Courier editor David Clegg said: “Dundee is at the epicentre of Scotland’s RAAC housing crisis – and too many people are being left to face it alone.
“Nearly 900 homes in the city contain the defective concrete, more than anywhere else in Scotland. Many of the affected homeowners bought their properties through Right to Buy, unaware of the risks they were taking on. Now, their homes are losing value, their futures are uncertain, and they have nowhere to turn for help.
“This isn’t just about statistics. It’s about real people facing the possibility of bankruptcy and homelessness because of a problem they didn’t create. They need help – and they need it now.”
The campaign has drawn comparisons to the Post Office scandal – another case of ordinary people being failed by systems meant to protect them. Thousands have already backed a petition demanding urgent government intervention.
The campaign is calling for:
- Immediate government action to support affected homeowners
- Clear and transparent communication on the scale of the issue
- Fair compensation and practical solutions for those trapped in unsellable homes
The Press and Journal hosted an online debate to explore solutions, while reporter Lindsay Bruce addressed Aberdeen Council directly, urging leaders to show creativity and compassion in their response – emphasising the vital role of journalism in holding power to account and giving voice to those caught in the crisis.
Lindsay Bruce, who had been leading the campaign for the Press and Journal, said: “My call was for creativity and compassion, to bring about these solutions in a way that doesn’t see homeowners penalised further, whether mentally, physically or financially.
“As I said in my deputation, good journalism is robust in its ability to cover these stories and to question those in power positions at the heart of a crisis. We are also uniquely positioned to help give voice to the voiceless.
“We’re doing all we can to do just that. I hope I did the homeowners and their plight justice.
“Their ask is deliverable and measurable. It should not make them even worse off. I believe our leaders have it within them to buck the trend of ‘no obligation within the law’ to leading by example.”
