Further financial support needed for victims of Raac, says committee

The Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee has written to the Housing Secretary following its inquiry on building safety, asking the Scottish Government for further financial support.

The inquiry focused on damp and mould in rented houses, potentially unsafe concrete Raac, and the use of dangerous cladding on high-rise buildings.

The letter, addressed to Housing Secretary Mairi McAllan, says the committee believes there are “opportunities for the Scottish Government to demonstrate leadership” on these issues.

It calls on the Government to “consider what further financial support it can provide” to residents dealing with Raac, and “urges” action to provide guidance on dealing with the concrete in domestic properties as soon as possible.

On cladding, the committee asks for clarification on why there has been “little progress” with single building assessments.

The letter, which is signed by committee convener Ariane Burgess, also said its members are disappointed to have heard that landlords are still blaming tenants for the development of damp and mould in properties.

Ms McAllan became Housing Secretary in June 2025 and released the Housing Emergency Action Plan this month.

It commits to invest up to £4.9 billion towards housing over the next four years, with the aim to deliver around 36,000 affordable homes by 2029-30 and provide a home for up to 24,000 children.

The letter from the committee also said Ms McAllan had offered to attend a meeting of the committee, and members wish her to attend to “hear about these issues, and your priorities in your new role as Cabinet Secretary for Housing”.

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “We are continuing to work with local authorities across Scotland as they respond to the impact of Raac in their areas and are fully supportive of their efforts to find solutions for tenants and homeowners within existing financial arrangements.

“We expect all social landlords to be engaging with their tenants to develop plans to remediate Raac in their homes, in line with guidance published by the Institution of Structural Engineers. We remain closely engaged in this work.

“The Housing Secretary is also writing to the newly-appointed Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government to once again ask for the UK Government to put in place financial arrangements, on a cross-UK basis, to support Raac remediation.

“The Housing (Scotland) Bill currently going through Parliament will enable us to implement Awaab’s Law in Scotland, which will ensure no family in Scotland has to rent a home with damp and mould.

“On cladding, building owners are responsible for commissioning the single building assessment. Since legislation came into force in January, which gave ministers the necessary legal powers, more than 250 initial grant offers have been made to building owners and residents to take forward a single building assessment. In August, the Housing Secretary announced an additional £20 million of Scottish Government funding to expedite this vital work.

“Ministers have committed that by 2029 every high-risk residential building over 18 metres will have been resolved, with buildings between 11 and 18 metres placed on a clear pathway to resolution.”