The petition of residents of the United Kingdom,
Declares that many families across the UK face homelessness, bankruptcy and trauma after being forced from homes made unsafe by RAAC (reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete), particularly in former council homes purchased under the right to buy scheme.
The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Government to hold a public inquiry into the handling of RAAC by national and local government; to introduce legislation to require the maintenance of a high-risk building register, to mandate reporting of building defects by surveyors and other professionals and to introduce sixty-year liability for developers for building defects; and to consider compensation measures such as a ban on levying interest on mortgages on homes condemned after the discovery of RAAC, and the restoration of first-time buyer status for affected homeowners.
And the petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Brian Leishman, Official Report, 27 January 2026; Vol. 779, c. 872.]
[P003158]
Observations from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government (Samantha Dixon):
Issues with RAAC are long-standing and well known, with established guidance supporting building owners in identifying, assessing, and taking necessary safety measures.
The Building Safety Act 2022 introduced a strengthened building safety regime in England that places clear duties on those responsible for managing high-risk residential buildings. The new regulatory framework requires principal accountable persons—PAPs—to demonstrate robust oversight of the safety of their buildings with PAPs required to report safety incidents through mandatory occurrence reporting.
While RAAC appears across a wider range of building types beyond those in scope of the high-risk building regime, the principles of clear responsibility, regular assessment, and early reporting remain essential to managing risks wherever RAAC is present.
The prevalence of RAAC is low in housing and the risk of injuries due to RAAC panel collapses is low relative to other risks in the built environment.
The Government therefore have no plans to introduce new measures to address the risks related to RAAC. The Government continue to work closely with building owners, local authorities, and the Building Safety Regulator to ensure the identification and management of RAAC-related risks remain robust and proportionate.
Building safety policy and local government finance are devolved. The building safety regulator and MHCLG officials have engaged with the devolved Governments on RAAC and other building safety and performance issues. Any decisions on funding for managing RAAC are for the relevant authority, including local authorities in England, and devolved Governments and local authorities in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Devolved Governments can take their own decisions on managing and investing available resources, reflecting their own assessment of risk, priorities and local circumstances.