2023 - September, Our news

Many of you will have seen the news about Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) affecting schools across the country.

Although RAAC, also known as aircrete and aerobar, was a construction material used mostly in civic buildings like schools, hospitals, and libraries; the extent of its use in housing is less clear.

The current advice is that it may have been used in buildings constructed between the 1950s and the 1980s, and in buildings of 3 and 4 storeys high with flat roofs. RAAC was used in the construction of the roof slab, and potentially in walls and floors.

We want to check our properties that match this description so we can be confident whether they contain RAAC or not.

Our Stock Condition surveyors will be checking these buildings over the next three weeks to carry out tests and see if any of them contain RAAC. This may mean we need to expose some of the roof or walls to see what materials they’re made of. Due to the age of the buildings, this also means there is a risk of asbestos being present so we need to check for that before any work is carried out so as not to disturb it.

What do I need to do?

For now, there is nothing you need to do. We’ll be writing to residents who live in the blocks where we need to check if RAAC has been used.

If we need to gain access to your home, or if we need to carry out any work, we will be in contact with you separately to let you know.

We know this may be concerning for some of you, but please rest assured that your safety is always our top priority so we’re working hard to identify any buildings affected and will take action once we know more.