Dundee flat owner lost half its value due to Raac as council approves £21.6m repair scheme

Yvette Hoskins calls for financial support for private homeowners affected by crumbling concrete

By LineZotpaper AI staff

Published27 October 2026

Updated27 October 2026

Read Time2 min

Sources3 outlets

A Dundee woman whose flat lost half its value after the discovery of potentially dangerous Raac concrete is calling for financial support for private homeowners, as the city council approved a £21.6m repair scheme for its own properties. Yvette Hoskins sold her flat for £55,000 despite a £100,000 valuation, describing the experience as 'daunting and devastating'.

Dundee City Council has approved a £21.6m repair scheme for council properties affected by reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac), but 237 privately-owned properties in affected buildings will have to contribute to the cost of repairs.

Yvette Hoskins, who chairs the Dundee Raac Campaign Group, sold her flat in the Craigie area of the city for just over half its market value after the material was found in the block's roof. The property had been on the market for more than a year, with the lowest offer coming in at £35,000.

"We could not believe that we had to sell our property at such a low price, it was super difficult," she said. Hoskins is calling for financial help for private homeowners, who she says bought their properties "in good faith with no knowledge of Raac".

At Monday's meeting, Hoskins asked councillors to consider full Raac removal from homes or a buy-back scheme allowing private owners to sell their properties to the council. Council officers said a buy-back scheme would not be viable.

Council leader Mark Flynn put forward an amendment, unanimously backed by councillors, asking the chief executive to write to UK housing secretary Angela Rayner and Scottish government housing secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville, seeking financial support and a dedicated funding mechanism for owner-occupiers affected by Raac.

The council said 783 properties within 171 cottages and 74 blocks of flats are affected. Work on the scheme is expected to begin in January, following a £500,000 pilot project involving five unoccupied properties. The pilot demonstrated that a remediation approach using plywood, timber joists and steel beams was technically viable.

Raac, a cheaper alternative to standard concrete, was used mostly in flat roofing between the 1950s and 1990s, but is less durable and susceptible to structural failure when exposed to moisture.

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Value of Yvette Hoskins' flat in Dundee, according to owner

Values reported by the owner to BBC Scotland Source: BBC Scotland, quoting Yvette Hoskins

Analysis

Why This Matters

Private homeowners face significant financial burden: those in Raac-affected properties must contribute to repairs at a time when property values have collapsed.
The issue affects hundreds of homes in Dundee alone, and similar cases could emerge across the UK where Raac was used.
Council and campaigners are now seeking government intervention, potentially setting a precedent for national support.

Background

Raac was widely used as a cheaper alternative to standard concrete in flat roofs, floors and walls between the 1950s and 1990s. It has a shorter lifespan and is prone to structural failure when it absorbs moisture, leading to safety concerns in schools, hospitals and housing. A pilot project in Dundee last year demonstrated a remediation method that supports existing Raac panels with conventional materials, rather than removing them entirely.

Key Perspectives

Yvette Hoskins and the Dundee Raac Campaign Group: say private homeowners were mis-sold their properties, need financial assistance and face a "lifetime of debt". They want full Raac removal or a council buy-back scheme. Dundee City Council officers: told councillors a buy-back scheme would not be viable. Council leader Mark Flynn: proposed writing to UK and Scottish government ministers to seek dedicated financial support for owner-occupiers and assurances that remediation work would be accepted by mortgage providers and insurers.

What to Watch

Response from UK and Scottish governments to the council's request for financial support and a dedicated funding mechanism.
Whether other local authorities with Raac-affected private homes follow Dundee's approach.
Start of remediation work in January and its impact on property values and insurance availability.

Sources

'My home lost half its value due to Raac' · BBC Scotland
'My home lost half its value due to Raac' · BBC Scotland
Dundee councillors approve £21m scheme to repair RAAC-affected homes · STV News

Checked

12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 11 supported.

Show each claim

SupportedThe flat lost half its value after RAAC was discovered.BBC Scotland: “A Dundee woman whose flat lost half of its value following the discovery of potentially dangerous concrete in the building”
SupportedThe council approved a £21.6m repair scheme for its RAAC-affected properties.BBC Scotland: “A £21.6m repair scheme for Dundee council properties affected by Raac (reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete) has been approved by councillors.”
SupportedHoskins is calling for financial support for private homeowners affected by RAAC.BBC Scotland: “Yvette Hoskins, who sold her flat in a Raac-affected building for £55,000 despite its £100,000 value, said the experience was "daunting and devastating".”
SupportedHoskins described the experience as “daunting and devastating”.BBC Scotland: “said the experience was "daunting and devastating".”
SupportedHoskins sold her flat for £55,000 despite its £100,000 value.BBC Scotland: “Yvette Hoskins, who sold her flat in a Raac-affected building for £55,000 despite its £100,000 value”
SupportedHoskins said, “We could not believe that we had to sell our property at such a low price, it was super difficult.”BBC Scotland: “"We could not believe that we had to sell our property at such a low price, it was super difficult."”
Reports differHoskins chairs the Dundee Raac Campaign Group.BBC Scotland: “Yvette Hoskins, who chairs the Dundee Raac Campaign Group, is calling for private homeowners to receive financial help for their share of the repairs.”
Supported237 privately owned properties in affected buildings will have to contribute to repair costs.BBC Scotland: “However, 237 privately-owned properties in the affected buildings will have to contribute to the cost of the repair work.”
SupportedThe lowest offer for Hoskins’s flat was £35,000.BBC Scotland: “"The lowest price we were offered was £35,000 on a property valued at £100,000," she said.”
SupportedHoskins said homeowners bought their properties “in good faith with no knowledge of Raac”.BBC Scotland: “"They bought their properties in good faith with no knowledge of Raac."”
SupportedAt Monday’s meeting, Hoskins asked councillors to consider full RAAC removal or a buy-back scheme.BBC Scotland: “At Monday's meeting, when the repair scheme was approved, Yvette asked councillors to consider alternative options. This included full Raac removal from homes or a buy-back scheme allowing private owners to sell their properties to the council.”
SupportedCouncil officers said a buy-back scheme would not be viable.BBC Scotland: “Council officers said a buy-back scheme would not be viable.”