Posted on 05/02/2024 7:27:08 PM PDT by RandFan
Home owners have told the BBC they are living in fear of crippling bills after finding out a cheap version of concrete that could be at risk of collapse was used in their houses.
Reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) was used mostly in flat roofing, but also in floors and walls, between the 1950s and 1990s.
It has been found in public buildings across the UK sparking fears about the potential collapse of ceilings and walls - and many local authorities are now moving to inspect council houses.
But whereas current tenants are having their repair costs covered, many people who bought their council houses say they have no-one to turn to. “The house is worthless," says Jim Allan of the Bathgate home he has lived in since 1968.
His father bought the family's council home in 2003 and Jim took it on 12 years ago when his dad died.
But he says his happy memories of living in the house are being overshadowed after West Lothian Council informed him that the neighbouring council houses had traces of RAAC.
Council tenants are to be moved out of their homes while remedial work is completed but Jim says he got a letter saying "you’re on your own".
He has been given estimates putting the work required in the region of £50,000 ($62,000).
However, he was also advised he would be better “putting a match” to the property given the scale and cost of the issue.
“I can’t sleep at night because it’s so stressful," Jim says.
"I don’t have that kind of money. I don’t know what to do.”
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.co.uk ...
That’s happening here in the Northeast U.S. in newer McMansions that were built with this stuff.
-SB
“ The Romans created concrete which has lasted thousands of years.”
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That’s because some Roman contractors cut corners and didn’t aerate their concrete. Cheap bastards. /s
“he has lived in since 1968.”
Don’t know when the house was built but he has lived there for 56 years, so is it really going to collapse any minute?
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