Agenda item

The Committee received one deputation request in relation to item 11.1 on the agenda (Local Housing Strategy) and two requests for deputation in relation to item 11.5 (RAAC update).

The first deputation request was from Lee Matthews on behalf of Myla Corvidae.  Lee explained that the first part of the deputation was from Myla’s perspective, noting that Myla had been living in Aberdeen as a private tenant for 16 years and how the impact of rent increases had directly impacted Myla’s ability to live in good quality, safe, affordable housing. 

Myla noted that within the Local Housing Strategy, there was a lot of focus on social housing, whilst private housing had been almost completely ignored and Myla proposed that rent control in Aberdeen would significantly shift the focus from buildings to people. 

Lee noted that Myla’s rent had increased from between 25 to 50% and he had struggled to remain in housing as a result of the sudden and unjustified rental increases.  Lee stated that having a well managed private renting sector in Aberdeen would not only be a benefit to people like Myla but it would encourage others to move to and remain in the city.

Lee advised that for Myla, he had been trying to get basis things like water and wind tight windows installed in his current property, to address mould issues and broken bathrooms repaired.  However these conversations with his landlord had been ongoing from when he first moved in to the property in 2017.  He was regularly informing his landlords of the issues and had been met with vague promises of solutions.  Sometimes he would receive no response at all and eventually took matters into his own hands with regards to having the work completed.  However Myla was then faced with the threat of illegal eviction because he was complaining about the state of disrepair.  Lee advised that fortunately, Living Rent was able to step in and resolve the issue within a matter of weeks.

Lee indicated that Myla believed that if a rental control agreement was in place, it would ensure that the rates within Aberdeen remained at a level that was consistent with the quality of living that this strategy set out to implement.  Lee noted that as someone who was unable to work consistently, Myla had been unable to meet increasing demands on the cost of living and had often gone without food or heating, due to high costs of rental agreements.

Lee advised that Myla had considered moving from Aberdeen as there were other places with more affordable housing options.

Lee then spoke about some testimonies from other members of the tenant union to ensure that the voices of private renters in the city were heard.  The first testimony was from Lauren whose bathroom ceiling started pouring with water as the roof was in need or urgent repairs.   She had spent 8 months begging the landlord and the letting agency to fix the leak, however it was not until she contacted the Council to complain that they finally sent out a contractor to repair the roof but the damp and mould remained.  Lauren had stated that the effort, time and energy spent chasing them felt like a unpaid part time job, but one with no accountability, consequences or care.  Lauren also relied on the lift to access her flat however the lift broke and she felt trapped in her top floor flat.  Every time she asked for an update she was given a different excuse.

Another testimony was from Iona who had asked her landlord to repair the windows and to ensure they were wind and water tight following a storm however her pleas were ignored until she threatened to take them to tribunal.  When someone eventually came to evaluate, it was revealed that the damage was so severe that it would take a structural engineer to fix the problem.  She was then served with an eviction notice as they could not carry out the work with anyone living in the property.  

Lee indicated that these experiences were backed up by data.  66% of private rentals suffered from disrepair and despite this, the average rent in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire was increased by 22.6% since January 2021.  Lee noted that in private rented accommodation, many flats on the market were not fit for purpose and queried what the Council’s strategy was for ensuring that all private lets in the city met the tolerable standard as required in the Housing Scotland Act 1987.  Lee also asked how the Council would ensure that the perspectives and concerns of private tenants were represented in the Local Housing Strategy.

Members then asked questions of Lee Matthews. 

The Committee then heard from Ian Lippe and Raymond Davidson who presented a joint deputation in relation to item 11.5 on the agenda, RAAC update.

Mr Lippe explained that he wanted to speak about the reality of the situation for the residents affected by RAAC and the options that they were actually able to take up.  Mr Lippe explained that the report suggested that most residents were refusing to engage with offers that were being made by the Council but he stated they were not refusing, they simply could not afford to take them.  Mr Lippe advised that only four letters had been issued to owners during the whole process.  He indicated that the current offers which included the cluster option, were just financially out of reach for so many households.

Mr Lippe advised that the Torry Community RAAC campaign conducted their own survey with the residents and the results were pretty clear, noting that at least 44 residents would choose the cluster option if they were constructed fairly and at least 46 would consider the house swap option if it was based on a fair valuation for their houses.  He indicated that this was a significant number of families that were ready to move forward if only the Council would offer the options that could be realistically accepted. 

Mr Lippe highlighted that their proposals were different, they were affordable and they were practical and would genuinely meet the needs of the residents and more importantly, they cost significantly less than the current plan of the voluntary acquisition and demolition. 

Mr Lippe noted that the message was simple.  Residents would engage and many wanted to and were ready and needed to move forward but only if they were given realistic options and he felt that ignoring the reality just prolonged a crisis unnecessarily and undermined the Council’s stated goal of helping residents.  He urged the Council to take these findings seriously and to structure its offers in a way that benefitted and worked for everyone and the constituents to which they serve. 

Mr Davidson then advised that he felt that based on the report and the decision made previously, that the SNP continued to remain devoid of compassion, care and common sense.  He stated that residents remained trapped, their safety and well being compromised everyday.  Mr Davidson felt that the current approach prioritised demolition over remediation, leaving most residents without realistic options for affordable rehousing.

Mr Davidson stated that it would cost more to purchase properties through voluntary agreement or compulsory purchase than adopting the far more affordable and practical solutions as suggested by the Torry Community RAAC Campaign Group.  He indicated that after spending that extra money, those homes would simply be demolished, leaving residents destitute, homeless and broken by the process.  However their proposals were legally sound, cost effective and preserved the tight knit community. 

Mr Davidson concluded that residents were struggling and compassion from Members could ensure that they were treated fairly and humanely whilst saving the Council money.  He indicated that the power to act with principle and compassion, lay solely in Members’ hands and asked that Members use that power to break the impasse and support the residents of Balnagask.

Members then asked questions of Mr Lippe and Mr Davidson.

The Committee then heard from Paula Fraser in relation to item 11.5, RAAC Update report, accompanied by Lynn Winstanley.  Ms Fraser advised that she was presenting her deputation in the hope that the residents were listened to.  Ms Fraser indicated that the tenants who had been moved were still suffering along with every homeowner.  Tenants had been moved to substandard properties and she had reports and photographs of people in homes with black mould and damp as well as leaking roofs, sinks leaking, heaters not working, boilers breaking down etc.

Ms Fraser indicated that the report emphasised that support from SAMH had not had a good uptake from residents, however she felt that this was due to the fact it took the Council so long to get the support up and running. 

Ms Fraser advised that the Council may be content in knowing that 31 homeowners had moved, but she wanted it noted that the majority had only buckled under the pressure of living in an unsafe, unkept un-serviced community.  They had not moved because they wanted to, but because they put their families’ health first. 

Ms Fraser asked that the decision to continue the demolition of Balnagask be voted out and that Councillors take a full review of the original proposals and costings by the Torry Community RAAC Group.  She felt that these options were very much workable.  Ms Fraser highlighted that they would continue to fight for the rights of all homeowners and for a safe and financially viable solution.

The Convener thanked all of the individuals who had presented their deputations.