Landlords are pushing back against plans to introduce more powers to tackle bad housing conditions in a Norfolk town.
The Eastern Landlords Association has brought in lawyers to challenge Great Yarmouth Borough Council's (GYBC) proposals for a selective licensing scheme.
It would require private landlords in three key areas to pay a £784 fee and it would allow officials to carry out more inspections and issue fines if problems are found.
More than 5,000 properties in Nelson, Central and Northgate and Southtown and Cobholm wards would be affected - areas which have high levels of deprivation.
The scheme could be introduced in the coming months following the results of a public consultation.
But the Eastern Landlords Association is opposing it and has instructed a solicitor firm which specialises in the area to help challenge several aspects of the policy.
Paul Cunningham, chairman of the group, said this includes excessive costs and the number of inspections.
"Inspections every three months are unreasonable and intrusive for tenants," he said.
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Mr Cunningham said GYBC has so far "refused to enter into a dialogue" with its members.
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Paul Wells, cabinet member for licensing at the authority has defended the proposal.
He said: ‘’The council is working hard to produce a robust proposal to cover part of Great Yarmouth.
"As part of the process, it is consulting with the public and engaging with landlords and agents to ensure any scheme would be as effective as possible and deliver vital improvements to housing for tenants without being a costly burden for landlords.
"Across the country, there are already many such schemes that work perfectly well for tenants and landlords – these are not unusual.
"We will be aiming to learn from successes elsewhere – as well as leaning on our experience of a previous scheme in Great Yarmouth.
"It is important to remember that nothing has been determined as yet.’’
People can comment on the proposals on the council's website - have-your-say.great-yarmouth.gov.uk/selective-licensing-consultation.
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