A proposal to study whether Knoxville should have a rental property inspection program drew about 20 landlords to Monday night’s City Council meeting; and several of them want to at least make sure their interests are heard before the city takes any action.

The City Council authorized its staff to go ahead and look at what form such an inspection program should take; city personnel would look to similar programs in other cities, and consider what needs to be looked at and what sort of cost would be incurred.

The objective as stated by City Manager Aaron Adams is to improve and potentially increase the available housing in town, and ensure the rental properties available are safe to occupy.

Several property owners on hand were concerned the city has already developed a plan, and Mayor Brian Hatch and the Council made a point of assuring them this is only the initial step and no tangible action has been taken.

He also made it clear the city not only wants their input, but needs it; he is proposing to have meetings with property owners during the process, to gauge their reactions and to help them determine if a full inspection program is worth pursuing.