After years of debate, the city of Gainesville is moving ahead with enforcing a controversial law requiring energy-efficiency inspections in smaller rental properties.
The proposal, which affects only rental properties with four units or less, is opposed by real estate organizations but supported by advocates for the poor.
State law prohibits local governments from passing laws requiring the inspections for rental buildings with five or more units.
The Gainesville City Commission last week picked C.A.P. Government Inc. out of Coral Cables to start conducting the inspections on Oct. 1. The commission authorized staff to enter into contract negotiations with the firm.