Yalcin Demiralay, a Dereham landlord, has been told by Breckland Council that work carried out on a series of town centre flats was unlawful - despite the authority having used them for emergency housing for more than a year.

Breckland Council has confirmed it had been pursuing criminal proceedings against Mr Demiralay in August.

While it declined to comment on an active investigation, it is believed the probe relates to the conditions at numerous properties he owns across the town.

Breckland Council HQ in Dereham (Image: Archant © 2013)

Yalcin Demiralay (Image: Facebook)

This includes 14-16 Market Place, eight flats in a Grade II listed building that has been subdivided into micro-flats.

The properties are believed to have been used for emergency housing from May 2024 to September 2025.

A former resident has claimed the building is “bodged from top to bottom”.

The property was first investigated by Breckland in March 2025 (Image: Google Maps)

He said: “When I lived there, I couldn’t plug in the washing machine and the kettle at the same time without tripping the electrics.

“The floor below has collapsed before and they just plaster........

© Eastern Daily Press