Well that does sound positive and I hope it works out, however I am a bit dubious about the story he has told you about the council telling him to get rid of the cats. On what grounds are they saying that. They only way they can enforce it is on breach of tenancy if it is a council property, but they would be on a sticky wicket there or Environmental Health, but that is usually if you have 12 cats or more and then you cna be classed as a cattery and therefore need a licence, but it is not often a local authority enforce that.