``These buildings are people's homes,'' he said.

``There's virtually no recognition of the financial cost to

private residents.''

Mr Greenow, who jointly owns homes in Pages Road, St Marys, where his mother and brothers live, recently addressed Penrith Council over local environment plan proposals to put the properties on the register.

``Despite what the [council's] report claims, financial burden comes hand in hand with heritage listing,'' he said.

Mr Greenow said an Australian Productivity Commission study found that listing limited the opportunities for development, and that the Heritage Act required owners of listed properties to pay for ``essential maintenance and repair'' and security. ``I think this heritage listing is at the whim of authorities.''

He suggested that Penrith Council look to the example of Liverpool Council which decided to exempt private homes from heritage listing and only list public and commercial buildings.

The council has decided to further consider the listing of Mr Greenow's Pages Road properties and councillors have also called for a report on ``providing greater assistance to owners of heritage-listed properties, and opportunities to improve the heritage-listing and assessment process''.