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There were no legal proceedings against property owners in
1948, but in one case it was necessary, where a statutory notice
under section 9 of the Housing Act, 1936, had not been complied
with, to execute the work in the owner's default. The cost of the
works amounted to £94 2s. 6d., the owner agreeing to repay the
amount by quarterly instalments of £10.

Only one of these was demolished, No. 25, Edward Road. A
Demolition Order was made as the cost of repairs was estimated at
£519 and the value of the house on completion of the repairs at
£330. The house was duly demolished and the site cleared, the
tenant and his family being rehoused in one of the new Council
houses. Undertakings not to use the dwellings for human habitation
were given by the owners of 155b, East Barnet Road, 87, Park
Road, and 10, Lyonsdown Road. The basement flat at 155b, East
Barnet Road is now used for business purposes (a storage depot for
builders' materials), the cottage at 87, Park Road and the basement
flat at 10, Lyonsdown Road are now vacant and closed by reason
of the cost of reconditioning being prohibitive, the flat at 9,
Somerset Road and the dwelling-house at 3, Margaret Road were
reconditioned by the owners and sold with vacant possession,
undertakings having previously been given by the owners to execute
the necessary works.
Since my appointment here 22 years ago a total of 57 dwellings
have been reported upon and condemned as unfit for habitation.
Forty-seven of these have been demolished, 4 have been reconditioned,
4 are closed, undertakings having been accepted not to
use them for human habitation, and 2 are still occupied and
, awaiting demolition.
Rat Destruction.
One hundred and two complaints of rat infestation were
received (109 in 1947), all of which were investigated and advice
given as to the best methods of dealing with them. All the premises
affected were repeatedly visited until finally cleared of rats. Many
cases were also visited by the staff of the County Pests Officer at
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