6.  The applicant was born in 1922 and lives in Sansepolcro (Arezzo). 7.  He is the owner of a flat in Florence, which he had let to L.B. 8.  In a registered letter of 20 January 1992, the applicant informed the tenant that he intended to terminate the lease on expiry of the term on 31 December 1993 and asked her to vacate the premises by that date. 9.  In a writ served on the tenant on 20 April 1993, the applicant reiterated his intention to terminate the lease and summoned the tenant to appear before the Florence Magistrate. 10.  By a decision of 12 July 1993, which was made enforceable on 4 August 1993, the Florence Magistrate upheld the validity of the notice to quit and ordered that the premises be vacated by 31 December 1993. 11.  On 10 March 1995, the applicant served notice on the tenant requiring her to vacate the premises. 12.  On 27 March 1995, he informed the tenant that the order for possession would be enforced by a bailiff on 30 May 1995. 13.  Between 30 May 1995 and 7 May 1996, the bailiff made three attempts to recover possession. Each attempt proved unsuccessful, as the applicant was not entitled to police assistance in enforcing the order for possession. 14.  On 2 April 1997, the applicant served a second notice on the tenant requiring her to vacate the premises. 15.  On 23 April 1997, the applicant made a statutory declaration that he urgently required the premises as accommodation for his children. 16.  On 8 May 1997, he informed the tenant that the order for possession would be enforced by a bailiff on 23 June 1997. 17.  Between 23 June 1997 and 3 September 1998, the bailiff made four attempts to recover possession. Each attempt proved unsuccessful, as the applicant was never granted the assistance of the police in enforcing the order for possession. 18.  Pursuant to section 6 of Law no. 431/98, on 31 August 1999, the tenant asked for a suspension of the eviction proceedings. 19.  On 15 December 2000, the Florence Magistrate decided to postpone the eviction proceedings until 11 July 2002. 20.  On 11 July 2002, the applicant recovered possession of the flat with the assistance of the police.