5.  The applicant was born in 1926 and lived in Florence. 6.  He was the owner of a flat in Florence, which he had let to A.T. 7.  In a registered letter of 14 June 1983, the applicant informed the tenant that he intended to terminate the lease on expiry of the term on 31 December 1983 and asked him to vacate the premises by that date. 8.  In a writ served on the tenant on 22 March 1984, the applicant reiterated his intention to terminate the lease and summoned the tenant to appear before the Florence Magistrate. 9.  By a decision of 30 April 1984, which was made enforceable on 9 June 1984, the Florence Magistrate upheld the validity of the notice to quit and ordered that the premises be vacated by 30 April 1985. 10.  On 19 September 1987, the applicant served notice on the tenant requiring him to vacate the premises. 11.  On 23 October 1987, he informed the tenant that the order for possession would be enforced by a bailiff on 15 December 1987. 12.  Between 15 December 1987 and 15 March 1999, the bailiff made thirty-two attempts to recover possession. Each attempt proved unsuccessful, as the applicant was not entitled to police assistance in enforcing the order for possession. 13.  Pursuant to section 6 of Law no. 431/98, the enforcement proceedings were suspended until 10 September 1999. 14.  On 30 January 2001, the applicant reached a friendly agreement with the tenant who was supposed to leave the premises on 1 February 2002. 15.  On 31 April 2002, the applicant recovered possession of the flat.