8.  The applicant was born in 1940 and lives in La Spezia. He is the owner of an apartment in La Spezia, which he had let to B.L. 9.  In a registered letter of 21 February 1992, the applicant informed the tenant that he intended to terminate the lease on expiry of the term on 31 August 1992 and asked him to vacate the premises by that date. 10.  On 31 August 1992, he served a notice to quit on the tenant, but he refused to leave. 11.  In a writ served on the tenant on 22 February 1993, the applicant informed the tenant of his intention to terminate the lease and summoned him to appear before the La Spezia Magistrate. 12.  By a decision of 4 March 1993, which was made enforceable on the same day, the La Spezia Magistrate upheld the validity of the notice to quit and ordered that the premises be vacated by 31 December 1993. 13.  On 14 January 1994, the applicant served notice on the tenant requiring him to vacate the premises. 14.  On 16 February 1994, he served notice on the tenant informing him that the order for possession would be enforced by a bailiff on 8 March 1994. 15.  On 30 May 1994, the applicant made a statutory declaration that he urgently required the premises as accommodation for his mother. 16.  Between 8 March 1994 and 14 May 1998, the bailiff made three attempts to recover possession. 17.  Each attempt proved unsuccessful, as the applicant was never granted the assistance of the police in enforcing the order for possession. 18.  On 27 September 1996, the applicant asked the La Spezia Magistrate for police assistance in enforcing the order for possession. The La Spezia Magistrate rejected the request. 19.  On 13 February 1998 and on 4 May 1998, the applicant served two notices to quit on the tenant, informing him that the order for possession would be enforced with the assistance of the police. 20.  On 14 May 1998, the applicant recovered possession of the apartment.