5.  The applicant was born in 1937. 6.  He was the owner of a flat in Livorno, which he had let to M.S. 7.  In a registered letter of 4 March 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.  On 9 October 1984, he served a notice to quit on the tenant, but he refused to leave. 9.  In a writ served on the tenant on 7 January 1986, the applicant reiterated his intention to terminate the lease and summoned the tenant to appear before the Livorno Magistrate. 10.  By a decision of 20 January 1986, which was made enforceable on 21 January 1986, the Livorno Magistrate upheld the validity of the notice to quit and ordered that the premises be vacated by 20 December 1986. 11.  On 2 April 1987 the applicant served notice on the tenant requiring him to vacate the premises. 12.  On 21 April 1987 he served notice on the tenant informing him that the order for possession would be enforced by a bailiff on 24 May 1987. 13.  Between 24 May 1987 and 27 November 1998 the bailiff made eighteen 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 15 December 1998, the applicant recovered possession of the flat.