4.  The applicant was born in 1931 and lives in Milan. 5.  He is the owner of a flat in Milan, which he had let to B.L. 6.  In a registered letter of 11 October 1993, the applicant informed the tenant that he intended to terminate the lease on expiry of the term on 29 September 1994 and asked her to vacate the premises by that date. 7.  The tenant told the applicant that she would not leave the premises. 8.  In a writ served on the tenant on 2 May 1994, the applicant reiterated his intention to terminate the lease and summoned the tenant to appear before the Milan Magistrate. 9.  By a decision of 2 June 1994, which was made enforceable on 13 June 1994, the Milan Magistrate upheld the validity of the notice to quit on 29 September 1996 and ordered that the premises be vacated by 31 December 1996. The delay of two years is due to Law no. 359/1992, which extended for two years the expiry of the term. 10.  On 14 February 1997, the applicant served notice on the tenant requiring her to vacate the premises. 11.  On 26 February 1997, he served notice on the tenant informing her that the order for possession would be enforced by a bailiff on 21 March 1997. 12.  Between 21 March 1997 and 29 January 1998, the bailiff made five attempts to recover possession. Each attempt proved unsuccessful, as the applicant was not entitled to police assistance in enforcing the order for possession. 13.  The applicant, then, decided to suspend the enforcement proceedings in order to avoid additional costs. 14.  On an unspecified date of April 2001, the applicant recovered possession of the apartment because the tenant, who was in rent arrears since 29 December 1999, had disappeared.