4.  The applicant was born in 1907 and lives in Piacenza. 5.  He is the owner of a flat in Milan, which he had let to A.B. 6.  In a registered letter of 18 April 1985, the applicant informed the tenant that he intended to terminate the lease on expiry of the term on 15 April 1986 and asked him to vacate the premises by that date. 7.  In a writ served on the tenant on 17 March 1986, the applicant reiterated his intention to terminate the lease and summoned the tenant to appear before the Milan Magistrate. 8.  By a decision of 8 April 1986, which was made enforceable on 16 September 1986, the Milan Magistrate upheld the validity of the notice to quit and ordered that the premises be vacated by 15 April 1987. 9.  On 1 April 1987, the applicant served notice on the tenant requiring him to vacate the premises. 10.  On 18 May 1987, he informed the tenant that the order for possession would be enforced by a bailiff on 29 May 1987. 11.  Between 29 May 1987 and 16 November 2000, the bailiff made fifty-four attempts to recover possession. Each attempt proved unsuccessful, as the applicant was not entitled to police assistance in enforcing the order for possession. 12.  On 28 March 2001, the applicant sold the flat to the tenant.