6.  The applicant was born in 1925 and lives in Rome. 7.  He is the owner of a flat in Rome, which he had let to F.M. and G.C. 8.  In a registered letter of 8 June 1983, the applicant informed the tenants that he intended to terminate the lease on expiry of the term on 31 December 1983 and asked them to vacate the premises by that date. 9.  The tenants told the applicant that they would not leave the premises. 10.  In a writ served on the tenants on 18 May 1985, the applicant reiterated his intention to terminate the lease and summoned them to appear before the Rome Magistrate. 11.  By a decision of 29 June 1985, which was made enforceable on the same day, the Rome Magistrate upheld the validity of the notice to quit and ordered that the premises be vacated by 28 June 1986. 12.  On 26 May 1986, the applicant served notice on the tenants requiring them to vacate the premises. 13.  On 9 July 1986, he served notice on the tenants informing them that the order for possession would be enforced by a bailiff on 31 July 1986. 14.  Between 31 July 1986 and 19 May 2000, the bailiff made seventy-three attempts to recover possession. Each attempt proved unsuccessful, as the applicant was not entitled to police assistance in enforcing the order for possession. 15.  On 14 June 2000, the applicant recovered possession of the apartment