7.  The applicant is the owner of an apartment in Turin, which he had let to F.C. 8.  In a registered letter of 7 June 1991, the applicant informed the tenant that he intended to terminate the lease on expiry of the term on 31 December 1991 and asked him to vacate the premises by that date. 9.  On 29 June 1991, he served a notice to quit on the tenant, but he refused to leave. 10.  In a writ served on the tenant on the same day, the applicant reiterated his intention to terminate the lease and summoned the tenant to appear before the Turin Magistrate. 11.  By a decision of 2 October 1991, which was made enforceable on the same day, the Turin Magistrate upheld the validity of the notice to quit and ordered that the premises be vacated by 31 December 1992. 12.  On 23 January 1993, the applicant served notice on the tenant requiring him to vacate the premises. 13.  On 10 December 1992, the applicant made a statutory declaration that he urgently required the premises as accommodation for himself. 14.  On 24 February 1993, he served notice on the tenant informing him that the order for possession would be enforced by a bailiff on 6 April 1993. 15.  Between 6 April 1993 and 16 March 1999, the bailiff made eighteen attempts to recover possession. Each attempt proved unsuccessful, as the applicant was never granted the assistance of the police in enforcing the order for possession. 16.  Pursuant to Law 431/98, the period of enforcement of the order was suspended. 17.  On an unspecified date of June 1999, the tenant vacated the premises and the applicant recovered possession of the apartment.