4.  The applicant was born in 1933 and lives in Milan. 5.  He is the owner of a flat in Milan, which he had let to G.R. and R.M. 6.  In a writ served on the tenants on 8 February 1983, the applicant informed them of his intention to terminate the lease and summoned them to appear before the Milan Magistrate. 7.  By a decision of 8 March 1983, which was made enforceable on 8 May 1983, the Milan Magistrate upheld the validity of the notice to quit and ordered that the premises be vacated by 30 July 1984. 8.  On 14 January 1985, the applicant served notice on the tenants requiring them to vacate the premises. 9.  On 8 February 1986, he informed the tenants that the order for possession would be enforced by a bailiff on 25 February 1986. 10.  Between 25 February 1986 and 1 July 1999, the bailiff made fifty-five attempts to recover possession. Each attempt proved unsuccessful as the applicant was not entitled to police assistance in enforcing the order for possession. 11.  On 28 July 1999, the applicant sold the flat.