8.  The applicant is the owner of an apartment in Rome, which he had let to P.D. 9.  In a writ served on the tenant on 25 May 1991, the applicant communicated his intention to terminate the lease on expiry of the term on 31 December 1991 and summoned the tenant to appear before the Rome Magistrate. 10.  By a decision of 21 October 1991, 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 15 November 1992. 11.  On 2 December 1992, the applicant served notice on the tenant requiring him to vacate the premises. 12.  On 11 January 1993, he served notice on the tenant informing him that the order for possession would be enforced by a bailiff on 16 February 1993. 13.  On 11 February 1993, the applicant made a statutory declaration that he urgently required the premises as accommodation for himself. 14.  Between 16 February 1993 and 12 May 1998, the bailiff made thirteen 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. 15.  At the end of June 1998, the tenant vacated the premises.