4.  The applicant was born in 1929 and lives in Rome. 5.  He is the owner of a flat in Rome, which he had let to O.S. 6.  In a writ served on the tenant on 28 October 1992, the applicant informed the tenant of his intention to terminate the lease and summoned her to appear before the Rome Magistrate. 7.  By a decision of 3 March 1993, 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 3 March 1994. 8.  On 9 April 1994, the applicant served notice on the tenant requiring her to vacate the premises. 9.  On 26 April 1994, he served notice on the tenant informing her that the order for possession would be enforced by a bailiff on 24 May 1994. 10.  Between 24 May 1994 and 26 November 1999, the bailiff made nineteen 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 26 November 1999, the applicant recovered possession of the flat.