4.  The applicant was born in 1954 and lives in Rome. 5.  A.S. was the owner of a flat in Rome, which he had let to G.C. and then to his wife L.C. 6.  In a registered letter of 25 June 1991, the owner informed the tenant that he intended to terminate the lease on expiry of the term on 31 December 1991 and asked her to vacate the premises by that date. 7.  In a writ served on the tenant on 13 December 1991, the owner reiterated his intention to terminate the lease and summoned the tenant to appear before the Rome Magistrate. 8.  By a decision of 10 April 1992, which was made enforceable on 23 April 1992, the Rome Magistrate upheld the validity of the notice to quit and ordered that the premises be vacated by 28 February 1993. 9.  On 9 December 1993, the applicant became the owner of the flat and continued the enforcement proceedings. 10.  On 4 January 1994, the applicant served notice on the tenant requiring her to vacate the premises. 11.  On 4 February 1994, he informed the tenant that the order for possession would be enforced by a bailiff on 22 March 1994. 12.  Between 22 March 1994 and 16 September 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. 13.  On 13 November 1997, the applicant made a statutory declaration that he urgently required the premises as accommodation for himself. 14.  On 4 October 1999, the enforcement proceedings were suspended until 17 May 2000. 15.  On 3 July 2000, the applicant recovered possession of the flat.