4.  The applicant was born in 1950 and lives in Florence. 5.  He is the owner of a flat in Florence, which he had let to A.R. 6.  In a registered letter of 29 June 1987, the applicant informed the tenant that he intended to terminate the lease on expiry of the term on 31 December 1987 and asked him to vacate the premises by that date. 7.  The tenant told the applicant that he would not leave the premises. 8.  In a writ served on the tenant on 7 July 1989, the applicant reiterated his intention to terminate the lease and summoned the tenant to appear before the Florence Magistrate. 9.  By a decision of 21 September 1989, which was made enforceable on the same day, the Florence Magistrate upheld the validity of the notice to quit and ordered that the premises be vacated by 21 September 1990. 10.  On 25 November 1994, the applicant served notice on the tenant requiring him to vacate the premises. 11.  On 9 February 1995, he served notice on the tenant informing him that the order for possession would be enforced by a bailiff on 22 February 1995. 12.  Between 22 February 1995 and 13 June 2001, the bailiff made nine 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 6 December 1995, the applicant made a statutory declaration that he urgently required the premises as accommodation for his son 14.  On 17 August 2000, pursuant to section 6 of Law no. 431/98, the enforcement proceedings were suspended until 13 June 2001. 15.  On 29 June 2001, the applicant recovered possession of the flat.