4.  The applicants live in Rome. 5.  They are the owners of a flat in Rome, which they had let to G.B. and R.B.F. 6.  In a writ served on the tenants on 23 July 1992, the applicants informed the tenant of their intention to terminate the lease and summoned them to appear before the Rome Magistrate. 7.  By a decision of 17 December 1992, 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 30 August 1993. 8.  On 8 October 1993, the applicants served notice on the tenants requiring them to vacate the premises. 9.  On 29 October 1993, they served notice on the tenants informing them that the order for possession would be enforced by a bailiff on 16 December 1993. 10.  Between 16 December 1993 and 25 January 2000, the bailiff made thirty-two attempts to recover possession. Each attempt proved unsuccessful, as the applicants were not entitled to police assistance in enforcing the order for possession. 11.  On 27 March 2000, the applicants recovered possession of the flat.