6.  The applicants are the owners of an apartment in Rome, which they had let to G.R. 7.  In a registered letter of 15 October 1990, the applicants informed the tenant that they intended to terminate the lease on expiry of the term on 31 December 1991 and asked him to vacate the premises by that date. The tenant told the applicants that he would not leave. 8.  In a writ served on the tenant on 2 February 1991, the applicants reiterated their intention to terminate the lease and summoned the tenant to appear before the Rome Magistrate. 9.  By a decision of 23 May 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 31 December 1992. 10.  On 8 January 1993, the applicants served notice on the tenant requiring him to vacate the premises. 11.  On 29 January 1993, they served notice on the tenant informing him that the order for possession would be enforced by a bailiff on 25 February 1993. 12.  Between 25 February 1993 and 29 January 2000 the bailiff made thirty-seven attempts to recover possession. Each attempt proved unsuccessful, as the applicants were not entitled to police assistance in enforcing the order for possession. 13.  On 26 January 2000, the applicants recovered possession of the apartment.