6.  The applicants live in Rome. 7.  A.M.C. was the owner of a flat in Rome, which she had let to A.N. 8.  In a registered letter of 12 July 1990, the owner informed the tenant that she intended to terminate the lease on expiry of the term on 31 December 1991 and asked her to vacate the premises by that date. The tenant told the owner that she would not leave the premises by that date. 9.  In a writ served on the tenant on 18 December 1990, the owner reiterated her intention to terminate the lease and summoned the tenant to appear before the Rome Magistrate. 10.  By a decision of 3 May 1991, which was made enforceable on 8 July 1991, the Rome Magistrate upheld the validity of the notice to quit and ordered that the premises be vacated by 31 December 1992. 11.  On an unspecified date F.B, the applicants' father, became the owner of the flat by transfer of property. 12.  On 25 January 1993, the new owner served notice on the tenant requiring her to vacate the premises. 13.  On 12 May 1993, he served notice on the tenant informing her that the order for possession would be enforced by a bailiff on 21 May 1993. 14.  On 21 May 1993, the bailiff made one attempt to recover possession which proved unsuccessful as the owner was not entitled to police assistance in enforcing the order for possession. 15.  On 1 July 1993, the owner served a second notice on the tenant requiring her to vacate the premises. 16.  On 23 September 1993, he served notice on the tenant informing her that the order for possession would be enforced by a bailiff on 29 September 1993. 17.  Between 29 September 1993 and 15 June 1995, the bailiff made eight attempts to recover possession. Each attempt proved unsuccessful as the owner was not entitled to police assistance in enforcing the order for possession. 18.  On 16 March 1995, the owner made a statutory declaration that he urgently required the premises as accommodation for himself. 19.  On 16 July 1997, the owner served a new notice on the tenant requiring her to vacate the premises. 20.  On 5 September 1997, he served notice on the tenant informing her that the order for possession would be enforced by a bailiff on 23 July 1997. 21.  Between 23 July 1997 and 21 November 1997, the bailiff made two attempts to recover possession. 
Each attempt proved unsuccessful as the owner was not granted the assistance of the police in enforcing the order for possession. 22.  On 20 September 1997, the owner died and his children – the applicants – inherited the flat. 23.  On 21 May 1998, the applicants served notice on the tenant requiring her to vacate the premises. 24.  On 5 June 1998, they served notice on the tenant informing her that the order for possession would be enforced by a bailiff on 1 July 1998. 25.  Between 1 July 1998 and 15 July 1999, the bailiff made four attempts to recover possession. Each attempt proved unsuccessful as the applicants were not entitled to police assistance in enforcing the order for possession. 26.  On 14 September 1999, the applicants recovered possession of the flat.