Foster son in court battle over tenancy

Steven Wall, who nursed his foster mother June Wall during her final illness, says it is a violation of his human rights that he is not being treated the same as a blood relative.

For more than six years he has battled to inherit the tenancy of the house in Oldfield Terrace, Sheffield, where Mrs Wall took him in as a one-year-old baby.

Now his case, which will affect the rights of thousands of council tenants, is being heard by three of the nation's most senior judges, Lord Justice Ward, Lord Justice Etherton and Lord Justice Sullivan at the Civil Appeal Court in London.

Mr Wall's battle began in 2003 when Sheffield Council served him with notice to quit his home after his foster mother died. Refusing to let him "succeed" to her secure tenancy, the council claimed he had not lived with her for 12 months before she died.

He was ordered out by a judge in February 2005 and, although that decision was overturned by the Court of Appeal the following year Sheffield Council had already relet the property .

Mr Wall has since been battling to make the tenants leave so he can move back into the home he insists is rightfully his.

In March last year, Judge Bullimore refused to order the new tenants out, but Mr Wall is challenging that ruling in a second Appeal Court hearing.

His lawyers argue the refusal to acknowledge him as a member of his foster mother's family under the 1985 Housing Act amounted to unlawful discrimination.

The appeal hearing continues.