Duncan Lewis Solicitors

20/05/2026

A new deadline has landed for landlords across England.

The Renters' Rights Act has brought a series of changes to the private rental sector in England.

Alongside these changes comes a pressing obligation for landlords.

👉 They must provide each tenant named in a tenancy agreement with an official Government information sheet by 31 May 2026 or face a financial penalty.

What is this requirement, and what happens if you don't comply?

Our housing team explains: https://buff.ly/hImzF9S

13/05/2026

Is your tenancy agreement still legally valid? 🤔🏠️

The Renters' Rights Act has brought sweeping changes to the private rental sector.

Under the Act, many clauses commonly found in tenancy agreements may no longer be legally enforceable.

In particular, clauses that try to impose unfair conditions on tenants are likely to be challenged.

Here is exactly which clauses are being overridden and what you need to be aware of as a tenant. 👉

New rental laws may invalidate tenancy clauses. Discover how the Renters’ Rights reforms affect agreements in England.

07/05/2026

Last night, we had the pleasure of hosting our Immigration and Public Law Spring Reception 🙌

Over 180 colleagues joined us, including counsel, clerks, NGOs, experts and fellow practitioners.

Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make the evening such a happy and memorable occasion. 💙

29/04/2026

🌟 We've been named Law Firm of the Year at the Women and Diversity in Law Awards 2026.

The award recognises firms driving real change in diversity and inclusion, across their people and communities.

For us, it reflects a long-standing commitment to equality, representation and access to justice.

28/04/2026

What would you do if your neighbour’s plant started taking over your property?

That’s exactly what happened to an 80-year-old man living alone in a detached cottage.

A neighbour’s climbing hydrangea had spread across his boundary, blocking his gutters, reaching the roof, and even growing over a window.

Despite several polite requests, nothing was done.

Here's what the law says in situations like this.

When a neighbour's plant crosses onto another person's property, this can become a legal nuisance.

A homeowner is entitled to cut back any overgrowth, provided they do not step onto the neighbouring land or cut beyond their own side.

So, what's the proper way to legally escalate the matter, and what's one thing people usually get wrong in these situations?

Find out here ▶️

Manjinder Kaur Atwal appears in This is Money, offering legal guidance on boundary disputes, overgrown plants, and homeowners’ rights when plants encroach.

17/04/2026

An inquest into the death of a vulnerable man at Queensway Underground Station has highlighted multiple failings in the response of public authorities.

The jury identified delays by Transport for London, failures in information sharing, and criticised the approach taken by police officers dealing with a man in a mental health crisis.

It found that a delay by TFL control in alerting the train driver was probably causative of his death.

Rachael Thacker from our Actions Against Public Authorities team represented the family throughout the inquest, instructing counsel Dr Anton Van Dellen.

➡️ You can find more information about this inquest here: https://buff.ly/zislhwR

16/04/2026

Imagine opening a bill for £2,405 and having little idea what you're actually paying for.

That's the reality for nearly 5 million leaseholders across England and Wales, many of whom are being asked to pay more service charges every year.

It has also increasingly become their biggest household bill after the mortgage.

Yet most people don't know they have the right to challenge it.

If your service charge feels unreasonable, whether it's the increase in amount or the quality of work, you don't have to just accept it.

Our property litigation team tells you the most common causes of service charge disputes and, more importantly, what you can actually do about it.

👉

Understand your rights on service charges. Our property solicitors help leaseholders dispute unfair costs and resolve landlord conflicts efficiently.

08/04/2026

When can a death be ruled as su***de?

What if there’s no note or clear evidence of intent?

A recent High Court case looks at how coroners should approach conclusions of su***de in these situations.

This is especially important for families navigating the inquest process and questioning how decisions are made.

Our action against public authorities team explains this in more detail ➡️

The High Court clarifies when coroners can conclude su***de without direct evidence of intent in Toogood v HM Senior Coroner for Somerset.

02/04/2026

With boundary disputes, a simple disagreement over a fence can spiral into years of acrimony between neighbours.

But most boundary disputes don't need to end in court.

They can be resolved early on, before positions harden and legal costs are out of control.

Here's how 👉 https://buff.ly/uyy6tbG

01/04/2026

Abuse isn’t always physical.

It can be emotional, controlling and difficult to recognise.

Some people experience pressure from a partner or family member who uses threats of self-harm to keep control.

This can make them feel trapped and unable to walk away.

This is called "coercive control".

It’s a pattern of behaviour that builds over time, like isolating someone from friends and family, controlling finances, or using intimidation and threats.

The impact can be deep, leaving someone feeling powerless.

Family Caseworker Elizabeth Beesley explains coercive control in more detail and what support is available.

👉

Learn how su***de threats can be used as coercive control in domestic abuse cases.

31/03/2026

Our client came to us after being subjected to serious sexual harassment by her manager, followed by disciplinary action when she spoke up.

Over a period of time, the victim received a stream of explicit WhatsApp messages during work hours.

These included extreme pornographic material directed at her personally.

Like many employees, she felt unable to report the behaviour at first, fearing it could put her job at risk.

Finally, when she did raise a formal complaint, instead of being supported, she was accused of gross misconduct.

Our team brought claims for sexual harassment and victimisation against both the employer and the manager.

We secured a strong settlement, including compensation for financial loss and the impact on our client’s well-being.

If you are experiencing harassment or unfair treatment at work, seeking legal advice can help you understand your position and take control of the situation.

You can find out more about this case here:

Sexual Harassment, Then Victim Blamed: Employee Wins Settlement after Speaking Out