Lesley Curtis
Lesley Curtis is a solicitor and a director of Hopkin Murray Beskine and specialises in housing law.
Lesley has extensive experience in all areas of housing law. She has a particular interest in disrepair and property litigation.
Lesley frequently represents tenants in claims relating to the condition of their home, against local authorities, housing associations and private landlords. She has considerable expertise in obtaining damages on behalf of her clients and in ensuring that works are carried out. She often acts in complex and large housing disrepair claims including where there is a claim for personal injury. Lesley is often able to act in these cases under a ‘no win no fee’ funding arrangement (Conditional Fee Agreement).
Lesley also has particular expertise in possession proceedings and illegal eviction claims, and in advising tenants, leaseholders and landlords on a range of tenancy and leasehold disputes. She also has considerable experience of advising on property disputes, including party wall and boundary disputes and claims for damages and injunctions where nuisance is caused by building works.
Lesley is a tenacious litigator. She is highly skilled at working with her clients to agree an effective strategy. She focuses on finding solutions which provide the best possible outcomes for her clients.
Lesley qualified as a solicitor in 1989 and worked in private practice as a housing solicitor before joining Hopkin Murray Beskine in 2005. She was involved in developing the innovative online diary referral system called Nellbooker. Lesley was also appointed by the Legal Aid Agency to assess the quality of other housing lawyers’ work because of her exceptional expertise in the field of housing and property litigation.
Lesley has a well-earned reputation for conducting litigation with tenacity, flair and legal prowess and is known for her excellent judgment and exceptional commitment to her clients.
The 2023 Chambers UK Guide states that she “handles complex cases very well and has a personal commitment to the clients.” She is recommended in the Legal 500 UK Solicitors 2023 rankings where she is described as a ‘stand-out individual within the social housing world’.
The 2022 Chambers UK Guide described her as “absolutely brilliant”.
Recently reported cases:
McKeown v London Borough of Islington [2020] EWHC 779 (Admin) – a successful judicial review challenge to a local authority’s refusal to award a disabled facilities grant for adaptations to a tenant’s home.
Uddin v London Bough of Islington [2015] EWCA Civ 369 – Court of Appeal – the local authority’s appeal was dismissed, in a disrepair claim concerning liability for damp where there is an absent or defective damp proof course.
Dawoodi v Zafrani [2015] EWHC 3168 (TCC) – successful claim for damages for trespass and nuisance caused by building works.
See also
Legal 500 testimonial, 2024 edition:
“Lesley Curtis is a dedicated and tenacious litigator and achieves fantastic results for her clients.”
The 2023 Chambers UK Guide states that she “handles complex cases very well and has a personal commitment to the clients”. In the Legal 500 UK Solicitors 2023 rankings she is described as a ‘stand-out individual within the social housing world’. The 2022 Chambers UK Guide describes Lesley as “absolutely brilliant”.
Client feedback
“Friendly attitude and helpful… All spoken in layman’s language so I could understand everything”
“Upfront and straightforward with the costs… prompt and reliable”
“Very friendly and helpful; very useful and clear advice.”
“Very helpful, and easy to talk to about all my problems.”
