Advice Dorset Partnership E News No. 34, 6 July 2026

The Advice Dorset Partnership E news is published fortnightly on a Thursday. However, if there is something urgent in-between we will send out a supplementary edition.

You can now subscribe to the newsletter (it is free and you will get an automatic notification when it is published) – and do encourage colleagues to subscribe too. The subscribe option is at the bottom of this page.

If you would like to send anything out via the bulletin, and for all other enquiries about the Advice Dorset Partnership, contact Thomas Hensher at Citizens Advice Central Dorset: [email protected]

HOUSING

Court action deadline expires for notices served before 1 May 2026 – England only: The deadline for private landlords to start a possession claim based on a section 8 or section 21 notice served before 1 May 2026 was the end of July. If a possession claim has not been started by this deadline then the notice will no longer be valid. An Assured Shorthold Tenancy in this situation will automatically convert to an Assured Periodic Tenancy. The landlord will be required to serve their tenant with the government’s information sheet on the Renters Rights Act changes. To end the tenancy the landlord will need to serve a section 8 notice based on one of the new or amended grounds for possession.

The July deadline also applies to assured shorthold tenancies offered by social landlords at a market rent. They will not apply to tenancies offered by social landlords at below market rents. For example at social, intermediate, or affordable rents. Tenancies at below market rents are defined as social housing. Commencement of the Renters Rights Act for assured and assured shorthold tenants of social housing is not expected until October 2027.

CONSUMER

Sending parcels to the EU: The EU has introduced a €3 temporary customs duty on distance sales items being shipped into the EU. It was introduced from 1 July 2026. This applies per item, not per parcel, to items up to a value of €150. However, this doesn’t apply to gifts. If people are sending gifts from the UK to the EU, the following applies:

• gifts with a value over €45 will be subject to VAT and a clearance fee
• goods and gifts above €150 may be subject to VAT, customs duties and a clearance fee

You can read about how to send internationally on the Royal Mail website.

Cyber security campaign: Friends Against Scams and the Cyber Helpline charity have launched an awareness campaign. There are resources to raise awareness of different types of cyber crime. There is also information on where victims can turn to.

You can find cybercrime awareness resources on the Friends Against Scams website.

Plug-in solar panels: From 27 August 2026, UK retailers will be able to sell plug-in solar panels. You can read more about this in this week’s energy section.

Royal College of Pharmacy guide to buying medicines safely online: The Royal College of Pharmacy’s new guide has tips for consumers who are buying online. People should:

• buy medicines from a registered online pharmacy
• buy herbal products and food supplements from reputable retailers
• expect to be asked questions about their health
• be wary of products that seem too good to be true
• know what support they should receive

If people have unexpected side effects, or are concerned a product might not be genuine, they should seek advice from a pharmacist or healthcare professional.

You can read the guide to buying medicines safely online on the Royal College of Pharmacy website.

ENERGY

Government confirms Warm Home Discount for 2026-27: The government has confirmed details of the Warm Home Discount for 2026-27. Eligible customers will receive a £150 rebate on their bill. Households in receipt of the following benefits are eligible:

• Housing Benefit
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Pension Credit
• Universal Credit

These are the same eligibility criteria as 2025-26.

Customers who are eligible should ensure that they are named on their household bill by 23 August 2026.

Customers who have recently moved house should ensure that they are named on the bill as soon as possible. Eligible prepayment customers who use a key or card to top up should also ensure their household account is in their name.

You can read more in the government announcement on GOV.UK.

FAMILY

Probate escalation process: HMCTS have introduced an escalation process for probate applications, where an applicant has not received a response for “an extended period”. The process is also aimed at helping applications which, following further enquiry, remain unresolved after 12 weeks.

It is hoped that the process will help to highlight outstanding applications and ensure a swifter review and progression of delayed cases.

You can read the HMCTS update of 31 July 2026 about the escalating probate applications at GOV.UK. This update also includes access to the escalation request form.

EMPLOYMENT

Acas to consult on a revised Code of Practice on disciplinary and grievance procedures: Acas has launched a public consultation on 30 July (running until 23 September 2026) on a draft revised statutory Code of Practice on Disciplinary and Grievance Procedures (the draft Code). The main thrust of the changes is to encourage an emphasis on the informal resolution of workplace disputes, to avoid the escalation into more formal disciplinary or grievance procedures, or Employment Tribunal (ET) claims. The intention appears to be mitigate the potential consequences of the raft of new rights introduced by the Employment Rights Act 2025, a surge of ET claims over the last year or so, the growing ET claims backlog, and Acas research which indicates that 44% of working-age adults have experienced conflict at work during the previous 12 months.

The draft Code proposes to change the description from employees to workers (so encompassing the different levels of employment status to broaden fair workplace practices), but it’s important to note that the uplift and reduction rules that apply to ET awards under s207A TULRCA 1992 will only apply to those with employee status. Failure to follow the Acas Code does not automatically make a party legally liable. However, Employment Tribunals must take the Code into account and have the statutory power under s207A TULRCA to adjust compensation awards by up to 25% for unreasonable non-compliance.

Employees and employers may be required to document/evidence what steps they had taken to seek informal resolution prior to formal procedures or ET claims, or explain why an informal route was inappropriate.

The key consultation points for proposed changes under the draft new Code (relevant to advising our clients) are:

• the power to suspend workers should only be used in exceptional cases (e.g., protecting an investigation, people, or business interests), kept as short as possible, regularly reviewed, and put in writing
• how AI should be addressed within workplace dispute procedures, for example evidence gathering, decision making or the use of overlong and unnecessarily complex grievance letters, i.e. preferably a short, clear written explanation of the key employee concerns
• encouraging early identification of reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act 2010, e.g, companion arrangements or meeting formats, at the formal, informal and investigation stages
• for the right to be accompanied at meetings, a change from the current restriction for rescheduling by up to 5 working days (if a companion is unavailable), to encourage employers to agree to longer postponements (in line with the reasoning in Talon Engineering v Smith EAT 2018), particularly where dismissal is a potential outcome

You can read the draft Code and how to engage in the consultation process on the Acas website.

IMMIGRATION

Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) recommends 28 occupations for the Temporary Shortage List (TSL): The TSL, first introduced in the ‘Immigration White paper’, is a list of time limited (18 months to 3 years) occupations which replace the Shortage Occupations List (SOL). The MAC was tasked with making recommendations for which jobs should be included in the list by taking into account:

• if the occupation was in shortage
• if the sector had a credible ‘jobs plan’ to grow domestic workers
• if exploitation risks were managed
• TSL access is appropriate

Following its assessment, the MAC has recommended only 28 occupations to be included on the TSL for a time limited period of 18 months in the first instance only.  Of these, the largest number fall into the construction and building sectors – roofers, plumbers, carpenters and electricians, amongst others.  Extensions from 18 months to 3 years will be considered if the sectors can show credible job plans.

Research and Reports

Hidden debt, hidden risks – Fixing the two-tier system for heat network consumers with bundled charges: There’s a two-tier system of protections for people who pay for their heating within rent or service charges. This is called ‘bundling’ or ‘bundled charging’. It affects a third of heat network consumers. Today, that’s more than 360,000 people. But, by 2050, bundled charges could affect 1.2 million people if the sector grows as planned and nothing is done to fix the two-tier system and improve heat network infrastructure. Citizens Advice has carried out legal research, quantitative and qualitative research with consumers, and extensive engagement with heat network providers in the social housing sector, to understand more about bundled charges. From this, they’ve developed practical recommendations to address the two-tier system of protections. Read the report here.

Improving Terminally Ill People’s Access to Special Rules: Research led by King’s College London, with funding from the end-of-life charity Marie Curie, indicates that barriers within the benefits system are preventing thousands of terminally ill individuals from receiving expedited access to crucial financial assistance. Read the report here.

Upcoming Events & Training

Volunteer Centre Dorset – Funding 1: Income Sustainability & Diversity: This online session will help community groups and small charities reduce reliance on grants by developing a broader, more resilient mix of income sources.

By the end of the session, participants will be able to:

• Understand why grant dependency is risky for long-term sustainability
• Identify sustainable income types suitable for your organisation
• Assess their current income mix and identify gaps
• Explore practical ways to diversify income (community fundraising, trading, partnerships, contracts, donations)
• Begin developing a realistic plan to strengthen financial resilience

12 August 2026: 10am-12pm. Online. Book here.

Volunteer Centre Dorset – Developing a Communications & Marketing Plan: This interactive workshop will take you through the essential steps in creating a communications/marketing plan for your voluntary group or organisation. We will cover:
– setting clear objectives
– understanding your audience
– finding the right channels
– creating engaging, accessible content
– evaluating your work

The session will include peer feedback, and each person attending will leave with an actional mini-comms plan. Be prepared to bring a piece of communications you are currently working on or planning, and think about what your biggest communications challenge is.

Wednesday 16th September 2026: 10am-1pm. Volunteer Centre Dorset, Dorchesrer DT1 1EF. Book here. 

Funding

Dorset Council Capital Leverage Fund: The aim of the Capital Leverage Fund is to support community and cultural organisations to deliver capital projects which provide new and improved facilities for our communities and residents. ‘Not for profit’ community organisations in the Dorset Council area, with an annual turnover of less than £1million can apply. If your organisation has an annual turnover of over £1million, contact Dorset Council to discuss your application first. You can still apply but will be a lower priority.

The total funding available for this fund is £155,000 for 2026/27.

You can apply for a capital grant of between £1,000 and £25,000, to fund up to 20% of your total project costs.

This fund is open until Sunday 10 January 2027 at 11:59pm.

For full details on how to apply, see the website here.

Green Futures Fund: Dorset Community Foundation has launched the Green Futures Fund, a new programme designed to inspire and empower young people to take action on environmental challenges. The fund was established by DCF Chair Tom Flood CBE and aims to support the next generation of environmental leaders across Dorset.

• Grants of up to £5,000

This fund is aimed at groups and individuals based in Dorset with projects that engage young people in environmental action, conservation, education or career development related to the environment.

Projects will be funded that:

• Support practical environmental and water conservation activities
• Provide environmental education opportunities
• Offer careers advice and pathways into environmental sectors
• Encourage young people’s involvement in addressing climate and environmental challenges
• Promote community action to protect Dorset’s natural environment

Applicants should contact Dorset Community Foundation for full eligibility criteria before applying.

Deadline: No application deadline has yet been published. Interested groups should contact Dorset Community Foundation for further information.