Frequently asked questions

How do I apply for a Livin home or bungalow?

We advertise all of our available homes on our Find A Home page, simply visit this page for more information.

Before you can place a bid on one of our homes, you must first have an active account with the relevant Choice Based Lettings Scheme. Almost all our homes are located in County Durham and therefore are allocated through the Durham Key Options scheme. Durham Key Options (DKO) is a partnership between Durham County Council and landlords across County Durham.

We have a small number of homes which are located outside Durham, these are all advertised through Tees Valley HomeFinder, Hartlepool HomeSearch and Darlington HomeSearch; They are similar to Durham Key Options but we do not process applications registered for these schemes. If you wish to register an application for homes advertised in this area, please apply directly.

Once your application is approved, you will then be able to bid on homes that meet your needs. You can access the application form directly by visiting the relevant Choice Based Lettings system.

How long will it take for my application to be processed?

We aim to start processing your application within 10 working days. If we require any further information after this point, we will contact you to ask for this. Once we have received all the required information we will notify you of our decision within 20 days, and if accepted we will activate your account. You can also check your application status online by logging into the DKO portal.

How can I get involved with Livin and help to shape services?

To find out more about the different ways you can get involved, please visit our getting involved section.

Can I apply to buy my home under Right to Buy?

Tenants who have been with Livin since before the transfer from Sedgefield Council in 2009 may have the “Preserved Right to Buy” their property. Full details of the scheme are available on the Government Right to Buy website. If you are thinking of applying, please contact us.

Can I apply to buy my home under Right to Acquire?

If you have been a tenant for 3 or more years you may have the right to buy your property under the Right to Acquire scheme. Full details of the scheme are available on the Government Right to Acquire website. If you are thinking of applying, please contact us.

More FAQ's

19 Dec - 2023

Christmas cheer for local families

We work closely with our tenants throughout the year and know how hard it can be to make sure every child has a present under the tree on Christmas morning.

This year, with the help of Mears Group we contributed over £2,000 to bring Christmas cheer to the families of 75 children and ease the burden the festive period can cause.

All gifts have been carefully selected for each child, wrapped by our volunteers, and are ready to be delivered in time for Christmas day. Popular choices included remote controlled cars, dolls, prams, bingo machines, board games and karaoke machines.

Livin Futures Manager, Helen Johnson said: "It has been a joy to help these families and a huge relief to the parents knowing it's one thing taken care of from their budget. We've spent £30 on hand-picked presents for each child, which we hope will bring them lots of happiness on Christmas day."

If you need help and support during the festive period please contact us using the link below or call 0800 587 4538.

Pictured left to right: Helen Johnson (Livin Futures Manager), Lisa Newham (Livin Futures Adviser), Louise Miller (Livin Futures Adviser) and Stewart Pears(Mears Group)

Request For Money Support