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

Spennymoor community news

Two children on their bikes at Yorkhill, Spennymoor

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Making a splash for The Alzheimer’s Society

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Students help local foodbanks for fourth year running

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Spennymoor academy students restock local foodbanks as cold weather hits

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Warm space enables local residents group to expand

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Partnership working supports trade apprentices

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NHC bursary scheme helps young mum become self employed

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Additional community news

Berri education

We supported Berri education with funding towards equipment to enable them to deliver educational support and advice as well as social and emotional support to vulnerable children and young people across Spennymoor and beyond.

Sports at Whitworth Park Academy

We worked with Whitworth Park Academy to support the development of a Football Development hub within the grounds of the school – this includes a full size 3G Floodlight pitch with changing and community facilities.

Tackling climate change with Spennymoor students

We worked with students in Spennymoor to raise awareness of issues relating to climate change. In teams they were set a task to plan and design new eco-friendly community using alternative building materials and introducing ways in which to reduce carbon emissions. They were asked to consider the four ‘C’s in their design. Climate, Character, Connectivity and Community.