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

Newton Aycliffe West Improvements

Working collectively with the community and partners we have established a community-led partnership for the estate. Our constant conversation with the estate will expand to explore everything place-based, from homes to the environment and from jobs to financial wellbeing.

What's happening on the estate?

The Western Partnership is a group of organisations and residents who have come together to improve lives on the Western Estate and have been meeting since 2019 after successfully securing a grant from The National Lottery.

The Lottery Funded Community Development worker Katie has completed her first year, but there is so much more to do in 2024. Here are some of the ongoing projects:

Groundwork North East and Cumbria has produced their pathway and protection of open spaces plan for the estate

Durham County Council’s Community Action Team (CAT) will be working on the estate with the community and other local partners to tackle local housing, environmental and antisocial behaviour issues (June to September 2024)

The Police and partners are working on a media campaign to reassure residents that they are working together to help tackle anti-social behaviour on the estate and across Newton Aycliffe

Lifeline Community Action will be working with partners to establish a ‘one stop’ community advice and support hub in the town centre

We will continue employability and cost of living support

Visit Lifeline Community Action Visit Lifeline Community Action

What difference have we made to the estate in 2023/24

The following positive impacts have been developed and delivered by the Western partnership in the last year:

ASB - Reduced reported ASB by 46%

Delivered 6 newsletters to all homes on the estate and increased our Facebook usage by 25%

Invested over £1M into the estate with new kitchens, tree planting, pedestrian bridge improvements, youth work and school holiday activities

12 new activities started on the estate accessed by over 230 people including parent and toddler group, coffee mornings, walks, craft sessions, wellbeing for life and family sessions

Monthly litter picks (average of 15 bags per session collected), 29 new trees planted, monthly multi-partnered estate inspections

19 residents helped into full time employment

Cost of living support though foodbanks, the credit union, clothes banks, green doctor support with energy bills and our financial inclusion team support with benefits

Our local offers

We listened, We acted

We worked with you to help us shape four pledges. These pledges are known as local offers and we have been working collectively to achieve these going forward.

Western Estate - local offers Western Estate - local offers

Community engagement

We can only make plans for further improvements with your help.

We are working to develop new ways of doing this. If you would like to speak to us and you haven't been able to, let us know and together we find the best way to do this.

Follow our Western Facebook page Follow our Western Facebook page