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

York Hill, Spennymoor

We worked closely with the local community to create a place that people want to live and work in.

What happened next?

Following the success of the project, the community continued to run after school clubs and crafts sessions for more than 60 children. We also secured £200,000 to fund a community development worker to continue the great work.

The former Spennymoor Town Mayor, Cllr Ian Machin said: "The regeneration at York Hill is a tremendous achievement. The changes delivered residents with quality accommodation, transforming the community in the process."

Celebrations with the community

We celebrated the successful completion of the regeneration with the whole community during the 2017 Christmas period. We all came together for a weekend of carol singing around the Christmas tree, food, music and crafts at Tudhoe Community Centre and a family disco.

Tudhoe Community Centre

The community centre at the heart of York Hill estate has been and continues to be a hub for many of our activities and events.

It provides activities for all ages including dance classes, crafts, multi-sports, youth club, school holiday club, residents meetings and training and learning sessions.

For more information on Tudhoe Community Centre, please contact them directly by calling: 01388 815276