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

Ending Your Tenancy

There is so much you need to do when you are moving home, and it can be easy to forget some of the important things.

Giving notice

Should you wish to end your tenancy with us you should let us know as soon as possible. Simply get in touch and we will take you through the required process.

Get in touch Get in touch

Ending a tenancy due to bereavement

Coping with the death of a friend or relative is a difficult time, so we aim to make ending a tenancy following bereavement as simple as possible.

You should notify us as soon as possible following the bereavement, so that we can support you though the process from giving the required notice to ending the tenancy.

Complete bereavement form Complete bereavement form More information More information

Moving out day

Leave your home clean and tidy.

Ensure all fixtures and fittings are left intact.

Place the keys into the keysafe at your home; your Housing Support Coordinator will explain how to do this.

Take gas and electricity meter readings.

Mutual exchange

If your home no longer meets the need of you or your family, have you thought about swapping it for another? The process is straight forward, and is not restricted to Livin homes. Simply register your home on Durham Key Options or through your respective Local Authority.

Mutual exchange Mutual exchange