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

Managed Migration

The Department for Works and Pensions (DWP) has published the timetable for migrating people who receive certain benefits onto Universal Credit.

Managed Migration

If you are under the state pension age and you claim housing benefit and either Income Support, Income related employment support allowance, Income based job seekers allowance, Working tax credit or Child tax credit you may be affected by managed migration.

In April 2024, letters will be sent out to anyone who is being invited to migrate. It is important that you claim within three months of receiving the letter or your benefits will stop. See our migration timetable to check which deadlines apply to you.

If you are struggling to make your claim, Citizens Advice can support you with your application.

Transitional protection

This is a top-up payment available if you are moving from benefits to Universal Credit. You will only receive this if your income is less than what you currently receive. You can claim this once you have received your letter from the DWP. Our financial inclusion advisers can also help you claim and calculate whether you will be better or worse off with Universal Credit.

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Migration timetable

01 Apr 2024

April 2024 - June 2024

If you receive Income Support or Housing Benefit with no other welfare benefits, you will have until the end of June to make your first claim.

01 Jul 2024

July 2024 - September 2024

If you receive Income related Employment Support Allowance, with Child Tax Credit, you will have until the end of September to make your first claim.

01 Sep 2024

September 2024 - December 2024

If you receive Income Based Job Seekers Allowance, you will have until the end of December to make your first claim.