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

Ways We're Helping You

If you have lost your job or struggling to find work or get into training, we can help you.

"After being made redundant, I got £300 to help with start-up costs for my new business. I wouldn't have been able to get started quickly and as easily as I did without your support."

"I completed a free Level 3 Teaching Assistant qualification to kick start my career into my dream job."

A man who was formerly homeless, who has been helped by Livin

"I had been homeless and was feeling anxious about starting work again. I was helped into training for a security badge in dog handling. I am hoping to volunteer with the police to gain vital skills to help me into work."

We have helped over 506 people into jobs and training in the last year and we can help you.

A man who participated in a free training course to develop his skills

"I did a free training course and qualified for funding for clothes for work, a satnav and a portable dashcam that I needed for a job."

A woman who was given access to IT equipment by Livin so she was able to apply for jobs

"I was given access to a laptop in my home so I could carry out online training which is a step in the right direction to a new job in the mental health sector."