Maximising the Talent and Contribution of our People

We aim to have a professional, engaged and empowered workforce that works together to deliver excellent services.

Here’s how we are doing…

Performance Measures

Key stats

Maximising the Talent and Contribution of our People – The year in review

Over the past year, we have invested in our people, so you continue to receive reliable, highquality services. By developing our leaders, managers and front-line teams, we are building a skilled and motivated workforce to support you now and in the future.

All managers are completing core training to help them lead effectively and focus on what matters most to you. We are also developing future leaders to make sure our services remain strong and consistent. Coaching and mentoring play an important role in this, helping our teams build
confidence, work together and respond more quickly to your needs.

Our “grow your own” approach continues to deliver, with colleagues gaining qualifications and apprentices progressing into permanent roles. This means you are supported by people who understand your community.

We have also focused training on key areas, including supporting customers with vulnerabilities, preparing for Awaab’s Law, improving repairs diagnosis, and strengthening digital skills. This helps us communicate clearly and provide the right support for you.
We continue to invest in professional development to meet new regulatory standards, so you can be confident that anyone you deal with is trained, professional and accountable.

We listened, we acted

We listened
(InsightXchange scrutiny – competence and conduct standard)
You supported our approach to high professional standards and highlighted the importance of continuous development, strong onboarding, and consistent expectations for contractors.

We acted
We strengthened our development approach, aligned expectations with contractors, and introduced mentoring to support onboarding and ongoing development. We’re also improving how we share performance information.

Positive Feedback

It’s not just about improving; it’s about celebrating what works well too. Here’s some of your positive feedback:

Have you read our summarised policies?

We have summarised our customer policies to make them accessible and easy to read.

Consistently Delivering Excellent Customer Experience and Digital Services

Supporting Balanced and Sustainable Communities

Supporting Sustainable Tenancies

Providing Quality Sustainable Homes

Building and Acquiring Sustainable Homes

Maximising the Talent and Contribution of our People

Maintaining Strong Finances

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.