Supporting Balanced and Sustainable Communities

We aim to create sustainable and thriving communities that meet residents’ needs and nurture a sense of pride and belonging.

Here’s how we are doing…

Performance

Tenant Satisfaction Measures

Key stats

Supporting Sustainable and Balanced Communities – The year in review

We strengthened our Livin Futures employability support, helping more than 200 customers into jobs and apprenticeships. Over 1,000 people also received support to build their knowledge, skills and confidence. Our innovative BOOST programme supported four young people in Spennymoor to stay in school while gaining hands on experience in construction.

We continued to support the Jubilee Fields community in Shildon. This year, we handed over the neighbourhood improvement plan so the community can lead it and keep it going long term. We expanded support in our core communities and in Newton Aycliffe. This included helping Lifeline Community Action grow and open a new town centre hub, providing face to face advice, guidance and emergency support.

Through our Community Regeneration Grant, we awarded over £110,000 to 28 local partners. This supported 12 projects that helped people find work, access affordable food and essentials, and receive personalised money advice. We also improved outdoor spaces, created activities for young people, and brought communities together, especially in areas that need the most support.

We supported you to manage rising living costs and build stronger financial habits. This included funding work with young people on saving and budgeting, helping families cook affordable meals, and offering practical support to improve long term money management.

Local offer

We have launched local offers in Trimdon Village and West Cornforth after speaking with residents and the local community. Alongside police, we have targeted the use of off-road vehicles causing nuisance to the community and have contributed to several seizures of these vehicles and a reduction in reported ASB. To support tenants with the cost of living in these communities we have delivered energy efficiency improvements to our homes making them warmer and more affordable.

We listened, we acted

We listened (Community engagement survey)
You told us that better signage would help raise awareness of biodiversity projects, and that being involved in planting would create a strong sense of ownership.

We acted
We're working with Durham Wildlife Trust to design clear, informative signage. We've also worked with local communities and schools to get involved in planting and maintaining these spaces.

Read the full story

group of volunteers in a outdoor setting

We listened, we acted

We listened (Anti-social behaviour - targeted survey)
You told us its not always clear what we can deal with when you report ASB, and when other organisations are responsible. You also said some issues feel ongoing, and communication and follow-up could be better.

We acted
We are improving how we explain our role and what you can expect. We are strengthening how we track repeat issues so we can act earlier and working more closely with partners to address wider concerns. We are also improving communication and quality checks to make sure cases are fully resolved.

We listened, we acted

We listened (Communal lounges, community engagement survey)
You told us that more awareness of activities and a wider range of of sessions would help you get involved, and that improvements to décor could enhance the space.

We acted
We introduced a 'What's on in your community' web page to promote activities and support services, worked with partners to increase the range of sessions, and refreshed decoration of some lounges to improve those spaces. This has helped increase and sustain attendance, with residents and community members now taking the lead in organising and delivering some activities themselves.

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.

Summarised Customer Policies

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.