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

28 Aug - 2025

Lifeline Community Action prepares to open new hub extending local support services

We have been working with our long term community partner Lifeline Community Action (LCA) as they prepare to open a £1M brand-new community hub in Newton Aycliffe. The new facility will enable its vital emergency aid and support services to reach more of those who need it most, across County Durham and Darlington.

LCA is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation run by a small group of dedicated volunteers. Last year, they supported over 25,400 people. With additional funding totaling £18,000 from our community grant, volunteers are hoping to increase frontline aid work, and add a new space within the hub. This will serve as a central point for emergency assistance, advice, and connection for some of the region’s most vulnerable residents.

This latest community grant funding builds on £29.4 million in social value achieved in 2023/24, with £18 million attributed to LCA’s work alone.

Corrin Chambers, Lifeline's Chief Operating Officer, said; “Lifeline’s relationship with Livin is a positive and success one, we are extremely grateful for their ongoing support and thrilled to receive additional funding this year to help get the hub up and running. Support from Livin is essential to us to help meet the growing demands on our service and to help those most in need”.

Malcolm Gray, Community Investment Manager, said: “We are very lucky to be able to work with like-minded, passionate community partners such as Lifeline. They work tirelessly to provide support to those most financially and socially disadvantaged, with amazing results.”

Find out more about Lifeline Community Action here > > Emergency Aid and Supporting Services in Newton Aycliffe Home - Lifeline Community Action

Pictured: left to right, Kieran Wright (Maintenance Operative), Corrin Chambers (Lifeline's Chief Operating Officer), Kieran Carlisle (Maintenance Operative) and Malcolm Gray (Community Investment Manager).