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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

14 Feb - 2024

Tenants help to shape services

Group of tenant volunteers at one of our Insight Exchange sessions

Four months following the launch of a new tenant engagement forum, positive service changes influenced by our tenants, for improved services are happening.

InsightXchange, brings tenants and residents together to scrutinise services and take forward positive changes.

In-person engagement sessions for its 20 members delve into key issues for our customers.
December’s session focused on anti-social behaviour (ASB) and helped shape how ASB can be reported, and the service response times and standards customers can expect.

The InsightXchange helped shape a new ASB policy to be published in March 2024; which includes trackable ASB enquiries, now available via the online portal and app, My Livin.

Roslyn Littledyke, director of customer experience and insight said: "We want our tenants to be happy with the services they receive. The InsightXchange gives tenants a platform to work in collaboration with us to understand the wider customer voice and to use this to influence and shape our future policies and service standards. The group influences how our services are delivered and is an invaluable part of our ongoing service improvement work.

Simon Emery, Livin tenant, said " I was invited into the InsightXchange group after supporting Livin for many years. The sessions are very engaging, and I feel like I can speak freely and give my views and opinions”.

Future sessions include a review of our repairs and maintenance service and Inclusive Services policy.

Find out more about joining the InsightXchange here.

Pictured: Ian Walker (Housing Manager) Michelle Hoggins (Tenant), Mark Appleby (Tenant), Vanessa Robinson (Customer Voice and Complaints Manager), Chris Walton (Housing Operations Manager), Williamena Keal (Tenant), Jim Cherrie (Tenant), Sheila Gibson (Hidden), Amy Turner (Tenant), Gillian McLaren (TPAS Representative), Alan Black (Tenant), Victor Stephenson (Tenant), Natalie Wilkinson (Board Member), Simon Emery (Tenant), Caroline Sinclair (Tenant), Roslyn Littledyke (Director of Customer Experience and Insight), Sue Ashton (Customer Voice Adviser)