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

Maintaining Strong Finances

Vision: Financially strong and resilient, investing in the future of social housing for our customers and their communities

Our commitment to maintaining financial strength is crucial to supporting the strategic objectives of Plan A. We aim explore new sources of funding to enable further investment in both new and existing homes. This approach ensures that we can continue to meet the evolving needs of our communities and provide high-quality, sustainable housing solutions.

Objective 22: Maintain financial strength to support the strategic objectives of Plan A while maintaining sufficient financial capacity to deal with a range of scenarios

To do this, we will:

+ Manage costs and maximise income to sustain the delivery of services, support strategic objectives and achieve value for money (VfM)

+ Provide flexibility to meet emerging financial pressures whilst managing financial risk

+ Provide sufficient funding to meet current and future requirements based on strategic objectives

+ Improve financial efficiency through procurement to release additional financial resources

Objective 23: Explore new sources of funding to deliver further investment in new and existing homes

To do this, we will:

+ Explore optimum funding solutions to maximise financial efficiency

Find out more about Plan A in the sections below

Background

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Consistently Delivering Excellent Customer Experience and Digital Services

Excellent services that are consistent, reliable, innovative and influenced by customers

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Contributing to a Sustainable Future

Environmentally sustainable communities for generations to come with customers thriving in low-energy homes

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Supporting Balanced and Sustainable Communities

Sustainable and thriving communities that meet residents’ needs and nurture a sense of pride and belonging

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Supporting Sustainable Tenancies

Happy and empowered tenants living in comfortable and manageable homes in sustainable communities

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Providing Quality Sustainable Homes

Tenants living in warm, safe, high quality, and sustainable homes in which they are proud to live

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Building and Acquiring Sustainable Homes

Additional high quality, sustainable homes, which meet the needs of customers, in balanced communities

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