Durham County Council has changed the Council Tax Reduction Scheme. From 1 April 2026, all working‑age residents will need to contribute towards their Council Tax.

We want to make sure you have the right advice and support. If you’re unsure how these changes might affect you, or what to do next, please contact Durham County Council on 03000 262 0000.

14 Jan 2026

All news

BOOST programme opens doors for local tenant

Ashley Wunderlin from Trimdon has successfully transitioned into full-time employment at a local convenience store, thanks to the tailored support of the BOOST Programme, delivered in partnership with Bishop Auckland College.

With dedicated support from Livin Futures Adviser Louise Miller, Ashley rebuilt her confidence, gained new skills and received practical, hands-on guidance to navigate the world of work—all while continuing her caring responsibilities. Through the BOOST Programme, she was connected to financial inclusion services and local carers’ organisations, helping her balance the demands of care with her ambition to find secure employment. After several applications, interviews and setbacks, Ashley’s persistence paid off when she secured a full‑time role at a convenience store in Trimdon—close to home and perfectly suited to her caring commitments.

Ashley Wunderlin, Livin tenant, said: “Thank you to the support of Louise, who helped support me successfully into work. From looking after family members for a very long time I was unsure where I could get support. I had very positive help from Louise. Now successfully in work at a local convenience store in full time employment.”

Louise Miller, Livin Futures adviser, said “Ashley was absolutely delighted with the support she received from Livin Futures. When we first met, she felt completely lost about where to start with looking for work. Together, we helped her build her confidence, understand her options and take those first steps forward.”

Pictured: Ashley Wunderlin (Livin tenant)

Work And Training Support

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.