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.

07 Jan 2026

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Community brings West Close outdoor space to life

We teamed up with our tenants and residents in Shildon to transform West Close Communal Lounge outdoor space into a vibrant, welcoming space for everyone to enjoy.

Acting on community feedback, and with the help of dedicated volunteers, we partnered with Garden Creations and Glendale to refresh tired greenery with colourful plants and create wildlife-friendly features, such as bird boxes and bug hotels. This collaborative effort not only boosts biodiversity but strengthens neighbourly connections – a true example of thriving communities in action.

Bethany Hughes, our tenant, said: “This has been a great project with everyone, including residents, getting involved to improve the appearance of our close. We have done great work with Elaine from Garden Creations, carrying out planting and making bird boxes and planters for the area.”

Malcolm Gray, Community Investment Manager, said: “It’s fantastic to see residents coming together to make such a positive difference to their neighbourhood. Residents have been supported not only in renewing beautiful spaces but also in creating sustainable spaces for the future.”

If you would like to host any activity within our communal lounges, find out more here.

Pictured: Andrew Cassidy (Housing adviser), Malcolm Gray (Community Investment Manager), Elaine Webster (Director of Garden Creations), Anthony Sewell (tenant), and Colin Muir (Grounds Maintenance Contract Co-ordinator)

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.