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.

10 Jul 2024

All news

Energy efficient homes taking shape in Low Etherley, Bishop Auckland

We visited our development at Low Etherley, Bishop Auckland along with Graeme Walton, head of construction, Oaktree Living ahead of its planned completion date this September.

This development site comprises nine, three-bedroomed family homes with high levels of thermal efficiency, available for affordable rent and rent to buy.

Each home will offer generous living spaces for families and have been fitted with PV solar panels to increase thermal efficiency, helping tenants save money on their energy bills.

Andrew Kitchen, Head of development, said: "We are pleased to be able to deliver highly energy efficient and truly affordable homes in Low Etherley, that will help local families to remain in their community "

Graeme Walton, Head of Construction for Oaktree Living said: "It’s a pleasure to be involved in another scheme with Livin, delivering high quality, energy efficient homes. These properties will be ready for handover in the coming months for some very lucky families."

Pictured, left to right, Andrew Kitchen (Head of development) and Graeme Walton (Head of Construction for Oaktree Living)

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.