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.

Your Smoke Alarms

It's important to make sure your smoke alarms are in working order to keep you and your family safe.

Testing

We will test your alarms annually during your Gas/Heating Service visit, you should aim to test them yourself on a weekly basis. To test an alarm, press and hold the test button until the alarm sounds. If the alarm fails to sound then it may be faulty and you should report it as a repair.

If an alarm is out of your reach then you could ask a family member, neighbour or friend to test it for you or you could also use a broom handle or pole to push the test button.

Report a faulty alarm

Cleaning and maintenance

All alarms are prone to dust ingress, which can cause false alarms or failure to alarm. To keep your alarm in good working order you should keep it clean and free from dust. You must never paint any part of an alarm as this can cause the alarm to become faulty. You should also never disconnect or remove the batteries from any of your alarms.

How to clean your smoke alarm

Hearing loss

If you struggle to hear an alarm sounding due to deafness or hearing deterioration, please get in touch with us as there may be alternative alarms more suited to your needs.

Faults and repairs

If one or more of your alarms has become faulty, then you must report it as a repair. Faulty alarms are replaced free of charge. You can report a repair on our website, mobile app or by phone on 0800 587 438.

Report a repair

If your smoke alarm sounds

Check for fires, if a fire is discovered:

Alert your household and leave immediately
Before you open a door, check it with the back of your hand. If it’s warm, don’t open it – fire is on the other side.
As you leave, close doors behind you to prevent the spread of smoke and fire.
Call the fire service from a mobile or neighbours house.
Do not return to your home unless advised by fire brigade.

Report a faulty alarm

Protect your household

You can find more in-depth information on a range of fire safety issues on the Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service website. You can also request a free home visit, where local fire staff will discuss ways to keep you and your family safe, as well as how to plan a safe escape route.

They can be contacted on 0345 223 4221 or through their website.

Fire and Rescue Service

Smoke alarm guidance

Heat alarms

Optical smoke alarm

Carbon monoxide alarm

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.