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.

Managing Waste

We know that it can bit quite confusing, knowing how different types of waste need to be disposed and who will do it. We've outlined who is responsible for your waste and what you need to do it arrange it being removed.

Household waste

Most household waste can go in the bins provided by your local council. Visit your local council’s website to check:

What kind of household waste your council will collect
How to order a new bin, if you need one
Your bin collection day

Durham County Council Hartlepool Borough Council Darlington Borough Council Stockton Borough Council

Garden waste

Most councils also use a garden waste collection service, usually this is through a subscription which paid for annually. Please check with your local council for details of their scheme, otherwise, please take garden waste to your local tip for composting or compost it at home.

Durham County Council Hartlepool Borough Council Darlington Borough Council Stockton Borough Council

Bulky waste

Many local councils provide a bulky waste collection service to help residents safely dispose of larger household items like a fridge, sofa or wardrobe. You can contact your local council to arrange this:

Durham County Council Hartlepool Borough Council Darlington Borough Council Stockton Borough Council

What is fly tipping?

Fly tipping is the dumping of waste or rubbish in places where it is not allowed. Dumping waste or rubbish in public areas or on roadsides can be hazardous, encourages pests and vermin, affects the environment, wild animals, and can cause an area to be immediately unsightly and dirty. Fly tipping is illegal and could lead to penalty notices and fines.

To report fly tipping on our land please complete our anti-social behaviour form.

Report fly tipping

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.