Managed migration

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.

Managed Migration

The Department for Works and Pensions (DWP) has published the timetable for migrating people who receive certain benefits onto Universal Credit.

Managed Migration

If you are in receipt of Employment Support Allowance you will migrate to Universal Credit before December 2025. Managed migration does not happen automatically, you must make a claim.

You will receive a letter from the Department of Works and Pension (DWP) asking you to make your claim. The letter will set the deadline date for your claim.

You should always aim to make a claim for UC by your deadline day. Before making your claim, however, we would advise you to speak to a welfare benefits adviser who can ensure you understand what you need to do to make a successful UC claim and maximise your UC award.

DWP are aware that some claimants may need extra support to make a successful move onto UC and will call you if you have not made your claim by the deadline date.

Citizens Advice are able to help you with your claim, contact them here Contact us about a Universal Credit application - Citizens Advice

Our money advisers are also here to help you.

Citizens Advice | Help to claim Apply for Universal Credit Request 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.