Frequently asked questions

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.

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Case Study

Our people case study - Antonia Thompson - Stock Condition Surveyor

Repairs and empty homes inspector, Antonia Thompson outside a new build bungalow

Antonia’s journey in property services began when she decided to study for a certificate in mortgage advice and practice from the prestigious London Institute of Banking and Finance.

While pursuing her certificate, she worked as a lettings and sales negotiator, where she quickly realised her true passion was property inspection. We welcomed Antonia into our property services team in December 2023.

She has quickly adapted to our digital inspection process for damp and mould. In three months she has carried out over 260 damp and mould inspections and raised over 500 repairs to make homes safer and more comfortable for our tenants. Her exceptional contribution to this vital work led to her promotion as a stock condition surveyor from April 2024.

Current Vacancies

"I'm incredibly proud that I have been able to progress my career with Livin in such a short space of time. I'm looking forward to seeing how I can grow within the profession, I also think it's great to highlight that women, like me, who have a passion for property management, surveying, or similar roles shouldn't be afraid to go for it. My team is amazing and I've loved my first few months here, especially being able to play a part in helping our tenants with damp and mould challenges."

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