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 - Abi Wilson

Our apprentice Abi Wilson

Abi joined us in August 2022 after studying for her GCSE's at Whitworth Park Academy, and A Levels at Durham Sixth Form.

With a passion for digital technology and a flare for problem solving Abi was excited to hear of our higher level apprenticeship opportunity in our award winning transformation team. The apprenticeship gave her the chance to earn while she learned and having successfully secured the role she enrolled to study a BSc in Digital User Experience from September 2022.

She is already a vital member of the transformation team and has been instrumental in the testing, trouble shooting and launch of our new My Livin app for tenants - providing seamless access to our services.

Current Vacancies

"Working in a supportive team has really brought me out of my shell and built my confidence. Every day is different and I am constantly learning new knowledge and skills. The best part is being able share my knowledge and make a real difference. I would recommend anyone to take the opportunity to study whilst working."

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