Gas Servicing - Keeping You Safe

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.

More FAQ's

Gas Servicing - Keeping You Safe

The safety of you and your family is our priority, by law we have to make sure that a gas service is carried out in your home every year.

Read the full Gas and Heating policy or our summarised version.

Gas Safety Policy Gas Safety Policy

Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors

Most of our homes are fitted with smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, which are tested during your annual gas safety check. It is important that these are checked on a weekly basis by pressing the ‘test’ button. You should never disconnect or remove the batteries form your smoke or carbon monoxide detectors. If you have any issues with your alarms, please contact us.

Get in touch Get in touch

Change your gas service appointment

If you need to change the details of your gas service appointment, please contact us to arrange this.

Request appointment change Request appointment change

Why we carry out a gas service every 12 months?

Your safety – An unchecked boiler can affect the appliance operating safely.

Your health – There may be a risk of carbon monoxide poisoning if left too long.

Your repairs – An unchecked boiler is more likely to need repairs in the future. By carrying out the gas service we may identify any faults you are not yet aware of, removing the need for further inconvenient boiler breakdowns.

Your money – An inefficient boiler will use more gas and cost you more to heat your home.

When your gas safety certificate has expired and we have been unable to arrange access after making all reasonable attempts to do so, we may cap the gas supply to a property following a risk assessment.

What to do if you smell gas

Turn off your gas supply immediately and open your windows and doors. Do not turn any electrical switches on or off, light matches or lighters. Immediately ring The National Gas Emergency Services on 0800 111 999, they will come to your home and make it safe.