Due to essential maintenance, the following systems will be unavailable from 6.00pm on Monday 2 October until 8.00am on Tuesday 3 October: our online council tax, business rates and housing benefit services, and our welfare assistance form. You will also not be able to register to pay council tax online, make a change of address for council tax or cancel single person discount. You are still able to make a payment during this time. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

Apply for housing

You can apply to rent a home in County Durham through Durham Key Options. This includes former council housing.

How to apply

Register with Durham Key Options

Before you can apply for a house, you must register with Durham Key Options (you only need to do this once). Once registered you'll be able to apply for housing in County Durham.

Search for and bid on homes

Once you've registered with Durham Key Options you can:

search for a home
bid for a home

Durham Key Options

Durham Key Options includes properties managed by:

believe housing - covers housing in Durham City, and surrounding areas, East Durham and Wear Valley
Karbon Homes - covers housing in Chester-le-Street, Sacriston, Great Lumley, Pelton, Consett, Stanley, Lanchester, Langley Park and surrounding areas.
Livin - covers housing in Sedgefield, Newton Aycliffe, Spennymoor and surrounding areas.
North Star Housing Group - covers housing in Barnard Castle, Cockfield, Evenwood, Etherley and surrounding areas.

Home exchange, mutual exchange and HomeSwap Direct

Most housing association tenants, have a right to exchange properties, provided that their landlords give approval. Find out more about home swaps.

In partnership with

Durham Key Options

Homeless (freephone number)
: housingsolutions@durham.gov.uk
: 08081 968 406

Offsite links