How to apply
Applying to join the housing register
You need to complete an application form. You only need to do this once, then you can bid for all the properties you are eligible for. You can complete an online application form at our website here. You can also get a form from some of our partner landlords (not all partners give out paper forms), click here for contact details, or by downloading one from here.
You can only bid for a home when you have completed the form and we have accepted your application. Your date of application will be the date your fully completed form is received by a Durham Key Options partner.
To view a demonstration on how this website works, please click here: Website demo
What information do I need to provide?
With the form, you will need to provide proof of identity and address for you and any joint applicant.
When completing your Durham Key Options application form you must complete all the sections of the form that apply to you or anyone who is to be re-housed with you. Otherwise we may have to return the form to you and this will delay your application. If there is anything on the form you do not understand, please contact one of our partner landlords. They will be happy to explain.
You should pay attention to any sections on the form that are highlighted with an exclamation mark (!) symbol. For these sections, we will require further evidence or supporting information to assess your application. Failure to provide this information may result in your application being delayed or you may be given a lower priority for re-housing.
All of our customer documents, including our policy, are available to view here.
Property entitlement
You will only be eligible for properties that are suitable for the size of your household. For further information, please contact a partner landlord.
What happens next?
When we have assessed your application we will write to tell you;
Your housing reference number and:
- The band your application has been placed in and your priority date,
- Your registration (application) date,
- The number of bedrooms you are entitled to.
When you have received this information you will then be able to place bids on properties that are advertised.
Keeping us informed
You must notify our partner landlord of any change in your circumstances that may affect your application as this may change your priority band. It will also mean a change to your application/priority date, which we used in the shortlisting process. If you do not inform us of a change in circumstances and we offer you a property, we may withdraw the offer.
Please ensure you inform us if you change your contact details. We will try to contact all successful applicants by phone or email within 24 hours of the bidding closing. If we can not contact you, you may lose an offer of a property.
You cannot access social housing through this scheme if you have not completed an application form and been accepted onto the housing register.
There are also some people who will not by law be eligible to join the housing register. These are:
- Anyone who is subject to immigration control.
- Anyone who is not regularly and normally resident in the common travel area.
- EU nationals required to leave the UK.
We may also refuse applications from people who have behaved in an unacceptable way.