Durham Key Options

The Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) has witnessed evidence of bogus texts informing members of the public that a "COVID Home Testing Team" will visit their homes. This is a scam. Please do not respond to the text or any subsequent phone calls. NHS Test and Trace will never ask you for financial details, PINs or passwords. They will also never visit your home.

If you live in County Durham, please can you take a few minutes of your time to complete our Survey - by clicking on the link below and following the instructions.

It should take no more than 5-10 minutes,

https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/CACDsurvey2021

By completing this survey you will be helping to develop and shape Advice and Support Services going forward so that they continue to best meet the needs of people in County Durham.

A change in policy means that single people looking for a home in east Durham are now eligible to bid for two-bedroom bungalows from believe housing.

The Seaham-based landlord has revised its policy for single occupancy in Peterlee, Easington, Shotton Colliery, Wingate and many other towns and villages across the area.  Single people who are eligible for a bungalow can now bid on two-bedroom properties.  The policy is already in place for believe housing properties in other parts of the region.

believe housing will be contacting anyone previously advised they were ineligible for a two-bedroom bungalow in the area on single occupancy grounds to inform them of the changes.  The new policy will also apply to any new applicants.

All available properties are advertised on the Durham Key Options website.

believe housing Customer Experience Business Leader, Simon Bartlett, said: “This change means that we now have the same policy for two-bedroom properties right across believe housing and can offer more choice in east Durham. This is a direct consequence of our programme of building new two-bedroom bungalows, which is increasing the supply and choice of affordable homes in the region.”

Durham Constabulary have alerted us of a concern in the Ferryhill area following a number of reports that the elderly and the vulnerable are being targeted by doorstep scams, generally in the form of being offered services such as window cleaning and gardening.  This usually results in a poor job (or no job) being completed but money being demanded by the offender and with the resident generally living alone and being vulnerable, they are then taken advantage of financially.

The local policing team at Ferryhill are very concerned that there may be other vulnerable victims within the area.  They have been circulating letters in the known targeted areas, however, due to COVID it has not been appropriate to visit people face to face unless absolutely necessary therefore we are urging the elderly and vulnerable to be vigilant and to enquire around window cleaners, gardeners and handymen to ensure that they are not being exploited.

Although the reports have been from the Ferryhill area, other areas may be targeted.  Scams are on the increase during the Coronavirus pandemic with scammers taking advantage of people who may be more isolated due to lockdown.  Learn more about how to protect yourself and your community from scams and how to report them by becoming a Friend Against Scams at www.FriendsAgainstScams.org.uk/elearning/durham.

Millions of renters across England and Wales will receive greater protection after the government extended the suspension of new evictions until 23 August.

The extension announced by the Housing Secretary today (5 June 2020) takes the moratorium on evictions to a total of 5 months to ensure that renters continue to have certainty and security.

Ministers are also working with the judiciary, legal representatives and the advice sector on arrangements, including new rules, which will mean that courts are better able to address the need for appropriate protection of all parties, including those shielding from coronavirus. 

This is to ensure that judges have all the information necessary to make just decisions and that the most vulnerable tenants can get the help they need.

Where tenants do experience financial difficulties as a result of the pandemic, the government is clear that landlords and tenants should work together and exhaust all possible options – such as flexible payment plans which take into account a tenant’s individual circumstances – to ensure cases only end up in court as an absolute last resort.

For more information click HERE