Coronavirus: Housing services set to resume

29 May 2020

As part of the Government’s plans to re-start the housing market, Darlington Borough Council aims to re-introduce its allocations and repairs services.

We will begin the process of re-introducing the allocations service by contacting all those applicants who were made an offer prior to the lockdown and will then resume our allocations service from Wednesday 3 June 2020.

If you are looking for a new home, please complete an application form online. Information is available at www.darlington.gov.uk/housing

In line with guidance from the Government and Public Health, we are implementing a number of measures and procedures to keep everyone involved safe. As a result of this, it may take longer for the repairs to be carried and for properties to be ready for you to move into. Please be patient with us as we work through this difficult time.

We are beginning to look at re-instating our repair service. We will begin by carrying out repairs which were reported to us during the lockdown period and those that had booked appointment before the restrictions came into place.

The introduction of routine repair calls will resume from 8 June 2020 as we introduce new safe ways of working in line with Government and Public Health guidance. However we do ask for your patience and understanding as we work through the backlog of repairs.

Councillor Kevin Nicholson, Darlington Borough Council’s Cabinet member for Health and Housing, said: “I am happy to welcome the return of these two important housing services, which have been much missed during the lockdown period. The fact that we are re-starting our allocations process highlights how committed we are to getting the housing market moving again in Darlington, albeit in a Covid-secure way.

“I know our existing tenants will be pleased to see the repairs service starting up again, starting with issues that have been reported to us during the lockdown period. I would like to thank tenants for their patience as our teams work through the repairs that need to be carried out.”