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Buying process delayed - will I lose school place

8 replies

stillbumbling · 28/08/2010 10:56

Lovely house, big delays while solicitors wrangle (no way round that or to hurry it up - it's a right of way issue, sob).

Have lovely place for DS at village primary. Have been trying to oontact school for last two weeks to say DS won't be starting in Sept, but can they hold the place? Haven't managed to get through, think they're all off at the mo. Likely to get someone next week though.

Our likely move in will be half term at the earliest and possibly xmas.

What are my chances... will I lose the school place ... any advice about what to say to school ... feel like crying. No school place, no house ...

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stillbumbling · 28/08/2010 10:58

Should add DS is yr1 and it's small school so mixed age group classes. Head juggled reception intake to rebalance year 1 numbers.

We live too far to start him by commute and are v reluctant to risk renting nearby in case house falls through in the end.

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DukesOfTripHazard · 28/08/2010 11:05

Oh that sounds completely rubbish. You
poor thing. I wouldn't be in any hurry to let the school know: forewarned is forearmed. Not sure what else to say really. Hope someone will have some concrete info and that issues are sorted out quickly.

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artyjools · 28/08/2010 11:21

My understanding is that you need to have exchanged contracts before a place is your for sure. At least that was what I was told. I am in a similar position, although we haven't found anywhere to buy yet and I have three kids. Total nightmare!! I hope you can sort it out.

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LadyBiscuit · 28/08/2010 11:24

Oh god are you sure you can't rent short term locally so that you can make sure you don't lose the place? I'm really not sure if they hold it. How did you get a place anyway if you weren't actually living there? (am curious as we are moving too and thought we had to be in situ before we applied)

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artyjools · 28/08/2010 16:06

As I said, I think it depends on whether you have exchanged on your purchase, which has to satisfy the admissions criteria. If you are renting, the term has to be at least 12 months. That's my understanding for the secondary schools I have been looking at. But other schools might have more flexibility.

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Elllie · 28/08/2010 16:33

I sympathize - very stressful. I agree with artyjools as I have been looking into primary for next year and was told the same re exchange being the first concrete proof you will be in the correct area. Renting needed a 12 month contract.
If you already have a place assigned, do you have to say anything?
If it's not too nosey - what is the right of way issue? Is it idemnity policy stuff? We just went through this ourselves.

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stillbumbling · 30/08/2010 07:55

Thank you all.

Can't believe it but heard from school, finally, on Sunday morning. They were lovely and said they couldn't guarantee we'd keep the place but they thought it massively unlikely someone else would come along and ask for it as it's not a reception place. She said she'd call me if someone else did come along so we had a chance to do something about it.

Feel extra lucky given all your comments here. Where we're moving to the schools do admissions themselves, though that stops next year. Think we've also just found a lovely old fashioned headteacher... never encountered any schools I've asked saying you have to have exchanged etc. That sounds like a total mare. If we lost the school place think we'd abandon the house tbh.

Ellie - Row issue relates to waiting for an easement to be added to the deeds - or we can't park!

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artyjools · 30/08/2010 19:11

Luckily, you are dealing with a school that has some control over their own admissions. If they like you, you should be okay. If the local authority were involved, I think the rules I set out would apply. Good luck!!

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