to think this isn't against any primary admissions rules

[RiddleyW]

My plan is to sell my house, rent very close to the school I like until admissions are complete and then buy a house (still very close to the school).

This isn't doing anything wrong is it? I won't have two addresses at any point so I can't see there would be any issue.

[bazingabazinga]

Are you in England?

I’m in Scotland and I can’t see anything wrong with it but we don’t have the same kind of admissions process.

I sure someone will be along in a minute to tell you how unreasonable you’re being.

[MissMooMoo]

If you have sold your house and your rental house is your only residence then you are not breaking any rules.

[MyRelationshipIsWeird]

Sounds fair if you’re planning on living near the school anyway but just don’t want the pressure of finding a house to buy straight away. Plenty of people rent in the area before buying to get a feel for it.

[RiddleyW]

Thanks MissMooMoo and Weird, that's what I thought.

A friend said she thought they might withdraw the place if I move after admissions but I can't see on what basis.

[InDubiousBattle]

Can't see a problem. You will just have to make sure you do it in time for the application to go in.

[SoyDora]

I guess you risk there not being any suitable properties available to rent/buy in the right area at the time you need them.
It’s not breaking any rules though.

[JohnnyCrowsGarden]

We did this. It was a nail biting experience though, our house took AGES to sell and in the end, we completed the sale and moved into rented accommodation only 2 weeks before the primary schools application deadline.
I still get the jitters if I think back to that period in time, it was so stressful.

[ZigZagIntoTheBlue]

As long as you don't return to your previous address afterwards, and be prepared to show details of the sale and rental terms to the team if required!!

[InDubiousBattle]

What does your friend think the school are going to do? Thou shalt not move house at all ever in the 10 months around school admissions! What about renters who just happen to be served notice then!

[user1499173618]

We did a move-rent-new school manœuvre. We now live very happily in a beautiful place 5’ from our preferred school but we definitely felt that we were flying by the seat of or pants at times!

[niceberg]

Some admissions authorities require you to have a 12 month tenancy agreement.

I have heard (on MN probably) that there have been cases of places being withdrawn if the family rents then moves to a house that is too far away to have secured a place. I can’t vouch for the veracity of that, but it would be enough to make me wary and to check with the authority exactly what is allowable.

[user1499173618]

I should also point out that the reasons we lived in our previous location no longer applied - we were moving to a better location with a better school because we no longer had any reason to remain in the previous location. It is perfectly legitimate to want to move house AND to optimise school choice among other factors.

[cjt110]

As a word of warning, our son's school requested:

• evidence of our son living at the address
  
• evidence of us living there prior to Jan 2018 (when admissions began); and
  
• evidence of us living there after Jan 2018 to April 18 (when places were announced)
  

If you don't currently live in the area, you may fall fowl of the second part above.

[RiddleyW]

Thanks cjt, that's the sort of thing I need to think about. So if I don't have evidence of living there previous to Jan 2018 what address would they expect me to use for admissions purposes do you think? Do you know how far prior they expected you to have lived there?

[ChazsBrilliantAttitude]

If you post on the primary education board there are some admissions experts such as Admission and PRH.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/primary

If you have sold your previous property and stay there until they have a school place I am not sure what the LA could do. For the purpose of admissions that was your only address

[RiddleyW]

That's what I'm assuming Chaz, I would only have one address. They can't use the address of a house I've sold surely? Thanks for the link, I'll repost there.

[cjt110]

RiddleyW I've no idea. We supplied our mortgage deeds. Each council is different. The school my son will attend is highly sought after so perhaps thats why they ask? Not sure all do.