To rent in a good school catchment area?

8 replies

rentalproperly · 11/03/2013 13:32

We live abroad and are moving back to London this summer, just before my DD1 starts Y6. We'll need to rent at first as we live too far away to come view properties for sale. Because we arrive in August and the applications for secondary go in in October, we will use this address to apply for her place.

Now, I have every intention of living in the immediate area to the school we're applying at. We can afford a house there; we intend to settle there. But I hope to be in the rental property from which we're applying for a relatively short time (because renting is expensive!), maybe 6 months or a year at most - as soon as we find a house to buy.

So... AIBU to rent in the catchment area of a good school - does this scenario fall into the dreaded rent-for-catchment quagmire? Will the LEA think it's reasonable? We do own another (tiny) property in the UK, but in another town and it's been rented for a decade. We have no intention of ever living in it again.

OP posts:

EmmaBemma · 11/03/2013 13:35

I think that's totally fine! You're going to be moving there permanently, you're not renting a house just to secure her place at the school and then moving out of catchment, which would be more questionable.

TroublesomeEx · 11/03/2013 13:36

I have huge issues with 'rent for catchment', but that's not what you're doing.

If you're moving back, you've got to live somewhere, so why wouldn't you choose to live in an area where the schools are good?

This is completely different to living in one part of town and then renting another for a few months just for the purpose of getting your child into a desired school.

bangwhizz · 11/03/2013 13:36

no of course it won't be a problem.It is your bona fide home.

Original poster

rentalproperly · 11/03/2013 13:41

Ah, this is reassuring. My worry was that the place we buy will be either closer or further than the rental property (clearly closer would not be an issue), and knowing EXACTLY what the catchment is in any given year is a near-impossibility. Therefore if I get a school place by renting 0.5 miles from the school, then move to a house 0,8 miles away... well, you see the issue.

OP posts:

Eskarina · 11/03/2013 13:45

Check with the LEA how long you need to have a tenancy agreement for - here its 12 months or they assume you are trying to pull a fast one, which, incidentally, I don't think you are at all - your plan seems perfectly reasonable to me

Trills · 11/03/2013 13:51

If you've just moved from abroad then I doubt anyone will find it "suspicious" that you are renting rather than immediately buying, and of course you should rent in the area where you want to eventually live.

Original poster

rentalproperly · 11/03/2013 13:51

Thank you, Eskarina. Will ask them.

OP posts:

Snoopingforsoup · 11/03/2013 14:41

I don't think you should worry. You're relocating, why would you not rent in the catchment area of choice in your position?
There are people where we are move out and rent for a year to get their schools of choice. They walk with their heads held high and an air of self satisfaction! I hope you won't do that

Flip