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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Renting in school catchment area temporarily

202 replies

3weeksuntilwine · 08/03/2018 20:48

I’m prepared to be told I’m unreasonable and potentially planning something illegal...

We live on the catchment boundary of a really good primary school and my DD is due to start reception in September 2019. We are currently looking at houses and hoping to move a couple of miles to get into the catchment completely but there’s nothing on the market at the moment and we haven’t sold our house. I’m aware the application process will start in autumn.

Would it be unreasonable to rent a flat for a few months in the catchment area from September 18 and use the rental address on the application? The dodgy bit is that we would continue to live where we are now. My crazy thought is that we’d have a short term lease and if we still haven’t sold/moved then stay in current house until something comes up...(so keep the rental for a few months only)

I know this sounds crazy but we also have two younger kids who would be going to school a couple of years later. If we didn’t get into this school, we would have to consider a fee paying school for the eldest as other schools locally aren’t great. The big cost outlay now would be far cheaper than sending all three to private school.

Am I considering a fraudulent act?
Has anyone done anything similar?
If the majority agree this is an ok plan, are there any flaws in it?
Tia

OP posts:
RoseWhiteTips · 08/03/2018 20:50

It is wrong to do this. They might catch you out because they are aware of such schemes.

pigshavecurlytails · 08/03/2018 20:50

Many councils are wise to this and say that if you own a property within, say, ten miles, then that address will be used. Some aren't. you risk having the place withdrawn too late to find another, or ever after the start of the new term. do you feel lucky?

NewYearNewMe18 · 08/03/2018 20:51

You have to be on the electoral roll for at least 6 months prior.

EdgeOf17 · 08/03/2018 20:53

What you are planning is illegal, not to mention immoral. But any LA would be all over this like a rash. You would be found out and your DC could potentially have their school place taken away. Even if they have already started school.

Can you not buy a mediocre property in the catchment?

OlennasWimple · 08/03/2018 20:53

Yes it's unreasonable.

The consequences could be that your DC have their places withdrawn, leaving you without a school place possibly in the middle of the year.

It's an incredibly shitty thing to do

namechangedtoday15 · 08/03/2018 20:54

Every area is different but in my area, it wouldnt work. The guidelines are stringent to stop scams like this. If you were renting in the catchment area, your tenancy had to be at least 12 months and you had to produce evidence of disposal of your previous house (completion statement from solicitors on sale of previous property). If you couldn't provide that evidence, they'd consider your old address for your application.

If you tried to get around this, if you were reported or the council investigated, they'd withdraw the place.

BlessYourCottonSocks · 08/03/2018 20:54

It is fraud, yes. And schools/councils are very aware of attempts such as this.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-34014556

MsJaneAusten · 08/03/2018 20:55

Moving Into rented accommodation is obviously fine, but paying rent simply for the address is fraudulent and could lead to you losing the place.

Itscoldoutside01 · 08/03/2018 20:55

You really don't have to be on the electoral role for 6 month prior. We moved and applied for schools within weeks of moving.

TheClacksAreDown · 08/03/2018 20:55

Of course you can’t do this.

dangermouseisace · 08/03/2018 20:56

I’d think that was both against the rules and highly immoral.

If you rent a property, and live elsewhere, you are denying a family the chance of having somewhere to live. People get turfed out of rented accommodation on no fault evictions frequently, and if you can’t find somewhere there is the risk of ending up in b&b’s god knows where and having to sell possessions or put them in storage.

You’re really fortunate to own your house. Many of us renters have to change kids schools when we’ve been turfed out and can’t find somewhere else near the kids schools.

KanielOutis · 08/03/2018 20:56

I work in Council Tax and school admissions check Council Tax records. The two addresses will be linked on your account. Your plan will be rumbled in less than ten seconds.

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 08/03/2018 20:57

It’s not crazy it’s all kinds of bloody wrong. I hope you get caught out if you do it.

Chienrouge · 08/03/2018 20:58

The flaw in the plan is that it wouldn’t work. They are very very wise to this sort of thing.

Helsingborg · 08/03/2018 20:58

The council will know just by looking at your council tax records where you live so there's no point in doing this. Why don't you sell your house and even if you can't find a house in the catchment area to buy, you could rent for a year. The way you're proposing will land you in a lot of trouble and result in losing the school place.

missymayhemsmum · 08/03/2018 20:58

Totally wrong. If you are that bothered, drop the price of your house for a quick sale.
'we would have to consider a fee paying school because our catchment school isn't quite good enough for our precious darling, so we'll commit fraud instead because it's cheaper' ffs.

IWantMyHatBack · 08/03/2018 20:59

It's fine to do it IF you actually move into catchment. If you sell your current place, then temporarily rent in catchment while you're looking for a place to buy, all fine.

What you're suggesting won't work at all.

mintbiscuit · 08/03/2018 21:00

FFS. Yes. You know it’s wrong.

MerryShitmas · 08/03/2018 21:01

Yes it is fraud unless you're living there. Why can't you move into a rented house?
It's immoral but not fraud (which this would be as you'd be claiming you live in address a but living in address b).

Apply honestly and if she doesn't get in go private otherwise you could end up in hot water.

Your DD's place could be withdrawn at last minute if you're caught - then she'd have nowhere to start school (a nightmare if she was due to start in a couple weeks time).
You also have to remember that these days most schools don't base much on sibling criteria especially if it's oversubscribed, catchment may get priority so if you're still not in catchment by the time your other children are attending they may be turned down regardless of whether your oldest has a place.

In addition to that they'll often check the electoral roll and council tax and they'll want a valid reason for you not being in the house you own. "I'm selling it" is not a valid reason.

It's also immoral - how would you feel if you were a struggling parent and you had to take your kids miles out of your way to get them to school and rush to get to work on time and spend 5 days a week as a frazzled mess and found out people were doing things like this to get places at the school you live a minutes walk from? Bet you'd be pretty upset to say the least...

Appuskidu · 08/03/2018 21:01

The dodgy bit is that we would continue to live where we are now.

You can’t see that doing this is fraudulent?!

ISeeTheLight · 08/03/2018 21:01

It wouldn't work here. All oversubscribed schools request a copy of the council tax bill prior to even accepting the application.

Leeds2 · 08/03/2018 21:02

Someone will report you. And you will/may lose your place at the preferred primary school, be allocated a place at the only school in the area that has places and be too late to get a private school place. Just not worth it.

Mary1935 · 08/03/2018 21:04

Oh ignore the others - I would do it too - you could temporarily separate from your husband and temporarily move in to the other property - before I get flamed - lots of people lie about being Christians or using faith to get into schools - I've know many - they go to church for a few weeks!!! Then they are never seen again.
You are trying to move into the area - good luck - I'm going for me tin hat now!!! 😀

NordicNobody · 08/03/2018 21:05

My cousin did this and I have to say I was very Hmm about it. They are a very wealthy family (obviously - most people can't afford to rent a second house in a popular area!) and I felt that it was exploiting her privaledge at the expense of the less fortunate. Morally, I think it's a crappy thing to do. But then I had my own child and I can understand why she did it, because like all parents she just wants her kid to have the best. I still like to think I wouldn't do it though as it's things like this that perpetuate inequality of opportunity in our society.

Original poster
3weeksuntilwine · 08/03/2018 21:05

Thanks everyone, fairly unanimous then. It was a hypothetical thought, that’s all. I floated it as I’m pretty clueless about it all.

Jeez missmayhemsmum bit harsh.

I don’t intend to commit fraud so I obviously won’t do it. I just thought that as we intend to move there anyway, it might not be seen as an issue. But it is. I’ll keep rightmoving.

OP posts: