Renting short-term to get a place at reception

[Hodel]

Does anyone know the actual rules about this? It seems our LA's position is that it cannot do anything about it. It will check on people to make sure that they actually move in to the rented accomodation, but it will not withdraw places if they move back out again before the beginning of the school year.

I understand that often people have to move for legitimate reasons, but I am talking about people who own homes yet rent next a desireable school for 6 months during admissions and move back out again immediately after accepting a school place.

I don't know if your are lawfully allowed to do it, but it you lived there for long enough like actually lived there from like January to when the places are released then it should be fine, however it will be a lot of hassel - have to get all your post directed etc.

To be clear, I am not trying to do this myself... I'm just trying to clarify the the legal framework. Someone on another thread was saying that LAs will withdraw places, and that people who lost out on places would have ground for appeal if the LA doesn't, but mine said it doesn't and won't.

Reposting the reply I gave on the other thread...

They can and should be doing something about temporary rentals. The Schools Adjudicator's 2009 report into fraudulent applications indicated that more than 10 of the LAs that provided information reported that they had taken action in cases involving short-term rentals covering 33 individual cases. If those LAs can take action (and the Schools Adjudicator appears to agree that they should) there is no reason why your LA should not also address the problem.

If you want a specific example you could point them at Merton who specifically say in their admissions policy, "It is not acceptable for a family to use a temporary address, rented or otherwise, to secure a place of their preference".

welovesausagedogs - I wouldn't rely on that. Many LAs will withdraw any offer made if they find that you have used a short term rent to get a place. The rules allow them to withdraw the place even after the child has actually started at the school, although that is relatively rare.

Thanks again prh47bridge. You are very helpful!

To clarify, if the LA insists that they won't/can't do anything, do local families who lost out on places have grounds for appeal on this alone?

I would certainly appeal and argue that the LA has failed to take adequate action to prevent fraudulent applications and the families concerned have lost out as a result. That doesn't guarantee success but the panel should, in my view, be interested in the LA's statement that it can't do anything about temporary rentals.