Air Bnb accommodation and School Application

[LloydColeandtheCoconuts]

I posted in this section for traffic.

I have been on google to search this but I wanted to see if anyone had first hand experience of this as different answers have come up. We are moving to a different area so our kids will need to change schools. We tried to find rental properties but tenancy agreements tend to be 12 months and whenever we’ve suggested a break clause they’ve moved on to the next person. We tried to buy but sellers have been deterred as we’re in a chain. So now we’re just going to sell our property and move so we’re chain free. We may be able to move into a temporary place via air Bnb and then aim to buy in the area we want ideally as soon as we can. The air Bnb property is just outside catchment so that may count against us. We are aiming to move for the October half term. As it’s the weekend I can’t contact the council for clarification. My partner said the school probably won’t accept the air Bnb as a residence as it’s temporary and we won’t have utility bills as proof. Has anyone been in a similar situation where they’ve had to stay in temporary accommodation before moving into a permanent residence? Sorry if it’s all a bit disjointed.
Thanks for reading.

What is the distance between the two areas?

Where I live and where I'm moving to? About 40miles.

I think this is likely to cause you problems as:

1. You won't have proof of address like council tax or bills. You would need to ask if they would accept child benefit etc that you could switch to the address.
2. You may have moved again before places are given out. This seems to be a grey area with applications.

Would the AirBnB owner consider renting more formally to you?

I know you posted here for traffic but there are some knowledgeable posters often reading the primary education boards who might be able to help.

No the Airbnb address will not be considered by the school. You need to check your LA policy and the schools you're considering but they will probably use your previous address.

Bending Spoons
Ah ok. I didn't consider this. I'll ask to have the post moved there. Thanks.

If it’s out of catchment I wouldn’t move there and find somewhere in catchment for a start.

Usually you need a long term tenancy agreement.

I’ve never been asked for proof of address though for a school.

Africa2go
My previous address is in a different town altogether. How would that work?

You might not have been asked for proof of address when applying for a school place because it’s the council you apply to you and they can check who’s on the council tax bill.

User when you apply to the LA, they can verify most addresses with council tax records. They will ask for proof of address from those they can't verify.

There must be accommodations made for those living in temporary accommodation, it’s not an unusual event to not have a permanent address. You’ll need to contact the LA to ask.

Will you be looking for an in year transfer, or reception 2022 application?

If the school has places, it wont matter - you can get the school place on your existing address.

If the school is full, and you need to go on a wait list, you may struggle without a permanent address.

Lloyd I assume the schools are typically oversubscribed? If they aren't, then it won't matter where you live. I would ask the LA what they would do in your case, assuming you provided proof your house was sold. If you can prove you have sold your house, then your AirBnB is your genuine address. People live in temporary addresses e.g. hostels, with family, for all sorts of genuine reasons. The difficulty is the LA might be suspicious that it is being done to game the system. But they also shouldn't be using an address you no longer have links to.

Africa2go
My previous address is in a different town altogether. How would that work?

Exactly. Schools / L.A. will have to follow the procedure set out in their policy so if you can't provide evidence of a permanent address in the area then you'll go to the bottom of the list for places. If there are spare places you would be offered a place but only after everyone who ranked above you had been offered a place (I think). I think they'd have to find you a place somewhere, but not necessarily at the one closest to the Airbnb, it would be a school with places and no-one above you priority wise.

As a pp says, ask on Primary Education as there are some really knowledgeable people of there.

We're moving this thread over to our Primary Education topic for the OP.

You have to talk to your council about it. Each council can be a bit different how they respond to situations, especially as some councils have more intensive competition for school places than others.
Your situation will be a bit challenging as you won’t have a permanent address, but they might use a temporary address if you have actually sold your house and don’t have any other address to use.

The fact that you are applying to an out of catchment school also indicates you are not gaming the system

Find a rental in catchment - just sign a 12 month lease and if you need to break the contract. If you / agent finds someone during your 12 months that should be ok

*ittakes2
*
We have considered but it could work out to be quite costly even if they found new tenants.

Thanks for the responses everyone. I'll speak to the LA on Monday and see what can be done.

It is not true that you MUST provide council tax and proof of utility bills. These items are the obvious choice for proving an address

Consider traveller community. They cannot give such items and not do they have to.

The list is not exhaustive. The council and schools must include other statements of proof of address.

Ask the air bnb to provide written proof that you are living there.

40 miles is intention. It is not a commutable distance.
If you have written proof that your property has been rented out - this is also proof.

There are rules but they exist for close distances such as London boroughs.

You don't fit in this category.

Call and write the LA demanding their acceptance of your situation.

Is this an in year transfer (ie not reception)? If so, and there are places, you can use your permanent address. Places are allocated according to the admissions criteria if they are over -subscribed but, if there’s a space when you apply and you’re the only applicant, then you should be offered the place.

Thanks Yellow yes, my son actually has a place at school for this September but my daughter is starting Reception and there are no places available.
That's what I thought grandma. The LA must have come across similar cases. I have been on the phone all day with them. So far no concrete solution
I appreciate all your comments.

You need to check with the LEA exactly what their stance is on temporary addresses and proof of address.

As others have said, they need to have a way of dealing fairly with people living in temporary accommodation but many LEAs have had problems with people taking short term lets next to popular schools, never relinquishing their other home much farther away, and moving back to that home as soon as the school place is allocated. So, they’re unlikely to look kindly at an Airbnb address and even less so if you haven’t sold/given up the previous home. Speak to them.

Apologies. Missed your latest post. Persevere and, if you get nowhere, ask about the Fair Access Protocol.

A colleague did this - they were in year applications and were allocated a school which had placed in both year groups required - it wasn't catchment for where there Airbnb was, but a school that had relevant spaces. If your children are due to transition, next September, it is more of a risk as they may not accept your temporary address