School catchment as a tenant

[chepe]

Hello, my daughter will be starting reception in a couple of years. I know we are early in our search for schools but as we live in an area with zero good state schools nearby we will have to move. We've identified Dundonald and Wimbledon Chase as two schools that we like. The catchment for both of these is tiny, and we will look to rent out nearby. We will ensure we find a place which meets the school catchment for one of these well before the application period. My query is: If we sign a 1 year rental lease, which the landlord does not renew at the end of the tenancy, would that mean my daughter can no longer continue at the school? So if she were to receive an offer and start reception at one of these two schools but we need to move again if the landlord does not extend our lease, do we need to find another place again in the catchment? Does the school need the child to the live in the catchment for the entire duration of their school years?
I'm not from the UK, so my query my seem trivial but any advise would be very helpful. Thank you so much.

No, once your child has started they can stay, even if you move house. The only thing to be aware is that any siblings may not have priority if they live out of catchment, compared to siblings in catchment.

Thank you. That's a good point re sibling applications.

Only thing to bare in mind is siblings and next school, if you move you won’t be guaranteed a place at the junior/secondary school just because you attended the infant school, unless it’s reception to year 6

Thank you. That's a really good point 👍

State schools (generally, check your LA) generally prioritise siblings over catchment. This is why 'catchment areas' are so changeable - our big primary had a huge number of siblings entering this year, some previously 'in catchment' parents were very disappointed.

I agree re secondary places though.

You don't say whether you own a property or are renting currently. If you own a property, you may find that the LA disregards any rented address and uses the address of the property you own.

Whilst others are correct that they can't take a place away just because you move, that doesn't guarantee that they won't try. If they think that your application was fraudulent or deliberately misleading, they can take your child's place away even after they have started at school. If this happens you may be able to win the place back through an appeal, but there are no guarantees.

Thank you, this is very insightful and helpful. Our current residence is the one we own. It's in another council and we will put this up on rent when we move to Wimbledon. our current area has zero good state schools so the move for better schooling is necessary. We will look to rent out there.

Thank you. Very helpful 👍

Unless the property you own is a very long way, Merton will treat that property as your permanent one, even if you're renting next to Dundonald and your own property has tenants. You would need to sell, particularly if it's another London borough.

You need to read the address criteria for the LA carefully. Owning a property elsewhere, especially in a neighbouring area , may mean they disregard your catchment rental address.

Ah. In that case no your plan will not work. You would need to sell your owned property in order for it not to be counted as your real address. Too many people do basically the same thing in order to fraudulently get a place they aren't entitled to.

People who don't own any property are not affected by this.

Some LAs will accept you with your rental address if the owned property is rented to someone on a 5 year lease without a break clause so that it's definitely beyond your power to return to the owned property once the place is awarded.

Thank you Lizs and YireosDodeAver for your inputs. I wasn't aware of this, and I'm so glad to have found out early on so we can take the right steps. The property we currently own is 1.5 hour drive away from Dundonald School. I would assume this is too far and would not count as a neighbourhood property? I will read up further on Merton council address criteria in detail. If you have a link that would be very helpful. Thank you so very much 🙏

Thank you @titchy . We do own in London, but about 1.5 hour away from Wimbledon. I will read up on Merton council's address criteria in detail now.

Look at page 8 of www.merton.gov.uk/system/files/Community%20School%20Admission%20Arrangements%202024-25.pdf . It does not limit distance between rented and owned property.

Thank you @LIZS for your quick response. Yes you are right on your advise about the schools criteria re owned property and rented property, and there's no mention of distance. Although this makes it difficult for us, as we must decide whether to sell this property, I'm glad to have this crucial information now. we will either have to sell the one we own or look to purchase a property in the catchment. We could even rent there but the rental period must be for 3 years at the time of application, which in our case won't be possible as we will need to start applying in 2 years.

"Where an applicant rents a property and has ownership of an alternative property, the rented property should only be used for admission purposes if the child has been resident away from the owned property for a period of 3 years or more at the closing date for applications unless evidence to explain the exceptional circumstance can be provided. Any evidence provided to explain the use of the rented property for admissions purposes will be considered."

If a couple of years means two, you're already too late.

X-posted with you @chepe

It can be totally fine to own and rent elsewhere. We owned a flat 7 miles from out rented house and the council confirmed that this was fine (and it was,) we got a place based on our rental that we had been in for 8 months. Not merton but close by!

Thank you @Mrburnshound it's good to know this...I can only assume that the admissions criteria can differ significantly from one council to another?
Merton's admission policy document does highlight the ownership and rental issue.

Hi @Lougle yes we are already too late. we only have 2 options: either we sell our current property and / or buy another home in the catchment. I wish I was aware a lot earlier on the challenges of getting into good state schools in London.

Check with the schools. In our area you have to stay resident in the catchment area for at least two years after your child starts (not after you apply) or they will remove the place and kick your child out of the school. I think that two year is a common approach. You definitely won’t need to stay for her whole school years but I doubt one year residence will be enough.

So, you’re looking to bypass the system by renting out your home in one LA, renting a different home in the catchment of a school in a different LA, then once shes in, moving back.
What happens if whoever rents your house out refuses to move out? But you’re evicted from the one you’re renting?
What happens if the admissions team get wind of what you’re playing at and take her place off her - which they are well within their rights to do? It’s not like it would come as a surprise to the LA that a parent would do something like this either.
Nice!

Also, you live 90 minutes away from the school you want? That’s a ridiculous amount of time for a child to commute to and from school. 3 hours a day!!!

@Soontobe60 they are currently 90 mins away, they will not be moving back to the old area. That commute in london would be impossible! They are moving areas and probably wanting to stay on the property ladder whilst checking the new area out.

OP i would call Merton and check as a house 90 mins away may not "count" seeing as it's so far. I know the area /schools relatively well but live a few miles away.

Of course you aren't too late. You said in your post at 20:54 that it's 2 years before you need to apply. That's plenty of time to sell the old property.

The 3 year tenancy thing is axred herring. Loads of applicants who have never owned a property will be applying from standard shorthold tenancies with a term of 6 or 12 months. Insisting on longer terms is something tgat some councils do only for people who own property elsewhere. Sell up, and it's irrelevant.