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Original poster

Relocated but school used old address

16 replies

Easyme · 05/03/2023 22:13

I am house owner and relocated to new area on rented property due to personel reasons and rented old house including council tax (I am paying council tax) and on new house again paying rent including council tax so on owners name. Despite mentioning new address and provided electricity bill of new address, admission team used old address saying on their record ( council tax) my name is showing on old address. My daughter is refused all three preferences and allocated school randomly. How she'll I go about this. Do I have to putt council tax on my name and if so will this be accepted as admission date is passed?

OP posts:
CornishGem1975 · 05/03/2023 22:17

I would have thought you'll need to go through appeals now.

Hellocatshome · 05/03/2023 22:18

How long are the tenancy agreements on each house? I think without long leases being signed on both houses you won't get far. I'm not an expert though hopefully someone will be along soon with more info.

LIZS · 05/03/2023 22:22

You need to ask what proof of address is needed. However timing of the move and retaining other property, especially if not far, may mean old address was used correctly. Go on waiting lists but you may need evidence that you have genuinely moved long term - local gp , council tax, utility bills, child benefit letter, driving licence etc.

Original poster
Easyme · 05/03/2023 22:23

@Hellocatshome Tenancy agreement is for one year.

OP posts:
Original poster
Easyme · 05/03/2023 22:26

They are asking for council tax documents but my question is that legally they have use council tax document or as long as all other documents have new address they have to accept it?

OP posts:
PanelChair · 05/03/2023 22:27

I replied on your other thread. It would be better not to have two threads running about this.

Original poster
Easyme · 05/03/2023 22:27

@LIZS above. Thank you

OP posts:
LIZS · 05/03/2023 22:28

From when to when? Some LA use a specific timing to deter gaming the system and changes are only allowed for a short window after the October deadline, and for it still to be "on time" .

Hellocatshome · 05/03/2023 22:29

Easyme · 05/03/2023 22:23

@Hellocatshome Tenancy agreement is for one year.

I think you will find if you appeal that they won't class this as a permanent move in that case as you have retained your old property and only commited to this one for a year. By the time September comes around you could potentially only have 6 months or less left on your tenancy in the new property.

SD1978 · 05/03/2023 22:39

As far as I'm aware, they do usually class your permanent adress as your home address. Many well off parents do rent near better schools to try and force the education board to place children in better schools and then move back. Do you have proof it's a permanent move, will you be putting the family home up for sale? It's a pretty well known tactic, whether it's one your using or not.

dootball · 05/03/2023 22:58

The last house we rented - the previous 2 tenants never even moved in - just used it to try and get in to the local school - so they've got to try and stop it!

gabster33 · 06/03/2023 00:09

Check the admissions code for your LEA. Many say you cannot rent for the admissions year and retain a property. The next issue is why is the council tax included in the property- this is unusual. Cannot it not be changed to your name?

You don't say how long you are intending to stay in this new house. Why you are still paying and keeping the other one. It will appear suspicious to the LEA and will be applying their rules. Without more information the board here cannot be much more help.

To me it looks like you have rented to get a child in - unless you can prove at appeal this is not the case then they have applied their code correctly. Unfortunately the system is in place so not to deprive other children of a place.

Dodgeitornot · 06/03/2023 08:30

You rented so your child would get into a better school and it didn't work. What are you surprised about?

EmmaGrundyForPM · 06/03/2023 08:35

You've got two threads on this, which is irritating. Presumably you didn't like the answers you got on one so started another one.

How far apart are the properties? If only a few miles then the LA will (correctly) have assumed that this is an attempt by you to game the admissions system. In which case they are correct to allocate your child a school place based on your permanent address.

SD1978 · 06/03/2023 21:22

They don't have to accept the rented 'proof' if they believe that your main address is your main address and you're attempted to defraud the LA, and they've worked that out, then no. They don't have to accept the fraudulent address. Assuming (dangerous I know) that's exactly what you've done, since you haven't denied it, basically you've been caught, and don't have a grounds for complaint.

lunar1 · 06/03/2023 21:26

Popular schools see this all the time, people renting for a year so they get their preferred school.

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