Proof of address

[AbbyLo]

Hi we moved into the inner catchment area of WGSB, DS has scored good marks for the inner catchment area. We are very close to the school so he might get a place on distance. We own a flat where we used to live but but as it was outside of the postcode area for WGSB we moved to Watford and are renting a house here. We have rented out the flat so its not vacant. So what documents can we provide to the school to prove that we have relinquished ties from previous address, given that we have leased out our flat? I am thinking of providing lease of current house in Watford, council tax & utility bills, lease of flat we have put on rent, and final utility bills for the flat which we received when we moved to Watford. Is there anything else the school will ask for and what else can we provide to satisfy them that we are living in Watford and not at our previous flat?

[Guest55]

Are you sure renting your old property is good enough? Some schools require proof of sale ...

[Hera]

That is exactly what the schools are trying to stamp out. You need to provide documents to show hat you have severed all ties with the old property otherwise you could just move back after the place was allocated.

[Guest55]

I found this:

http://www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/docs/pd ... ns1617.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

"Home address:
The address provided must be the child’s current permanent address at the time of application. ‘At the time of application’ means the closing date for applications. “Permanent” means that the child has lived at that address for at
least a year and/or the family own the property or have a tenancy agreement for a minimum of 12 months.

Fraudulent applications:
Hertfordshire County Council will do as much as possible to prevent applications being made from fraudulent addresses.
Address evidence is frequently requested, monitored and checked and school places will be withdrawn when false information is deliberately provided.
Hertfordshire County Council will take action in the following circumstances:
• When a child’s application address does not match the address of that child at their current school;
• When a child lives at a different address to the applicant
• When the applicant does not have parental responsibility
• When a family move shortly after the closing date of applications when one or more of the following
applies:
o The family has moved to a property from which their application was less likely to be successful
o The family has returned to an existing property
o The family lived in rented accommodation for a short period of time (anything less than a year) over the application
period
o Council tax information shows a different residence at the time of application
• When a child starts at the allocated school and their address is different from the address used at the time of application"

[1Watford]

That is exactly what the schools are trying to stamp out. You need to provide documents to show hat you have severed all ties with the old property otherwise you could just move back after the place was allocated.

Well, quite!

Have you severed ties with the old property? Is your son still going to his old school? if he is have you applied for your local primary? How about any siblings? are you actually planning on staying in Watford? If you have an advert for the let of your old house does it say what the let term is (ie long/short term)?

We moved because our landlord sold our previously rented house! Our end of tenancy letter stated this - although both houses were in catchment our new house was about 600m closer to the school (but still position 350+ on distance waiting list by allocation day!). Having moved doesn't rule out getting a place but you need to be honest about your reasons for moving.

Sorry, just edited this - wanted to make it clear that we were position 350 something on the waiting list not 350m from school!

[streathammum]

I understand that this is quite an emotive issue. However, the rules from Herts seem quite clear. As long as you have actually moved, and your rental property has a tenancy period of at least a year and you stay in it for at least a year, and you don't move back to your old house "shortly after" the admissions deadline, Herts is unlikely to take any action.

You do not have to prove that you have severed ties with your previous address. You do not have to give the admissions authority your reasons for moving. You are entitled to keep an existing property and use it as a rental investment.

[Guest55]

However, the rules from Herts seem quite clear. As long as you have actually moved, and your rental property has a tenancy period of at least a year and you stay in it for at least a year, and you don't move back to your old house "shortly after" the admissions deadline, Herts is unlikely to take any action.

Did you read the last bullet point?

You need to stay until after your child starts the new school.

[streathammum]

Yes you're right - I think I'd assumed that that would be covered by the need to stay for over a year, but the if the OP moved a while ago then she would need to stay for longer than a year.

[AbbyLo]

Thank you all for contributing to the discussion. Just to provide some further information :

Our lease on the house in Watford where we live is >12 months and runs to well into the next school academic year, and there is an option to renew as well.
Our flat where we used to live in also on a long term let (> 12 months) and the lease on that actually ends after our lease on the house in Watford ends so technically we cannot move back before then even if we wanted to.
We did change all address details at our DS's primary school when we moved but we have not changed his school to a primary school in Watford as the school is on my way to work and it is still convenient for us (from a commute point of view) to keep him there.

We have not tried to undertake any sort of fraud, but want to make sure that we can give enough information to the school and/or council to prove the fact that we have moved to Watford and living here now. The only reason we have not sold our previous flat yet is because we trying to save more money to buy a bigger property in Watford and did not want to buy a similar size property in Watford and incur stamp duty, etc. and then have these costs again when we have saved enough to buy a bigger place.

I can provide them with both tenancy agreements, utility bills, council tax bills, etc. but has anyone been in this situation and can provide some guidance on what else they might want to see then it will be useful to know?

[Guest55]

Why don't you just sell your old flat now? It would remove any problem.

You can then rent until you have enough money.