Kids Back at School – But Thinking of Moving Home? Here’s What Parents Need to Consider
September brings new school routines, new teachers and a fresh start. For some families, it can also be the point when they realise their current home or location no longer works for them.
Has September made you think about your next family home?
Once the school uniforms are back on and the daily routine starts again, families often begin thinking about whether their home still suits the next stage of their lives.
Perhaps your children need separate bedrooms. Maybe you would like a bigger garden, more space for working from home or to live closer to relatives.
You may also be thinking about moving to a different part of South London, perhaps considering areas such as Carshalton, Wimbledon or Norbury.
When children are already at school, however, moving home involves more than finding a property you like. The school situation should form part of your planning from the beginning.
Four things parents should investigate before choosing a new home
Research local schools
Look at primary and secondary school options around the areas you are considering before becoming committed to a particular property.
Check admission arrangements
Do not assume that simply living near a school automatically means your child will be offered a place. Check the current admission arrangements with the relevant school and local authority.
Understand in-year applications
If you move during the academic year, you may need to make an in-year school application. Find out how the process works in the area you plan to move to.
Test the school run
A journey that looks easy on a Sunday afternoon may be very different at 8am on a weekday. Test the route before deciding whether the location works for your family.
Finding a home close to a school you like does not necessarily guarantee your child a place. If a particular school is a major reason for choosing a property, investigate its current admission arrangements and availability before making an important property decision.
Where can parents check school availability before moving?
If schools are influencing where you plan to buy, official local authority websites can help you understand possible vacancies, admissions procedures and in-year applications.
Remember that school availability can change quickly. A vacancy shown online should therefore be treated as a useful indication rather than a guarantee of a place.
Check possible school vacancies
If you are looking to move to Carshalton, Sutton Council provides information for families moving schools during the academic year, including a checker showing schools with possible vacancies.
Check Sutton school vacanciesCheck school vacancies
If you are considering Wimbledon, Merton Council provides in-year admissions guidance and publishes information about possible primary school vacancies across different year groups.
Check Merton school vacanciesCheck the exact local authority
When looking around Norbury, check which local authority covers the exact property address before researching school places and admissions. Properties in neighbouring areas may fall under different borough arrangements.
Find the council for an addressOnce you know the relevant council, use its official school admissions pages to check current application procedures and available schools.
A school showing a possible vacancy today may be full by the time an application is processed, while another school may develop a vacancy later. Always check the latest information with the relevant council and follow the official admissions process.
Try the school run before you buy the house
You've found a property you love. It has more bedrooms, a garden and looks reasonably close to school.
Before making your decision, visit the area on a normal weekday morning and experience the journey your family would actually need to make.
Consider traffic, public transport, walking routes, parking and how school drop-off would fit around your working day.
Could your children remain at their current school?
Moving home does not necessarily mean your children will need to change school immediately.
If you are moving a relatively short distance, maintaining their existing school, teachers and friendships may be something you want to consider.
Potential benefit
Remaining at the same school could provide some continuity for a child while their home environment and daily routine are changing.
The practical question
A longer school journey might seem manageable initially, but consider whether you would be comfortable making it twice a day, five days a week, potentially for several years.
Choose a home that can work as your children grow
When viewing a family home, think beyond what your children need right now. Your next property could potentially be home for many years.
Found an area that works for the children? Now understand what you can afford
Once you have identified locations that could work for your family, understanding your mortgage position can help give your property search much more direction.
This is where Gordon Blair Financial Services can help.
How much could you borrow?
Understanding your potential borrowing before seriously searching for properties can help establish a more realistic price range.
What equity could you have?
If you already own your home, the value of your property and the amount outstanding on your existing mortgage will be important parts of your moving calculations.
Could your mortgage be portable?
Depending on your lender, product and circumstances, porting your existing mortgage may be an option. Eligibility and affordability requirements will apply.
Don't calculate the move using the mortgage payment alone
There can be several additional costs involved when a family moves home. Depending on your circumstances, these could include taxes, legal costs, surveys, estate agent fees, removals and work required on the new property.
Moving children to another area may create other costs too, including new school uniforms, childcare, transport or after-school activities.
How can Gordon Blair Financial Services help with your family move?
When schools, children and moving dates are already competing for your attention, understanding the mortgage side early can remove one major area of uncertainty.
Understand your borrowing position
We can discuss your circumstances and help you understand how much you may be able to borrow, subject to lender criteria and affordability.
Review your existing mortgage
If you are already a homeowner, we can look at your existing mortgage arrangements and discuss the options that may be available when moving.
Explore suitable mortgage options
Different lenders have different criteria. We can help you understand mortgage options based on your individual circumstances.
Support your application
Once you find the right family home, we can help with the mortgage application and liaise with the lender throughout the process.
If you are thinking about moving your family, research the school situation and your finances at the beginning of the process rather than after you have already fallen in love with a property.
Moving home with school-age children
Do children automatically get a place at the nearest school when you move?
Not necessarily. School admissions depend on the individual school's admission arrangements, availability and other relevant criteria. Parents should check directly with the relevant school and local authority before making decisions based on a particular school.
How can I check if schools have spaces available?
Some councils publish school vacancy information online. For example, Sutton Council provides a possible-vacancy checker, while Merton Council publishes information about possible primary school vacancies. Availability can change, so always follow the council's official admissions process.
What happens if we move during the school year?
Families moving during the academic year may need to use the relevant in-year admissions process. Procedures can vary, so check the current guidance for the local authority covering your new address.
Should we choose the school or the house first?
Ideally, research both together. If schools are particularly important to your family, understand the available options and admissions arrangements before committing to a property.
Can my children stay at their existing school after we move?
This may be possible depending on your circumstances, but parents should consider the practical impact of travelling from the new home to the existing school and check any relevant arrangements with the school.
When should we speak to a mortgage adviser?
You do not necessarily need to have found a property first. Speaking to a mortgage adviser earlier in your search can help you understand your potential budget and mortgage options before you begin making offers.
Can Gordon Blair Financial Services help if we already have a mortgage?
Yes. If you are an existing homeowner planning to move, Gordon Blair Financial Services can review your current mortgage arrangements and discuss the mortgage options potentially available for your next property.
We are thinking about moving to Carshalton, Wimbledon or Norbury. Where should we start?
Start by considering schools, admissions, commuting and your wider family routine alongside your property requirements. At the same time, understanding your mortgage position can help establish a realistic property budget.
This article is provided for general information only and does not constitute personalised mortgage or financial advice.
School admission arrangements, school vacancy information, availability and eligibility criteria can change. Families should check current information directly with the relevant school and local authority before making decisions about a school or property move.
Mortgage availability, affordability, rates, fees and lending criteria depend on the lender, mortgage product and individual circumstances.
Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.
Thinking of moving now the children are back at school?
Whether you are looking for more space, considering a different area or planning your family's next chapter, Gordon Blair Financial Services can help you understand your mortgage options before you start making offers.
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