The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has urged landlords to not demand a deposit or top-up payment from NSFAS-funded students.

This arrives right after NSFAS been given reports about some accommodation suppliers who demand NSFAS-funded students to pay for a deposit or top-up payment in an effort to get usage of the accredited private accommodation.

Friday, February 7, 2025
"NSFAS reminds accommodation vendors in the compulsory conditions, as furnished by the Standardised Fixed-Term Lease Settlement concerning the non-public accommodation suppliers and NSFAS funded students," NSFAS stated in a statement on Thursday.

The Standardised Fixed-Term Lease Agreement states that the lease will likely be paid monthly to your accommodation company (lessor) by NSFAS, on behalf with the lessee (NSFAS funded student), in accordance using the NSFAS terms and conditions for personal accommodation companies’ participation on the student accommodation portal.

"The lessor may not need or allow the lessee to pay for a deposit, top-up payments, or some other types of payment on the lessor, or every other person in connection with this arrangement, like payment of hire, even though awaiting payment from NSFAS. The lessor shall don't have any recourse from the lessee for any default inside the payment of rent by NSFAS," the arrangement reads.

The NSFAS conditions and terms for private accommodation companies’ participation on the student accommodation portal also states that: "Where the NSFAS-funded student is defunded because of an incorrect decision by NSFAS, the student won't be responsible for payment of any arrear rent into the accommodation supplier, up till the day of being defunded."

NSFAS explained get more info that the place the NSFAS-funded student chooses to carry on occupying the leased premises, notwithstanding currently being defunded by NSFAS, the scholar are going to be accountable for payment of lease on the lessor within the date of staying defunded.

"Where the student is defunded by NSFAS due to a misrepresentation by the lessee/guardian here at any stage, the student must immediately vacate the leased property; and will be liable for payment of all rent due to the accommodation provider.

"Where the student moves, nsfas accommodation providers without the prior approval of NSFAS, NSFAS may more info elect not to pay any rental to the new accommodation provider, and any such rental payments nsfas student document submission deadline will be for the student own account," the scheme said.

The scheme emphasised that any dispute arising between the parties regarding the interpretation or implementation of the agreement, must be dealt with in accordance with any dispute resolution procedure determined by NSFAS for this purpose.
From: SAnews.gov.za