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

This comes soon after NSFAS received experiences about some accommodation vendors who require NSFAS-funded students to pay for a deposit or top-up payment as a way to get entry to the approved private accommodation.

Friday, February 7, 2025
"NSFAS reminds accommodation suppliers from the obligatory conditions, as furnished by the Standardised Fixed-Term Lease Agreement between the private accommodation vendors and NSFAS funded students," NSFAS mentioned in a press release on Thursday.

The Standardised Fixed-Term Lease Agreement states that the rent will probably be paid out regular monthly into the accommodation company (lessor) by NSFAS, on behalf from the lessee (NSFAS funded student), in accordance with the NSFAS terms and conditions for personal accommodation providers’ participation on the student accommodation portal.

"The lessor may not demand or allow the lessee to pay for a deposit, top-up payments, or every other types of payment for the lessor, or every other person in reference to this arrangement, such as payment of rent, although awaiting payment from NSFAS. The lessor shall have no recourse in opposition to the lessee for any default from the payment of rent by NSFAS," the agreement reads.

The NSFAS conditions and terms for private accommodation vendors’ participation on the student accommodation portal also states that: "Where the NSFAS-funded student is defunded due to an incorrect selection by NSFAS, the student won't be answerable for payment of any arrear rent into the accommodation service provider, up until the day of being defunded."

NSFAS described that exactly where the NSFAS-funded student chooses to carry on occupying the read more leased premises, notwithstanding currently being defunded by NSFAS, the student are going to be responsible for payment of hire to your lessor from your day of getting defunded.

"Where the student is defunded by NSFAS due to a misrepresentation by here the lessee/guardian 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, accommodation providers without the prior approval of NSFAS, NSFAS may elect not to pay any rental to the new accommodation provider, and any such rental payments will be for the student own account," the scheme said.

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