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

This comes soon after NSFAS acquired reports about some accommodation suppliers who demand NSFAS-funded students to pay a deposit or top-up payment so that you can get access to the accredited private accommodation.

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

The Standardised Fixed-Term Lease Agreement states that the rent will probably be paid regular monthly to your accommodation service provider (lessor) by NSFAS, on behalf of your lessee (NSFAS funded student), in accordance using the NSFAS conditions and terms for private accommodation providers’ participation on the student accommodation portal.

"The lessor may not demand or permit 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, which includes payment of hire, even though awaiting payment from NSFAS. The lessor shall have no recourse in opposition to the lessee for any default within the payment of rent by NSFAS," the arrangement reads.

The NSFAS conditions and terms for private accommodation providers’ participation on the student accommodation portal also states that: "Where the NSFAS-funded here student is defunded as a consequence of an incorrect decision by NSFAS, the coed won't be responsible for payment of any arrear rent to your accommodation supplier, up right until the day of being defunded."

NSFAS discussed that exactly where the NSFAS-funded student chooses to continue occupying the leased premises, notwithstanding remaining defunded by NSFAS, read more the scholar will be responsible for payment of lease into the lessor from your here date of currently being defunded.

"Where the student is defunded by NSFAS due to a misrepresentation by 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 more info 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 interpretation or implementation of the agreement, must be dealt with in accordance with any dispute nsfas login resolution procedure determined by NSFAS for this purpose.
From: SAnews.gov.za