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 following NSFAS acquired reports about some accommodation companies who need NSFAS-funded students to pay a deposit or top-up payment as a way to get entry to the authorized private accommodation.

Friday, February 7, 2025
"NSFAS reminds accommodation companies in the compulsory conditions, as furnished by the Standardised Fixed-Term Lease Settlement amongst the private accommodation providers and NSFAS funded students," NSFAS said in a statement on Thursday.

The Standardised Fixed-Term Lease Agreement states which the rent are going to be paid out regular for the accommodation service provider (lessor) by NSFAS, on behalf in the lessee (NSFAS funded student), in accordance with the NSFAS conditions and terms for private accommodation companies’ participation on the student accommodation portal.

"The lessor may not involve or allow the lessee to pay for a deposit, top-up payments, or almost every other varieties of payment to your lessor, or some other person in reference to this agreement, such as payment of rent, get more info though awaiting payment from NSFAS. The lessor shall have no recourse against the lessee for any default here during the payment of rent by NSFAS," the agreement website reads.

The NSFAS terms and conditions for private accommodation providers’ participation on the student accommodation portal also states that: "Where the NSFAS-funded student is defunded because of an incorrect decision by NSFAS, the scholar won't be chargeable for payment of any arrear rent for the accommodation provider, up until the date of being defunded."

NSFAS spelled out that where by the NSFAS-funded student chooses to continue occupying the leased premises, notwithstanding becoming defunded by NSFAS, the student are going to be answerable for payment of lease on the lessor through the date of becoming 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 read more new accommodation provider, and any such check here 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 resolution procedure determined by NSFAS for this purpose.
From: SAnews.gov.za