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

This comes after NSFAS acquired stories about some accommodation companies who demand NSFAS-funded students to pay for a deposit or top-up payment so that you can get use of the authorised private accommodation.

Friday, February 7, 2025
"NSFAS reminds accommodation vendors of your obligatory conditions, as furnished by the Standardised Fixed-Term Lease Arrangement involving the personal accommodation companies and NSFAS funded students," NSFAS stated in a press release on Thursday.

The Standardised Fixed-Term Lease Agreement states the rent will probably be paid out month to month on the accommodation supplier (lessor) by NSFAS, on behalf of the lessee (NSFAS funded student), in accordance with the NSFAS terms and conditions for private accommodation vendors’ 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 sorts of payment to your lessor, or another person in reference to this arrangement, together with payment of lease, although awaiting payment from NSFAS. The lessor shall don't have any recourse from the lessee for any default in the payment of rent by NSFAS," the arrangement reads.

The NSFAS nsfas eligibility criteria conditions and terms for private accommodation vendors’ participation on the student accommodation portal also states that: "Where the NSFAS-funded student is defunded on account of an incorrect decision by NSFAS, the coed will not be answerable for payment of read more any arrear rent to your accommodation supplier, up until eventually the date of being defunded."

NSFAS explained that the place the NSFAS-funded student chooses to continue occupying the leased premises, notwithstanding being defunded by NSFAS, the scholar are going to be responsible for payment of lease to your lessor more info through the day of currently being defunded.

"Where the student is defunded by nsfas 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 any such rental payments nsfas eligibility criteria 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