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 immediately after NSFAS been given experiences about some accommodation companies who require NSFAS-funded students to pay for a deposit or top-up payment so that you can get usage of the authorized private accommodation.

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

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

"The lessor may not need or permit the lessee to pay for a deposit, top-up payments, or every other types of payment to the lessor, or almost every other person in connection with this arrangement, together with payment of rent, whilst awaiting payment from NSFAS. The lessor shall haven't any recourse towards the lessee for any default website in the payment of rent by NSFAS," the arrangement reads.

The NSFAS terms and conditions for private accommodation vendors’ participation on click here the student accommodation portal also states that: "Where the website NSFAS-funded student is defunded as a consequence of an incorrect choice by NSFAS, the scholar will not be answerable for payment of any arrear rent on the accommodation supplier, up till the day of being defunded."

NSFAS described that where the NSFAS-funded student chooses to continue occupying the leased premises, notwithstanding being defunded by NSFAS, the more info student is going to be answerable for payment of rent towards the lessor through the day of becoming defunded.

"Where the student is defunded by NSFAS due to a misrepresentation by the lessee/guardian at any stage, the student must nsfas student document submission deadline 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 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