The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has urged landlords never to demand a deposit or top-up payment from NSFAS-funded students.

This arrives after NSFAS gained stories about some accommodation suppliers who need NSFAS-funded students to pay for a deposit or top-up payment so that you can get access to the accepted private accommodation.

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

The Standardised Fixed-Term Lease Agreement states that the rent will be paid month to month for the accommodation supplier (lessor) by NSFAS, on behalf in the lessee (NSFAS funded student), in accordance with the NSFAS terms and conditions for personal accommodation suppliers’ participation on the student accommodation portal.

"The lessor may not demand or allow the lessee to pay a deposit, top-up payments, or every other varieties of payment to the lessor, or every other person in reference to this agreement, together with payment of rent, although awaiting payment from NSFAS. The lessor shall haven't any recourse towards the lessee for any default within more info the payment of rent by NSFAS," the arrangement reads.

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

NSFAS discussed that exactly where the NSFAS-funded student chooses to continue occupying the leased premises, notwithstanding staying defunded by NSFAS, the student will be chargeable for payment of hire into the lessor from your date of currently nsfas academic pathways being defunded.

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