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 soon after NSFAS received stories about some accommodation suppliers who demand NSFAS-funded students to pay for a deposit or top-up payment in order to get entry to the accredited private accommodation.

Friday, February 7, 2025
"NSFAS reminds accommodation companies with the obligatory conditions, as provided by the Standardised Fixed-Term Lease Agreement among the non-public accommodation providers and NSFAS funded students," NSFAS mentioned in a press release on Thursday.

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

"The lessor may not call for or permit the lessee to pay a deposit, top-up payments, or another kinds of payment towards the lessor, or every other person in connection with this arrangement, such as payment of hire, when awaiting payment from NSFAS. The lessor shall don't have any recourse against the lessee for any default during the payment of rent by NSFAS," the arrangement reads.

The NSFAS conditions and terms for private accommodation companies’ participation on the student accommodation portal also states that: "Where the NSFAS-funded student is defunded as a nsfas eligibility criteria consequence of an incorrect choice by NSFAS, the coed won't be liable for payment of any nsfas eligibility criteria arrear rent for the accommodation company, up until finally the day of being defunded."

NSFAS stated that where the NSFAS-funded student chooses to continue occupying the leased premises, notwithstanding getting defunded by NSFAS, the student is going to be responsible for payment of lease on the lessor with the day 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 nsfas academic pathways leased property; and will be liable for payment of all rent due to the check here 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 get more info 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