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

This comes after NSFAS acquired stories about some accommodation vendors who need NSFAS-funded students to pay a deposit or top-up payment so that you can get usage of the authorized private accommodation.

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

The Standardised Fixed-Term Lease Agreement states which the lease is going to be paid month to month for the accommodation supplier (lessor) by NSFAS, on behalf with the lessee (NSFAS funded student), in accordance using the NSFAS conditions and terms for private accommodation companies’ participation on the student accommodation portal.

"The lessor may not demand or permit the lessee to pay a deposit, top-up payments, or any other varieties of payment on the lessor, or every other person in reference to this arrangement, together with payment of rent, while awaiting payment from NSFAS. The read more lessor shall have no recourse versus the lessee for any default while in the payment of rent by NSFAS," the agreement reads.

The NSFAS conditions and terms for private accommodation providers’ participation on the student accommodation portal also states that: "Where the NSFAS-funded student is defunded resulting from an incorrect choice by NSFAS, the nsfas eligibility criteria scholar will not be responsible for payment of any arrear rent into the accommodation provider, up until the date of being defunded."

NSFAS stated that wherever the NSFAS-funded student chooses to carry on occupying the leased premises, notwithstanding currently being defunded by NSFAS, the student are going to be accountable for payment of hire on the lessor through the day of staying defunded.

"Where the student is defunded by NSFAS due read more to a misrepresentation by the lessee/guardian at any stage, the student must immediately vacate the leased property; and will be liable click here 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 here 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