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

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

Friday, February 7, 2025
"NSFAS reminds accommodation companies on the compulsory conditions, as furnished by the Standardised Fixed-Term Lease Settlement in between the private accommodation companies and NSFAS funded students," NSFAS said in a statement on Thursday.

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

"The lessor may not have to have or permit the lessee to pay for a deposit, top-up payments, or almost every other forms of payment into the lessor, or some other person in connection with this agreement, which includes payment nsfas student document submission deadline of hire, though awaiting payment from NSFAS. The lessor shall don't have any recourse in opposition to the lessee for any default inside the payment of rent by NSFAS," the agreement reads.

The NSFAS terms and conditions for private accommodation suppliers’ participation on the student accommodation portal also states that: "Where the NSFAS-funded student is defunded resulting from an incorrect decision by website NSFAS, the student will not be accountable for payment of any arrear rent to your accommodation supplier, up right until the day of being defunded."

NSFAS stated that wherever the NSFAS-funded student chooses to continue occupying the leased premises, notwithstanding currently being defunded by NSFAS, the student are going to be chargeable for payment of lease more info to your lessor from the date of 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 leased property; and will be liable for payment of all rent due to the accommodation provider.

"Where the student moves, accommodation providers nsfas student allowances without the prior approval of NSFAS, NSFAS may elect not to pay any rental to the new here 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