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

This arrives right after NSFAS obtained stories about some accommodation suppliers who require NSFAS-funded students to pay a deposit or top-up payment so as to get entry to the approved private accommodation.

Friday, February 7, 2025
"NSFAS reminds accommodation suppliers from the obligatory conditions, as furnished by the Standardised Fixed-Term Lease Arrangement between the personal accommodation suppliers and NSFAS funded students," NSFAS said in an announcement on Thursday.

The Standardised Fixed-Term Lease Agreement states which the rent will likely be paid out month to month to your accommodation service provider (lessor) by NSFAS, on behalf in the lessee (NSFAS funded student), in accordance using the NSFAS conditions and terms for private accommodation providers’ participation on the student accommodation portal.

"The lessor may not demand or permit the lessee to pay for a deposit, top-up payments, or almost every other forms of payment to the lessor, or almost every other person in reference to this arrangement, including payment of rent, although awaiting payment from NSFAS. The lessor shall don't have any recourse from the lessee for any default here inside the payment of rent by NSFAS," the arrangement reads.

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

NSFAS defined that in which the NSFAS-funded student chooses to continue occupying the leased more info premises, notwithstanding getting defunded by NSFAS, the student is going to be liable for payment of hire towards the lessor from your date of becoming defunded.

"Where the student more info 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 get more info 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 here 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