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

This comes just after NSFAS acquired stories about some accommodation providers who require NSFAS-funded students to pay for a deposit or top-up payment as a way to get use of the accepted private accommodation.

Friday, February 7, 2025
"NSFAS reminds accommodation providers of your obligatory conditions, as furnished by the Standardised Fixed-Term Lease Agreement involving the non-public accommodation providers and NSFAS funded students," NSFAS said in a statement on Thursday.

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

"The lessor may not call for or permit the lessee to pay for a deposit, top-up payments, or every other varieties of payment on the lessor, or any other person in reference to this arrangement, like payment of hire, even though awaiting read more payment from NSFAS. The lessor shall haven't any recourse towards the lessee for any default in the payment of rent by NSFAS," the agreement reads.

The NSFAS conditions and terms for private accommodation companies’ participation on the student accommodation website portal also states that: "Where the check here NSFAS-funded student is defunded as a result of an incorrect determination by NSFAS, the student won't be responsible for payment of any arrear rent into the accommodation provider, up until eventually the day of being defunded."

NSFAS defined that the place here the NSFAS-funded student chooses to carry on occupying the leased premises, notwithstanding remaining defunded by NSFAS, the student will be accountable for payment of lease to your lessor within the day 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 without the prior approval of NSFAS, NSFAS get more info 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 with in accordance with any dispute resolution procedure determined by NSFAS for this purpose.
From: SAnews.gov.za