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 acquired stories about some accommodation vendors who require NSFAS-funded students to pay a deposit or top-up payment as a way to get usage of the accepted private accommodation.

Friday, February 7, 2025
"NSFAS reminds accommodation vendors from the compulsory conditions, as supplied by the Standardised Fixed-Term Lease Settlement concerning the private accommodation companies and NSFAS funded students," NSFAS mentioned in a press release on Thursday.

The Standardised Fixed-Term Lease Agreement states which the lease will be paid regular to the accommodation provider (lessor) by NSFAS, on behalf of the lessee (NSFAS funded student), in accordance using the NSFAS conditions and terms for personal accommodation providers’ participation on the student accommodation portal.

"The lessor may not need or permit the lessee to pay for a deposit, top-up payments, or some other forms of payment into the lessor, or almost every other person in connection with this arrangement, like payment of hire, while awaiting payment from NSFAS. The lessor shall have no recourse from the lessee for any default inside the payment of rent by NSFAS," the get more info agreement reads.

The NSFAS conditions and terms for private accommodation vendors’ participation on the student accommodation portal also states that: "Where the NSFAS-funded student is defunded resulting from an incorrect decision by NSFAS, the coed won't be liable for payment of any arrear rent on the accommodation service provider, up right up until the day of being defunded."

NSFAS stated that in which the NSFAS-funded student chooses to continue occupying check here the leased premises, notwithstanding getting defunded by NSFAS, the student will be responsible for payment of lease for the lessor with 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 website liable for payment of all rent due to the accommodation provider.

"Where the student website 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 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 check here purpose.
From: SAnews.gov.za