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

This arrives just after NSFAS obtained stories about some accommodation suppliers who demand NSFAS-funded students to pay for a deposit or top-up payment so as to get access to the accredited private accommodation.

Friday, February 7, 2025
"NSFAS reminds accommodation vendors of the compulsory conditions, as provided by the Standardised Fixed-Term Lease Agreement between the private accommodation providers and NSFAS funded students," NSFAS said in a statement on Thursday.

The Standardised Fixed-Term Lease Agreement states which the lease are going to be paid out every month into the accommodation service provider (lessor) by NSFAS, on behalf of your lessee (NSFAS funded student), in accordance using the NSFAS conditions and terms for private accommodation vendors’ participation on the student accommodation portal.

"The lessor may not involve or permit the lessee to pay for a deposit, top-up payments, or almost every other kinds of payment towards the lessor, or any other person in reference to this arrangement, which include payment of lease, while awaiting payment from NSFAS. The lessor shall haven't any recourse towards the lessee for any default during the payment of rent by NSFAS," the agreement reads.

The NSFAS conditions and click here terms for private accommodation providers’ participation on the student accommodation portal also states that: "Where the NSFAS-funded student is defunded due to an incorrect choice by NSFAS, the read more scholar won't website be responsible for payment of any arrear rent into the accommodation provider, up right until the date of being defunded."

NSFAS discussed that where by the NSFAS-funded student chooses to continue occupying the leased premises, notwithstanding getting defunded by NSFAS, the scholar is going to be answerable for payment of rent towards the lessor through the date of currently 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 here 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 click here this purpose.
From: SAnews.gov.za