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 after NSFAS gained reports about some accommodation companies who need NSFAS-funded students to pay for a deposit or top-up payment so that you can get usage of the accredited private accommodation.

Friday, February 7, 2025
"NSFAS reminds accommodation vendors of the obligatory conditions, as provided by the Standardised Fixed-Term Lease Agreement amongst the non-public accommodation vendors and NSFAS funded students," NSFAS reported in a press release on Thursday.

The Standardised Fixed-Term Lease Agreement states which the lease will be paid out month-to-month for the accommodation supplier (lessor) by NSFAS, on behalf in the lessee (NSFAS funded student), in accordance with the NSFAS conditions and terms for personal accommodation suppliers’ participation on the student accommodation portal.

"The lessor may not demand or permit the lessee to pay for a deposit, top-up payments, or another varieties of payment to your lessor, or almost every other person in connection with this arrangement, which include payment of lease, while awaiting payment from NSFAS. The lessor shall have no recourse versus the lessee for any default from the payment of rent by NSFAS," the check here agreement reads.

The NSFAS conditions and terms for private accommodation providers’ participation on the student accommodation portal also states that: "Where the NSFAS-funded student is defunded as a consequence of an incorrect choice by NSFAS, the scholar will not be chargeable for payment of any arrear rent for the accommodation company, up until finally the day of click here being defunded."

NSFAS explained that the place the NSFAS-funded student chooses to continue occupying the leased premises, notwithstanding getting defunded by NSFAS, the student are going to be chargeable for payment of hire to the lessor through the day of staying defunded.

"Where the student is defunded by click here 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 read more 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. nsfas document submission deadline
From: SAnews.gov.za