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

This arrives right after NSFAS acquired stories about some accommodation companies who demand NSFAS-funded students to pay a deposit or top-up payment so that you can get usage of the authorized private accommodation.

Friday, February 7, 2025
"NSFAS reminds accommodation providers from the obligatory conditions, as furnished by the Standardised Fixed-Term Lease Arrangement among the private accommodation vendors and NSFAS funded students," NSFAS reported in an announcement on Thursday.

The Standardised Fixed-Term Lease Agreement states that the lease might be paid month to month for the accommodation provider (lessor) by NSFAS, on behalf with 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 have to have or permit the lessee to pay for a deposit, top-up payments, or some other forms of payment on the lessor, or every other person in reference to this agreement, which include payment of rent, nsfas status check when awaiting payment from NSFAS. The lessor shall have no recourse in opposition to the lessee for any default within the payment of rent by NSFAS," the agreement reads.

The NSFAS conditions and here terms for private accommodation providers’ participation on the student accommodation portal also click here states that: "Where the NSFAS-funded student is defunded as a consequence of an incorrect choice by NSFAS, the scholar won't be responsible for payment of any arrear rent to your accommodation service provider, up until eventually the day of being defunded."

NSFAS explained nsfas application delay that the place the NSFAS-funded student chooses to carry on occupying the leased premises, notwithstanding being defunded by NSFAS, the student will be responsible for payment of lease on the 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 may elect not to more info 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