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 been given stories about some accommodation providers who demand NSFAS-funded students to pay for a deposit or top-up payment as a way to get use of the authorised private accommodation.

Friday, February 7, 2025
"NSFAS reminds accommodation vendors on the compulsory conditions, as furnished by the Standardised Fixed-Term Lease Settlement amongst the non-public accommodation providers and NSFAS funded students," NSFAS reported in an announcement on Thursday.

The Standardised Fixed-Term Lease Agreement states which the rent might be paid out regular monthly on 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 companies’ participation on the student accommodation portal.

"The lessor may not require or permit the lessee to pay for a deposit, top-up payments, or some other sorts of payment towards the lessor, or almost every other person in connection with this agreement, such as payment of rent, whilst awaiting payment from NSFAS. The lessor shall don't have any recourse in opposition to the lessee for any default while in the payment of rent by NSFAS," the 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 resulting from an incorrect decision by NSFAS, the scholar won't be liable for payment of any arrear get more info rent to your accommodation service provider, up right up until the day of being defunded."

NSFAS explained that in which the NSFAS-funded student chooses to carry on occupying the leased premises, notwithstanding currently being defunded by NSFAS, the scholar are going to be accountable for payment of nsfas application delay rent nsfas eligibility criteria for the lessor through the day of staying 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 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 click here implementation of the agreement, must be dealt with in here accordance with any dispute resolution procedure determined by NSFAS for this purpose.
From: SAnews.gov.za