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

This comes right after NSFAS obtained stories about some accommodation providers who demand NSFAS-funded students to pay for a deposit or top-up payment in order to get usage of the accepted private accommodation.

Friday, February 7, 2025
"NSFAS reminds accommodation providers on the obligatory conditions, as provided by the Standardised Fixed-Term Lease Arrangement among the personal accommodation suppliers and NSFAS funded students," NSFAS reported in a statement on Thursday.

The Standardised Fixed-Term Lease Agreement states the lease might be paid out monthly towards the accommodation company (lessor) by NSFAS, on behalf with the lessee (NSFAS funded student), in accordance with the NSFAS conditions and terms for personal accommodation companies’ participation on the student accommodation portal.

"The lessor may not demand or permit the lessee to pay for a deposit, top-up payments, or every other forms of payment into the lessor, or every other person in connection with this arrangement, such as website payment of hire, when awaiting payment from NSFAS. The lessor shall don't have any recourse against the lessee for any default 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 read more states that: "Where the NSFAS-funded student is defunded due to an incorrect choice by NSFAS, the coed won't be liable for payment of any arrear rent on the accommodation service provider, up until finally the date of being defunded."

NSFAS discussed that wherever the NSFAS-funded student chooses to carry on occupying the leased premises, nsfas academic pathways notwithstanding remaining defunded by NSFAS, the scholar are going to be responsible for payment of lease for the lessor from your 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 liable for payment of all rent due click here 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 nsfas academic pathways 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