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

This comes following NSFAS been given stories about some accommodation suppliers who require NSFAS-funded students to pay for a deposit or top-up payment in an effort to get use of the approved private accommodation.

Friday, February 7, 2025
"NSFAS reminds accommodation suppliers from the compulsory conditions, as provided by the Standardised Fixed-Term Lease Settlement concerning the personal accommodation vendors and NSFAS funded students," NSFAS said in an announcement on Thursday.

The Standardised Fixed-Term Lease Agreement states that the lease might be paid out monthly to your accommodation supplier (lessor) by NSFAS, on behalf in the lessee (NSFAS funded student), in accordance with the NSFAS terms and conditions for private accommodation providers’ 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 forms of payment on the lessor, or any other person in reference to this arrangement, which includes payment of click here rent, when awaiting payment from NSFAS. The lessor shall haven't any recourse from the lessee for any default inside the payment of rent by NSFAS," the agreement reads.

The NSFAS conditions and terms for private accommodation companies’ participation on the student accommodation portal also states that: "Where the read more NSFAS-funded student is defunded because of an incorrect determination by NSFAS, the coed will not be chargeable for payment of any arrear rent into the accommodation company, up until the day of being defunded."

NSFAS spelled out that the place the NSFAS-funded student chooses to continue occupying the leased premises, notwithstanding becoming defunded by website NSFAS, the scholar is going to be liable for payment of hire towards the lessor with the day of becoming 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 read more 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 implementation of the agreement, must be dealt with in click here accordance with any dispute resolution procedure determined by NSFAS for this purpose.
From: SAnews.gov.za