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

This comes just after NSFAS obtained stories about some accommodation suppliers who demand NSFAS-funded students to pay for a deposit or top-up payment so as to get use of the authorised private accommodation.

Friday, February 7, 2025
"NSFAS reminds accommodation providers from the compulsory conditions, as furnished by the Standardised Fixed-Term Lease Settlement concerning the personal accommodation providers and NSFAS funded students," NSFAS said in a press release on Thursday.

The Standardised Fixed-Term Lease Agreement states which the lease is going to be paid regular on the accommodation supplier (lessor) by NSFAS, on behalf from the lessee (NSFAS funded student), in accordance using the NSFAS conditions and terms for private accommodation vendors’ participation on the student accommodation portal.

"The lessor may not call for or permit the lessee to pay for a deposit, top-up payments, or every other forms of payment towards the lessor, or every other person in reference to this arrangement, such as payment of hire, even though awaiting payment from NSFAS. The lessor shall have no recourse in opposition to the lessee for any default inside the payment of rent by NSFAS," the arrangement reads.

The NSFAS conditions and terms for private accommodation suppliers’ participation on the student accommodation portal also states that: "Where the NSFAS-funded student is defunded due to an incorrect nsfas university allowances decision by NSFAS, the scholar won't be chargeable for payment of any arrear rent into the accommodation provider, up right up until the date of being defunded."

NSFAS described that wherever the NSFAS-funded student chooses to carry on occupying the leased nsfas login premises, notwithstanding being defunded here by NSFAS, the scholar are going to be liable for payment of rent to the lessor in the 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 to the accommodation provider.

"Where the student moves, accommodation providers without the prior approval of NSFAS, NSFAS nsfas eligibility criteria 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.
From: click here SAnews.gov.za