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 following NSFAS gained experiences about some accommodation companies who need NSFAS-funded students to pay for a deposit or top-up payment so as to get usage of the authorized private accommodation.

Friday, February 7, 2025
"NSFAS reminds accommodation suppliers with the compulsory conditions, as supplied by the Standardised Fixed-Term Lease Agreement between the private accommodation providers and NSFAS funded students," NSFAS stated in an announcement on Thursday.

The Standardised Fixed-Term Lease Agreement states the lease will probably be paid every month on the accommodation provider (lessor) by NSFAS, on behalf of your lessee (NSFAS funded student), in accordance using the NSFAS terms and conditions for personal accommodation vendors’ participation on the student accommodation portal.

"The lessor may not involve or permit the lessee to pay a deposit, top-up payments, or every other types of payment on the lessor, or every other person in reference to this arrangement, which includes payment of hire, even though awaiting payment from NSFAS. The lessor shall don't have any recourse from the lessee for any default from the payment of rent by NSFAS," click here the arrangement reads.

The NSFAS conditions here and terms for private accommodation companies’ participation on the student accommodation portal also states that: "Where the NSFAS-funded student is defunded on account of an incorrect choice by NSFAS, the student won't be answerable for payment of any arrear rent into the accommodation company, up until eventually the day of being defunded."

NSFAS described that the place the NSFAS-funded student chooses to continue occupying the website leased premises, notwithstanding remaining defunded by NSFAS, the student will be chargeable for payment of rent into the lessor through the day of currently 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 here 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 nsfas eligibility criteria 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