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

This comes after NSFAS gained stories about some accommodation vendors who demand NSFAS-funded students to pay a deposit or top-up payment in order to get usage of the approved private accommodation.

Friday, February 7, 2025
"NSFAS reminds accommodation providers in the obligatory conditions, as supplied by the Standardised Fixed-Term Lease Settlement amongst the private accommodation providers and NSFAS funded students," NSFAS stated in an announcement on Thursday.

The Standardised Fixed-Term Lease Agreement states which the lease are going to be paid regular monthly towards the accommodation provider (lessor) by NSFAS, on behalf of the lessee (NSFAS funded student), in accordance with the NSFAS terms and conditions for personal accommodation providers’ participation on the student accommodation portal.

"The lessor may not involve or allow the lessee to pay a deposit, top-up payments, or every other sorts of payment to the lessor, or another person in connection with this arrangement, together with payment of rent, though awaiting payment from NSFAS. The lessor shall don't have 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 suppliers’ 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 will not be chargeable for payment of any arrear rent towards the accommodation supplier, up till the day of being defunded."

NSFAS defined nsfas student allowances that where by the NSFAS-funded nsfas allowances student chooses to carry on occupying the leased premises, notwithstanding getting defunded by NSFAS, the scholar are going to be accountable for payment of lease to the lessor with the day of getting defunded.

"Where the student is defunded by NSFAS read more 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 nsfas eligibility criteria 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 nsfas student document submission deadline 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