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

This arrives just after NSFAS acquired reports 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 authorised private accommodation.

Friday, February 7, 2025
"NSFAS reminds accommodation vendors with the compulsory conditions, as provided by the Standardised Fixed-Term Lease Settlement amongst the private accommodation vendors and NSFAS funded students," NSFAS explained in a statement on Thursday.

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

"The lessor may not demand or allow the lessee to pay a deposit, top-up payments, or almost every other types of payment to your lessor, or every other person in reference to this agreement, like payment of hire, although awaiting payment from NSFAS. The lessor shall haven't any recourse against the lessee for any default while in the payment read more of rent by NSFAS," the arrangement reads.

The NSFAS conditions and terms for private accommodation companies’ participation on the student accommodation portal also states that: "Where the NSFAS-funded student is defunded resulting from an incorrect decision by NSFAS, the student won't be responsible for payment of any arrear rent to the accommodation supplier, up right until the day of being defunded."

NSFAS explained that in which the NSFAS-funded student chooses here to continue occupying the leased premises, notwithstanding currently being defunded by NSFAS, the student is going to be responsible for payment of lease towards the lessor in the date of becoming website 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 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 here in accordance with any dispute resolution procedure determined by NSFAS for this purpose. nsfas academic pathways
From: SAnews.gov.za