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

This comes immediately after NSFAS gained reports about some accommodation vendors who require NSFAS-funded students to pay a deposit or top-up payment so as to get access to the accepted private accommodation.

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

The Standardised Fixed-Term Lease Agreement states that the rent is going to be paid out month-to-month into the accommodation service provider (lessor) by NSFAS, on behalf from the lessee (NSFAS funded student), in accordance with the NSFAS terms and conditions for private accommodation vendors’ participation on the student accommodation portal.

"The lessor may not require or allow the lessee to pay a deposit, top-up payments, or some other varieties of payment into the lessor, or another person nsfas university allowances in reference to this agreement, together with payment of hire, while awaiting payment from NSFAS. The lessor shall haven't any recourse from the lessee for any default during the payment of rent by NSFAS," the arrangement reads.

The NSFAS terms and conditions 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 decision by NSFAS, the scholar won't be liable for payment of any arrear rent into the accommodation supplier, up right up until the date of being defunded."

NSFAS defined that where by the NSFAS-funded student here chooses to continue occupying the check here leased premises, notwithstanding remaining defunded by NSFAS, the scholar are going to be answerable for payment of rent on the lessor in the day 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 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 read more scheme said.

The scheme emphasised that any dispute arising between the parties regarding the interpretation or implementation of the agreement, must be dealt nsfas academic pathways with in accordance with any dispute resolution procedure determined by NSFAS for this purpose.
From: SAnews.gov.za