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

This arrives right after NSFAS obtained stories about some accommodation vendors who demand NSFAS-funded students to pay a deposit or top-up payment to be able to get entry to the permitted private accommodation.

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

The Standardised Fixed-Term Lease Agreement states the rent will probably be paid month-to-month towards the accommodation supplier (lessor) by NSFAS, on behalf on the lessee (NSFAS funded student), in accordance with the NSFAS terms and conditions for private accommodation providers’ participation on the student accommodation portal.

"The lessor may not demand or permit the lessee to pay a deposit, top-up payments, or another types of payment into the lessor, or every other person in connection with this agreement, read more such as payment of lease, although awaiting payment from NSFAS. The lessor shall don't have any nsfas login recourse towards the lessee for any default in the payment of rent by NSFAS," the arrangement reads.

The NSFAS terms and conditions for private accommodation providers’ participation on the student accommodation portal also states that: "Where the NSFAS-funded student is defunded as a consequence of an incorrect choice by NSFAS, the scholar will not be answerable for payment of any arrear rent on the accommodation service provider, up right until the date of being defunded."

NSFAS spelled out that exactly where the NSFAS-funded student chooses to continue occupying the leased premises, notwithstanding staying defunded by NSFAS, the student will be liable for payment of lease towards the lessor with the day of becoming defunded.

"Where the more info student is defunded by NSFAS due to a misrepresentation by the lessee/guardian at any stage, the student must immediately vacate the read more 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 read more 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: SAnews.gov.za