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

This comes following NSFAS been given reports about some accommodation suppliers who demand NSFAS-funded students to pay a deposit or top-up payment as a way to get usage of the accredited private accommodation.

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

The Standardised Fixed-Term Lease Agreement states which the rent will be paid every month 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 suppliers’ participation on the student accommodation portal.

"The lessor may not need or permit the lessee to pay for a deposit, top-up payments, or every other sorts of payment to the lessor, or some other person in reference to this arrangement, which includes payment of lease, whilst awaiting payment from NSFAS. The lessor shall haven't any recourse towards website the lessee for any default during the payment of rent by NSFAS," the agreement 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 as a result of an incorrect decision by NSFAS, the coed read more won't be responsible for payment of any arrear rent into the accommodation supplier, up until finally the day of being defunded."

NSFAS discussed that in which the NSFAS-funded student chooses to continue occupying the leased premises, notwithstanding currently being defunded by NSFAS, the student is going to be liable for payment of lease to your lessor from the day of getting defunded.

"Where the student is defunded by NSFAS due to a misrepresentation by the lessee/guardian at any nsfas application delay 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 click here said.

The scheme emphasised that any dispute arising nsfas student allowances between the 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