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

This arrives immediately after NSFAS obtained reports about some accommodation vendors who need NSFAS-funded students to pay for a deposit or top-up payment so as to get entry to the permitted private accommodation.

Friday, February 7, 2025
"NSFAS reminds accommodation companies on the obligatory conditions, as furnished by the Standardised Fixed-Term Lease Agreement between the personal accommodation companies and NSFAS funded students," NSFAS explained in a press release on Thursday.

The Standardised Fixed-Term Lease Agreement states the lease will probably be paid out regular monthly to the accommodation company (lessor) by NSFAS, on behalf of the lessee (NSFAS funded student), in accordance with the NSFAS conditions and terms for personal accommodation companies’ participation on the student accommodation portal.

"The lessor may not have to have or allow the lessee to pay a deposit, top-up payments, or almost every other varieties of payment into the lessor, or some other person get more info in reference to this arrangement, which includes payment of rent, though awaiting get more info payment from NSFAS. The lessor shall haven't any recourse in opposition to the lessee for any default inside the payment of rent by NSFAS," the agreement reads.

The NSFAS conditions and terms for private accommodation providers’ participation on the student accommodation portal also states that: "Where the NSFAS-funded student is defunded resulting from an incorrect choice by NSFAS, the student won't be accountable for payment of any arrear rent towards the accommodation read more provider, up until eventually the date of being defunded."

NSFAS defined that wherever the NSFAS-funded student chooses to continue occupying the leased premises, notwithstanding becoming defunded by NSFAS, the scholar are going to be liable for payment of hire towards the lessor with the day of currently 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 more info accommodation provider, and any such rental payments will be for the student own account," the scheme said.

The scheme emphasised that any dispute nsfas status check arising 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