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

This comes just after NSFAS received experiences about some accommodation vendors who need NSFAS-funded students to pay a deposit or top-up payment so that you can get access to the authorized private accommodation.

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

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

"The lessor may not involve or permit the lessee to pay for a deposit, top-up payments, or any other kinds of payment to the lessor, or almost every other person in connection with this agreement, which include payment of rent, although awaiting payment from NSFAS. The lessor shall nsfas eligibility criteria don't have any recourse versus the lessee for any default inside the payment of rent by NSFAS," the agreement reads.

The NSFAS conditions and terms for private accommodation vendors’ participation on the student accommodation portal also states that: "Where the NSFAS-funded student is defunded due to an incorrect selection by NSFAS, the scholar will not be accountable for payment of any arrear rent for the accommodation company, up until the day of being defunded."

NSFAS spelled out that wherever the NSFAS-funded student chooses to carry on occupying the leased premises, get more info notwithstanding staying defunded by NSFAS, the scholar is going to be liable for payment of hire to your lessor from your day of getting defunded.

"Where the click here 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 more info that any dispute arising between the parties regarding the interpretation or implementation of the nsfas student document submission deadline agreement, must be dealt with in accordance with any dispute resolution procedure determined by NSFAS for this purpose.
From: SAnews.gov.za