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 just after NSFAS been given experiences about some accommodation companies who require NSFAS-funded students to pay for a deposit or top-up payment so that you can get entry to the authorized private accommodation.

Friday, February 7, 2025
"NSFAS reminds accommodation vendors with the compulsory conditions, as furnished by the Standardised Fixed-Term Lease Arrangement concerning the personal accommodation vendors and NSFAS funded students," NSFAS mentioned in a press release on Thursday.

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

"The lessor may not need or permit the lessee to pay for a deposit, top-up payments, or another types of payment for the lessor, or almost every other person in reference to this arrangement, including payment of rent, whilst awaiting payment from NSFAS. The lessor shall don't have any nsfas tvet recourse in opposition to the lessee for any default during 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 resulting from an incorrect determination by NSFAS, the student won't be chargeable for payment of any arrear rent into the accommodation company, up until eventually the date of more info being defunded."

NSFAS discussed that the place the NSFAS-funded student chooses to continue occupying the leased premises, notwithstanding being defunded by NSFAS, the scholar is going to be responsible more info for payment here of lease towards the lessor from 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 scheme said.

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