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

This comes right after NSFAS received reports about some accommodation vendors who demand NSFAS-funded students to pay for a deposit or top-up payment to be able to get usage of the approved private accommodation.

Friday, February 7, 2025
"NSFAS reminds accommodation companies of your compulsory conditions, as supplied by the Standardised Fixed-Term Lease Arrangement amongst the private accommodation companies and NSFAS funded students," NSFAS stated in a statement on Thursday.

The Standardised Fixed-Term Lease Agreement states that the lease will likely be paid out month to month 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 need or allow the lessee to pay for a deposit, top-up payments, or another sorts of payment for the lessor, or any other person in connection with this arrangement, which includes payment of lease, even though awaiting payment from NSFAS. The lessor shall don't have any recourse versus the lessee for any default while nsfas academic pathways in the payment of rent by NSFAS," the arrangement reads.

The NSFAS conditions and terms for private accommodation companies’ participation on the student accommodation portal also states that: "Where the NSFAS-funded student is defunded as a consequence of website an incorrect determination by NSFAS, the student will not be accountable for payment of any arrear rent to your accommodation provider, up right up until the day of being defunded."

NSFAS spelled out that where by the NSFAS-funded student chooses to carry here on occupying the leased premises, notwithstanding getting defunded by NSFAS, the scholar will be answerable for payment of lease for the lessor through the day of currently being defunded.

"Where the student nsfas allowances 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 nsfas 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