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 right after NSFAS gained experiences about some accommodation suppliers who require NSFAS-funded students to pay a deposit or top-up payment to be able to get usage of the accepted private accommodation.

Friday, February 7, 2025
"NSFAS reminds accommodation companies on the obligatory conditions, as provided by the Standardised Fixed-Term Lease Settlement involving the personal accommodation companies and NSFAS funded students," NSFAS explained in an announcement on Thursday.

The Standardised Fixed-Term Lease Agreement states the lease are going to be paid out regular to your accommodation supplier (lessor) by NSFAS, on behalf from 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 have to have or allow the lessee to pay a deposit, top-up payments, or almost every other varieties of payment towards the lessor, or another person in reference to this arrangement, together with payment of hire, when awaiting payment from NSFAS. The lessor shall have no recourse from the lessee nsfas status check for any default within the payment of rent by NSFAS," the arrangement reads.

The NSFAS conditions and terms for private accommodation suppliers’ participation on the student accommodation portal also states that: "Where nsfas tvet the NSFAS-funded student is defunded because of an incorrect decision by NSFAS, the coed will not be chargeable for payment of any arrear rent to your accommodation provider, up until eventually here the day of being defunded."

NSFAS defined that the place the NSFAS-funded student chooses to carry on occupying the leased premises, notwithstanding becoming defunded by NSFAS, the student is going to be answerable for payment of hire towards the lessor from your day nsfas login of staying 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 nsfas tvet 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 determined by NSFAS for this purpose.
From: SAnews.gov.za