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

This comes just after NSFAS obtained stories about some accommodation providers who demand NSFAS-funded students to pay for a deposit or top-up payment as a way to get access to the accredited private accommodation.

Friday, February 7, 2025
"NSFAS reminds accommodation suppliers with the compulsory conditions, as furnished by the Standardised Fixed-Term Lease Settlement involving the personal accommodation companies and NSFAS funded students," NSFAS stated in a press release on Thursday.

The Standardised Fixed-Term Lease Agreement states that the rent will probably be paid monthly to your accommodation service provider (lessor) by NSFAS, on behalf with the lessee (NSFAS funded student), in accordance with the NSFAS terms and conditions for personal accommodation providers’ participation on the student accommodation portal.

"The lessor may not have to have or permit the lessee to pay for a deposit, top-up payments, or any other sorts of payment towards the lessor, or another person in connection with this agreement, together with payment of rent, when awaiting payment from NSFAS. The lessor shall haven't any recourse towards the lessee check here for any default in 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 because of an incorrect decision by NSFAS, the scholar won't be answerable for payment of any arrear rent into the accommodation company, up right until the day of being defunded."

NSFAS spelled out that more info where by the NSFAS-funded student chooses to carry on occupying the leased premises, notwithstanding getting defunded by NSFAS, the student are going to be answerable for payment of rent to click here the lessor with the date 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 get more info will be for the student own account," the scheme here 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