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 soon after NSFAS obtained experiences about some accommodation suppliers who require NSFAS-funded students to pay for a deposit or top-up payment as a way to get usage of the authorized private accommodation.

Friday, February 7, 2025
"NSFAS reminds accommodation companies with the obligatory conditions, as provided by the Standardised Fixed-Term Lease Agreement among the personal accommodation suppliers and NSFAS funded students," NSFAS explained in a press release on Thursday.

The Standardised Fixed-Term Lease Agreement states which the lease are going to be paid out month-to-month on the accommodation company (lessor) by NSFAS, on behalf with the lessee (NSFAS funded student), in accordance using the NSFAS conditions and terms for private accommodation providers’ participation on the student accommodation portal.

"The lessor may not demand or permit the lessee to pay for a deposit, top-up payments, or another varieties of payment to your lessor, or almost every other person in connection with this arrangement, together with payment of lease, whilst awaiting payment from NSFAS. The lessor shall haven't any recourse in opposition to the lessee click here for any default inside the website payment of rent by NSFAS," the arrangement reads.

The NSFAS terms and conditions for private get more info accommodation suppliers’ participation on the student accommodation portal also states that: "Where the NSFAS-funded student is defunded on account of an incorrect decision by NSFAS, the coed won't be accountable for payment of any arrear rent into the accommodation provider, up until finally the day of being defunded."

NSFAS discussed that where by the NSFAS-funded student chooses to carry on occupying the leased premises, notwithstanding getting defunded by NSFAS, the scholar are going to be accountable for payment of rent on the lessor with the day of currently being get more info 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 website with any dispute resolution procedure determined by NSFAS for this purpose.
From: SAnews.gov.za