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

This comes following NSFAS obtained experiences about some accommodation suppliers who demand NSFAS-funded students to pay 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 the compulsory conditions, as furnished by the Standardised Fixed-Term Lease Settlement amongst the non-public accommodation vendors and NSFAS funded students," NSFAS said in an announcement on Thursday.

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

"The lessor may not need or permit the lessee to pay a deposit, top-up payments, or some other sorts of payment into the lessor, or another person in reference to this arrangement, like payment of lease, nsfas tvet although awaiting payment from NSFAS. The lessor shall have no recourse against the lessee for any default in the payment of nsfas academic pathways 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 due to an get more info incorrect decision by NSFAS, the scholar will not be accountable for payment of any arrear rent into the accommodation company, up right up until the date of being defunded."

NSFAS spelled out that in which the NSFAS-funded student chooses to carry on occupying the leased premises, notwithstanding getting defunded by NSFAS, the scholar will be answerable for payment of rent to check here your lessor in the day of remaining 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 check here of the agreement, must be dealt with in accordance with any dispute resolution procedure determined by NSFAS for this purpose.
From: SAnews.gov.za