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

This arrives just after NSFAS gained experiences about some accommodation providers who require NSFAS-funded students to pay a deposit or top-up payment to be able to get use of the permitted private accommodation.

Friday, February 7, 2025
"NSFAS reminds accommodation vendors of the compulsory conditions, as provided by the Standardised Fixed-Term Lease Agreement among the personal accommodation companies and NSFAS funded students," NSFAS mentioned in an announcement on Thursday.

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

"The lessor may not demand or permit the lessee to pay for a deposit, top-up payments, or every other forms of payment to your lessor, or any other person in connection with this agreement, which include payment of rent, when awaiting payment from NSFAS. The lessor shall haven't any recourse versus the lessee for any default from the payment of 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 more info resulting from an incorrect choice by NSFAS, the student will not be liable for payment of get more info any arrear rent on the accommodation provider, up right until the date of being defunded."

NSFAS stated that exactly where the NSFAS-funded student chooses to carry on occupying the leased premises, notwithstanding remaining defunded by NSFAS, the student are going to be chargeable for payment of lease nsfas student document submission deadline for the lessor with the day 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 get more info prior approval of NSFAS, NSFAS may elect not to pay any rental to the new accommodation provider, and any such rental payments will click here 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