The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has urged landlords never to require a deposit or top-up payment from NSFAS-funded students.

This arrives right after NSFAS obtained reports about some accommodation vendors who require NSFAS-funded students to pay a deposit or top-up payment so as to get usage of the approved private accommodation.

Friday, February 7, 2025
"NSFAS reminds accommodation providers in the obligatory conditions, as provided by the Standardised Fixed-Term Lease Agreement amongst the personal accommodation companies and NSFAS funded students," NSFAS stated in a statement on Thursday.

The Standardised Fixed-Term Lease Agreement states which the lease might be paid regular monthly on the accommodation supplier (lessor) by NSFAS, on behalf of the lessee (NSFAS funded student), in accordance using 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 almost every other types of payment to the lessor, or almost every other person in connection with this arrangement, like payment of rent, when awaiting payment from NSFAS. The lessor shall have no recourse from the lessee for any more info default inside the payment of rent by NSFAS," the arrangement reads.

The NSFAS terms and conditions for private accommodation suppliers’ participation on the student accommodation portal also states that: "Where the NSFAS-funded student is defunded as a result of nsfas eligibility criteria an incorrect determination by NSFAS, the student more info will not be answerable for payment of any arrear rent towards the accommodation company, up till the date of being defunded."

NSFAS spelled out that exactly where the NSFAS-funded student chooses to continue occupying the leased premises, notwithstanding staying defunded by NSFAS, the scholar will be accountable for payment of lease to your lessor from the date of getting 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 nsfas university allowances will be liable for payment of website 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 with any dispute resolution procedure determined by NSFAS for this purpose.
From: SAnews.gov.za