The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has urged landlords to not require a deposit or top-up payment from NSFAS-funded students.
This comes following NSFAS acquired stories about some accommodation vendors who need NSFAS-funded students to pay for a deposit or top-up payment so as to get usage of the authorized private accommodation.
Friday, February 7, 2025
"NSFAS reminds accommodation suppliers from the obligatory conditions, as furnished by the Standardised Fixed-Term Lease Agreement between the non-public accommodation providers 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 month to month towards the accommodation service provider (lessor) by NSFAS, on behalf of your lessee (NSFAS funded student), in accordance with the NSFAS conditions and terms for private accommodation providers’ participation on the student accommodation portal.
"The lessor may not require or allow the lessee to pay for a deposit, top-up payments, or any other kinds of payment on the lessor, or any other person in reference to this agreement, which include payment of lease, while awaiting payment from NSFAS. The lessor shall don't have any recourse towards the lessee for nsfas eligibility criteria any default while in the payment of rent by NSFAS," the agreement reads.
The NSFAS conditions and terms for website private accommodation providers’ participation on the student accommodation portal also states that: "Where the NSFAS-funded student is defunded as a consequence of an incorrect decision by NSFAS, the coed won't be liable for payment of any arrear rent on the accommodation supplier, up till the date of being defunded."
NSFAS spelled out that in which here the NSFAS-funded student chooses to carry on occupying the leased premises, notwithstanding staying defunded by nsfas allowances NSFAS, the student are going to be liable for payment of rent for the lessor with 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 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 with any dispute read more resolution procedure determined by NSFAS for this purpose.
From: SAnews.gov.za