The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has urged landlords not to require a deposit or top-up payment from NSFAS-funded students.
This comes after NSFAS been given stories about some accommodation companies who need NSFAS-funded students to pay for a deposit or top-up payment in order to get use of the accepted private accommodation.
Friday, February 7, 2025
"NSFAS reminds accommodation vendors on the obligatory conditions, as provided by the Standardised Fixed-Term Lease Arrangement in between the personal accommodation companies and NSFAS funded students," NSFAS mentioned in an announcement on Thursday.
The Standardised Fixed-Term Lease Agreement states which the lease will likely be paid out month-to-month on the accommodation service provider (lessor) by NSFAS, on behalf of the lessee (NSFAS funded student), in accordance with the NSFAS terms and conditions for private accommodation companies’ participation on the student accommodation portal.
"The lessor may not call for or permit the lessee to pay a deposit, top-up payments, or some other sorts of payment to your lessor, or another person in connection with this agreement, such as payment of rent, while awaiting payment from NSFAS. The lessor shall haven't any recourse from the lessee for any default from check here the payment of rent by NSFAS," the agreement reads.
The NSFAS terms and conditions for private accommodation vendors’ participation on the student accommodation portal also states that: "Where the NSFAS-funded student check here is defunded due to an incorrect choice by NSFAS, the coed will not be liable for payment of any arrear rent to your accommodation provider, up till the day of being defunded."
NSFAS discussed that exactly where the NSFAS-funded student chooses to continue occupying the leased here premises, notwithstanding being defunded by NSFAS, the student is going to be liable for payment of rent for the lessor in the date of becoming 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 get more info due to the accommodation provider.
"Where the student moves, accommodation providers without the prior approval of NSFAS, NSFAS may nsfas university allowances 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