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 just after NSFAS obtained reports about some accommodation companies who need NSFAS-funded students to pay for a deposit or top-up payment so that you can get access to the authorised private accommodation.
Friday, February 7, 2025
"NSFAS reminds accommodation providers on the compulsory conditions, as supplied by the Standardised Fixed-Term Lease Settlement in between the non-public accommodation suppliers and NSFAS funded students," NSFAS reported in a statement on Thursday.
The Standardised Fixed-Term Lease Agreement states which the lease might be paid out month to month to your accommodation service provider (lessor) by NSFAS, on behalf from the lessee (NSFAS funded student), in accordance using the NSFAS terms and conditions for private accommodation suppliers’ participation on the student accommodation portal.
"The lessor may not need or permit the lessee to pay for a deposit, top-up payments, or another varieties of payment for the lessor, or any other person in reference to this agreement, together with payment of lease, while awaiting payment from NSFAS. The lessor shall don't have any recourse against the lessee for any default while in the payment of rent by NSFAS," the arrangement reads.
The NSFAS conditions and terms for private accommodation companies’ participation on the student accommodation portal click here also states that: "Where the NSFAS-funded student is defunded as a consequence of an incorrect selection by NSFAS, the coed will not be liable for payment of any arrear rent on the accommodation provider, up until eventually the date of being defunded."
NSFAS discussed that where check here the NSFAS-funded student chooses to continue occupying the leased premises, notwithstanding being defunded by NSFAS, the scholar is going to be answerable for payment of lease on the 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 will be nsfas application delay 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 nsfas document submission deadline or implementation of the agreement, must be dealt with in accordance with any dispute nsfas status check resolution procedure determined by NSFAS for this purpose.
From: SAnews.gov.za