Accommodation providers urged to end demanding deposit from NSFAS funded students
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 received stories about some accommodation suppliers who require NSFAS-funded students to pay for a deposit or top-up payment in order to get use of the accredited private accommodation.
Friday, February 7, 2025
"NSFAS reminds accommodation suppliers with the obligatory conditions, as provided by the Standardised Fixed-Term Lease Arrangement in between the personal accommodation providers and NSFAS funded students," NSFAS mentioned in an announcement on Thursday.
The Standardised Fixed-Term Lease Agreement states which the lease might be paid regular to the accommodation provider (lessor) by NSFAS, on behalf of the lessee (NSFAS funded student), in accordance using the NSFAS terms and conditions 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 some other forms of payment towards the lessor, or every other person in connection with this agreement, which includes payment of rent, whilst awaiting payment from NSFAS. The lessor shall nsfas university allowances have no recourse versus the lessee for any default during the payment of rent by NSFAS," the arrangement reads.
The NSFAS terms nsfas student allowances and conditions for private accommodation companies’ participation on the student accommodation portal also states that: "Where the get more info NSFAS-funded student is defunded due to an incorrect decision by NSFAS, the coed will not be responsible for payment of any arrear rent into the accommodation service provider, up till the date of being defunded."
NSFAS defined that exactly where the NSFAS-funded student chooses to carry on occupying the leased premises, notwithstanding remaining defunded by NSFAS, the scholar is going to be responsible for payment of rent towards the lessor in the date of currently being 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 nsfas application delay of all rent due to the accommodation provider.
"Where the website 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