Accommodation providers urged to halt demanding deposit from NSFAS funded university students
Accommodation providers urged to halt demanding deposit from NSFAS funded university students
Blog Article
The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has urged landlords not to demand a deposit or top-up payment from NSFAS-funded students.
This arrives right after NSFAS received stories about some accommodation suppliers who demand NSFAS-funded students to pay for a deposit or top-up payment to be able to get usage of the accepted private accommodation.
Friday, February 7, 2025
"NSFAS reminds accommodation suppliers with the compulsory conditions, as provided by the Standardised Fixed-Term Lease Arrangement involving the non-public accommodation companies and NSFAS funded students," NSFAS reported in a statement on Thursday.
The Standardised Fixed-Term Lease Agreement states that the rent will probably be paid monthly on the accommodation company (lessor) by NSFAS, on behalf of your lessee (NSFAS funded student), in accordance with the NSFAS conditions and terms for private accommodation suppliers’ participation on the student accommodation portal.
"The lessor may not require or permit the lessee to pay for a deposit, top-up payments, or almost every other varieties of payment to the lessor, or any other person in reference to this arrangement, including payment of rent, even though awaiting payment from NSFAS. The lessor shall don't have any recourse versus check here the lessee for any default from the payment of rent by NSFAS," the agreement 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 an incorrect decision by NSFAS, the scholar won't be answerable for payment of any arrear rent for the accommodation supplier, up until eventually the day of being defunded."
NSFAS discussed that wherever the NSFAS-funded student chooses get more info to carry on occupying the leased premises, notwithstanding being defunded by NSFAS, the student are going to be answerable for payment of lease for the lessor from your date of nsfas status check 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 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 nsfas login interpretation or implementation of the agreement, must be dealt with in accordance with any dispute resolution procedure determined website by NSFAS for this purpose.
From: SAnews.gov.za