The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has confirmed when it will pay private accommodation payments to landlords. This comes amid concerns that students could be evicted due to unpaid rent.
Earlier this year, the Private Student Housing Association (PSHA) warned that failure to pay outstanding debt may leave students without housing in 2025. NSFAS said payments will be made to landlords on Monday, 31 March 2025, earlier than the previously communicated payment date of 4 April 2025.
This adjustment reflects our commitment to providing timely and efficient support to students who rely on NSFAS funding for their accommodation needs.
The scheme confirmed that concerns from accommodation providers prompted a thorough assessment of its internal processes concerning NSFAS accommodation allowance payments.
NSFAS pleaded with accommodation providers not to evict students due to unpaid rent and called for their collaboration to submit claims according to the guidelines set by NSFAS.
The scheme said this is critical to ensuring students live in stable conditions while they work to obtain a qualification.
In light of these developments, NSFAS urges accommodation providers to refrain from evicting students and to collaborate with the scheme in submitting their accommodation claims according to the guidelines provided.
NSFAS is committed to ongoing engagements with accommodation providers to provide long-term solutions to resolve student accommodation challenges in South Africa.
NSFAS remains committed to engaging with accommodation providers to identify and implement long-term solutions to the challenges facing the private student accommodation sector.
NSFAS provides comprehensive bursaries and student loans to students enrolled in approved courses at universities and TVET colleges. This funding covers tuition and registration fees along with several allowances for food, learning materials and accommodation.
