NSFAS accommodation | Studentflats

The basics

NSFAS funds accommodation only for eligible, funded students. Per the 2026 NSFAS guidelines, private accommodation must be accredited by NSFAS and meet its grading criteria. Providers register on the NSFAS accommodation portal, and NSFAS sends a panel to accredit and grade properties.
Accommodation allowance amounts depend on your funding category and the current rules. Confirm the exact amount with NSFAS or your financial aid office before you agree to a lease. No rand caps are stated here because the supplied draft relies on secondary explainers for those figures.
Ask your financial aid office what rental cost limits and additional charges apply to your funded accommodation.
Confirm the payment route with NSFAS or your institution. Provider verification and processing delays can affect payments; do not assume your landlord has been paid.

What to do

Confirm your funding status and your funded accommodation allowance with NSFAS or your university's financial aid office.
Only consider providers that are accredited. Ask for the NSFAS accreditation proof and check it matches the property's address on the official list.
Ask the landlord whether the lease is a 10-month NSFAS option and whether you pay anything on top of the allowance (many listings charge top-ups for extras or higher room types).
NSFAS-funded students in non-accredited housing risk not having the allowance paid. Check with your financial aid office before you sign.

For landlords (later): register your property on the NSFAS accommodation portal. See https://www.nsfas.org.za/content/studentacom.html

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