NSFAS Accommodation Allowance — How It Works (2025 Caps)

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The NSFAS accommodation allowance covers housing costs for funded students at public universities and TVET colleges in South Africa. The amount you receive depends on your accommodation type (catered or self-catering), your institution’s location (metro or non-metro), and whether you are in on-campus residence, accredited private accommodation, or commuting from home.

The approved 2025 allowance caps were finalised by NSFAS in consultation with the Department of Higher Education and Training and published on 12 March 2025. As of April 2026, the 2026 accommodation rates are under review and have not yet been officially published. The figures below are the most recent verified caps. For broader context on what NSFAS covers, see our NSFAS guide to funding.

How Much Does NSFAS Pay for Accommodation?

2025 University Accommodation Caps

2025 TVET College Accommodation Caps

The catered residence cap covers both accommodation and meals. Students in catered accommodation also receive a separate personal care allowance of R3,167 per year and an incidental allowance of R2,900 per year.

Students in non-catered accommodation receive the accommodation cap plus a separate living allowance of R17,160 per year (~R1,560 per month) for food and personal expenses. Students with disabilities in non-catered accommodation receive R20,800 per year for the living allowance.

What the Accommodation Cap Includes

• Catered residence: Accommodation + meals in one capped amount. Excludes personal care (paid separately).
• Non-catered residence: Accommodation only. Living allowance (food) and personal care are paid separately to the student.
• Private accommodation: Subject to the non-catered cap. The cost of private accommodation must not exceed the institution’s own residence fees.

NSFAS pays accommodation directly to the institution or accredited private provider — not into the student’s bank account.

Who Qualifies for the Accommodation Allowance?

You qualify for the NSFAS accommodation allowance if you meet all of the following:

• You are approved for NSFAS funding.pdf) (combined household income of R350,000 or less; R600,000 for students with disabilities)
• You are registered at a public university or public TVET college
• Your permanent home address is more than 40 km from your institution
• You are not living with immediate family or relatives near the institution

If you still need to apply, see our 2026 NSFAS applications guide.

The 40 km Rule

NSFAS uses your permanent home address (as declared on your application and verified by proof of residence) to determine which allowance category you fall into:

• More than 40 km from the institution: You qualify for the accommodation allowance. You will be placed in on-campus residence or may apply for accredited private accommodation.
• Less than 40 km from the institution: You are classified as a commuting student. You receive the transport allowance of R8,190 per year (university) or R8,027 per year (TVET) instead.

You cannot receive both an accommodation allowance and a transport allowance. NSFAS funds one or the other based on the 40 km threshold.

Metro vs Non-Metro Areas

Your accommodation cap depends on whether your institution is located in a metro or non-metro area. The eight NSFAS-designated metro areas are:

• Buffalo City (East London)
• City of Cape Town
• Ekurhuleni (East Rand)
• eThekwini (Durban)
• City of Johannesburg
• Mangaung (Bloemfontein)
• Nelson Mandela Bay (Gqeberha)
• City of Tshwane (Pretoria)

All other areas are classified as non-metro. Metro caps are higher to account for the higher cost of living.

On-Campus vs Off-Campus vs Commuting

NSFAS funds three accommodation categories. You can only qualify for one accommodation type per academic term.

On-Campus Residence

On-campus accommodation is the default for NSFAS-funded students who qualify for the accommodation allowance. NSFAS pays the institution directly based on the actual residence fees charged, subject to the caps above.

• Catered: The institution provides meals as part of the residence package. The catered cap (R65,993 metro / R56,633 non-metro) covers both room and board.
• Non-catered (self-catering): The institution provides a room only. The non-catered cap (R52,000 metro / R42,640 non-metro) covers the room. You receive a separate living allowance for food.

Off-Campus Private Accommodation

If on-campus residence is full or unavailable, you may apply through NSFAS for accredited private accommodation. Private accommodation is funded at the non-catered cap since it is self-catering by definition. The cost must not exceed the institution’s own residence fees.

From 2026, NSFAS is implementing a system where accommodation allowances for students in private accommodation are paid directly to accredited providers, who must enter into legitimate lease agreements with student occupants.

For a broader look at student housing options, see our student accommodation guide for South Africa.

Commuting (Transport Allowance)

Students living within 40 km of the institution receive the transport allowance instead of accommodation. In addition to the transport allowance, commuting students receive the living allowance (R17,160) and personal care allowance (R3,167).

Health Sciences Students

Students enrolled in Health Sciences programmes receive accommodation coverage for 12 months instead of the standard 10 months, since their academic year starts earlier and ends later than other programmes.

How Private Accommodation Accreditation Works

NSFAS only pays for private accommodation that has been accredited through its accommodation provider portal. The accreditation process ensures that housing meets Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) standards for student safety and quality.

Requirements for Accommodation Providers

To register as an NSFAS-accredited accommodation provider, landlords must submit the following via the NSFAS accommodation portal:

Identity and business documents:

• Valid ID document
• B-BBEE certificate
• Company registration from CIPC (if a company)
• Tax clearance certificate
• Proof of address
• Proxy documents (if not the property owner)

Property compliance documents:

• Municipality-approved building plans
• Electrical certificate of compliance (from a registered electrician)
• Fire compliance certificate (from an SABS-approved company)
• Proof of ownership (title deeds, or tribal authority letter for rural properties)
• Zoning certificate

Registration Fees

Providers pay a once-off registration fee calculated per bed:

NSFAS also charges a 5% monthly platform fee, deducted automatically from the provider’s monthly payout.

The Accreditation Process

1. The provider registers on the NSFAS accommodation portal and submits all required documents.
2. NSFAS reviews the submission and verifies compliance.
3. An accreditation agent inspects the property against DHET standards.
4. On approval, the provider can list available beds and manage leases through the portal.
5. Students view accredited properties and apply for accommodation through the portal.

What Students Must Do for Private Accommodation

1. Confirm that your permanent home address is more than 40 km from the institution (the 40 km rule).
2. Check whether on-campus residence is available — private accommodation is typically for students who cannot be placed on campus.
3. Search for accredited properties on the NSFAS accommodation portal.
4. Apply for a property and sign a lease agreement with the provider through the portal.
5. Ensure the lease agreement is uploaded to the NSFAS portal — lease agreements must be signed by both landlord and student.

How Accommodation Payments Are Made

Payment to Institutions (On-Campus)

For on-campus accommodation, NSFAS pays the institution directly. The institution deducts your residence fees from the NSFAS payment and disburses any remaining allowances (living, personal care) to you.

Payment to Private Providers (Off-Campus)

For private accommodation, the claims process works as follows (based on the 2025 cycle):

1. NSFAS distributes lease agreements to accommodation providers via the portal.
2. Providers sign and upload lease agreements.
3. Providers submit payment claims by the claims deadline (14 March 2025 for the 2025 cycle).
4. NSFAS runs a verification process checking compliance, student enrolment, and legitimacy of claims.
5. NSFAS pays verified claims to the provider (the scheduled date for the 2025 cycle was 4 April 2025).

From 2026, NSFAS is moving toward a system where private accommodation payments go directly to accredited providers without the payment passing through students. A new portal allows providers to generate invoices, view statements, and track payments.

Payment Timeline (2026)

For 2026, NSFAS made an upfront payment on 1 February 2026 covering one month of accommodation, meals, personal care, and travel allowances, plus the full book allowance. TVET students received their first disbursement on 13 February 2026, with a second payment on 27 February covering accommodation.

Accommodation allowances are paid over approximately 10 months of the academic year (February to November). Health Sciences students are covered for 12 months.

Common Accommodation Allowance Problems and How to Resolve Them

Accommodation Payment Not Received

Possible causes:

• Your institution has not yet uploaded your registration data to NSFAS. NSFAS can only process accommodation payments after the institution confirms your registration.
• Your lease agreement is missing, unsigned, or invalid.
• Your landlord’s banking or ID details are incomplete on the NSFAS portal.

What to do: Contact your institution’s financial aid office to confirm your registration has been uploaded. If you are in private accommodation, confirm with your landlord that they have submitted all required documents and a valid claim through the portal.

Classified as Commuting When You Need Accommodation

If NSFAS classified you as a commuting student but you live more than 40 km from the institution, your proof of residence may have been incorrect or may not match your application details.

What to do: Contact NSFAS with an updated proof of residence showing your permanent home address. You can reach NSFAS via:

• Toll-free: 08000 67327
• WhatsApp: +27 63 093 5671
• Email: info@nsfas.org.za
• USSD: *120*67327#

Private Accommodation Not Accredited

If you move into private accommodation that is not accredited by NSFAS, you will not receive an accommodation allowance. NSFAS requires that private accommodation meet DHET standards and be registered on the NSFAS accommodation portal.

What to do: Before signing a lease, verify that the property is listed as accredited on the NSFAS accommodation portal. If your current accommodation is not accredited, speak to your institution’s student housing office about accredited options in the area.

Landlord Threatens Eviction Over Late NSFAS Payment

NSFAS has acknowledged that payment delays create financial pressure on accommodation providers. If your landlord threatens eviction because NSFAS has not paid:

What to do: Contact your institution’s financial aid office immediately — they can escalate with NSFAS and confirm your funding status to the landlord. You can also contact NSFAS directly. Keep copies of your lease agreement, NSFAS approval letter, and any correspondence with the landlord.

Funding Appeal Still Pending

If your NSFAS application was declined and your appeal is pending, your accommodation allowance will not be paid until the appeal is resolved.

What to do: Check your appeal status through the myNSFAS portal. Inform your institution’s financial aid office so they are aware of the pending appeal. If you are at risk of losing your accommodation while the appeal is pending, ask the financial aid office about interim arrangements.

NSFAS Contact Details for Accommodation Queries

For accommodation-specific issues, your institution’s financial aid office is often the fastest point of contact, as they have a direct line to NSFAS for funded students.