RISE Student Living Welcomes 2027 Applicants to New Homes
With October exam season under way at universities nationwide, plenty of students and their parents have already shifted their attention beyond the final sitting to the question of where home will be in 2027. RISE Student Living, the student accommodation arm of the Eris Property Group, is seizing this moment in the academic calendar to spotlight three of its bigger residences: Units on Blackwood in Parktown, Johannesburg, Units on Main in Observatory, Cape Town, and Nala Units in Universitas, Bloemfontein. Between them they contribute over 3,000 beds to a portfolio that already spans Units on Park in Hatfield, Units on Jorissen in Braamfontein, Units on Cape Station in the Cape Town Foreshore and Units on Birbeck in Kimberley.
There is a practical reason the timing counts. All three of these residences are currently running an early bird administration fee for 2027 applications, and it holds good only through 31 December 2026. By sorting out accommodation ahead of the festive break, a student can secure that reduced fee and start the new academic year with one fewer item on the to-do list.
Units on Blackwood: a new address close to Wits
You will find Units on Blackwood at 6 Blackwood in Parktown, just minutes from the University of the Witwatersrand. Purpose built with 890 beds, the development is set to receive its very first residents in the 2027 academic year, so the next few months mark the building's debut intake. Accommodation is organised into clusters that range from two bed pods through to six bed pods, giving students the option of a compact shared flat or a bigger household of housemates. According to the current 2027 rate card on the RISE website, monthly rent per bed runs from R5,950 in the six bed cluster up to R8,000 in the two bed cluster, and no deposit is shown for these unit types.
As with everywhere else in the portfolio, Units on Blackwood is built around study and recreation facilities, and its residents join the RISE Student Life Programme. That programme delivers activities, events, support services, leadership development and community building initiatives, all intended to help residents develop as people while staying on top of their studies.
Units on Main: 975 beds in the heart of Observatory
Over in Cape Town, Units on Main stands at 414 Main Road, Observatory, within easy reach of the University of Cape Town main campus, the UCT medical campus, Observatory Square and key transport links. With 269 units and 975 beds across studio, two bed and four bed cluster apartments, the building is described by RISE as fully compliant with the standards set by the Department of Higher Education and Training. On offer to residents are dedicated study and IT facilities, an on-site gym, laundry services, three landscaped courtyards and common areas on every floor that look out over Observatory.
The spread of Student Apartments at Units on Main hands students a genuine choice. For anyone wanting privacy and a quiet corner to study into the night, a self-contained studio fits the bill, whereas the two and four bed clusters appeal to students happy to share a kitchen and lounge. Published 2027 rates begin at R6,925 per bed per month for a standard four bed single room and reach R11,000 for a solo studio.
Nala Units: 1,191 beds near the University of the Free State
At 40 Groenewoud Street in Universitas, Bloemfontein, Nala Units is the biggest of the trio, bringing 1,191 beds within reach of the University of the Free State. The residence carries a broad mix of unit types, stretching from The Duo, a two bed unit with one shared room, all the way to The District, a nine bed unit with single rooms. On the 2027 rate card, shared room options open at R5,402 per bed per month and single rooms at R6,600, with no deposit listed for these units. Dedicated study facilities and communal spaces sit alongside the bedrooms, and residents take part in the Student Life Programme too.
For anyone arriving in Bloemfontein for the first time, Nala Units signals that the RISE model, complete with its security, inclusive rental and on-site support, has now reached a fifth South African city to join Pretoria, Johannesburg, Cape Town and Kimberley.
What every RISE residence has in common
No matter which building a student picks, the heart of the offer does not change. RISE Student Accommodation is created purely for students and sits close to major university campuses, with grocery stores, pharmacies and other day-to-day shops a short walk away. Security operates around the clock, combining 24/7 guarding, CCTV surveillance and biometric or electronic access control, which ensures that only registered residents and authorised staff get through the door.
Monthly rent generally includes the room, water and electricity, high-speed uncapped Wi-Fi, security and access control, plus on-site support services. Laundry rooms are equipped with washers and dryers that run on tokens issued to students every month. Each room comes furnished with a bed and mattress, a study desk and chair, and cupboard space, while kitchens are kitted out with appliances including fridges, stoves and microwaves. All a student has to supply is their own bedding and personal items.
Help is on hand well beyond office hours. Each property runs a dedicated on-site team, and Resident Managers live on the premises to assist students after hours. A group of resident student leaders known as House Comms works to foster a sense of community in every building, and any student who feels unsafe or needs help can be referred on to professional services. RISE also takes payments from recognised bursary providers and financial aid schemes, a detail that matters a great deal to many families.
How to apply before the early bird fee ends
Every application goes straight through the RISE website. A student chooses a residence and room type, fills in an online application and uploads the necessary documents. Those documents usually comprise a copy of the student's and the parent or guardian's ID or passport, proof of physical residence no older than three months, proof of income or proof of funding where relevant, and proof of enrolment at the university. Lodger Agreements are generally signed digitally, with a copy sent to parents for their files.
Set at R750 until 31 December 2026, the early bird administration fee for 2027 applications breaks down into R250 due on approval and the remainder on or before check-in. Come 1 January 2027, that fee climbs to R950. Lease terms broadly track the academic year, lasting 10, 11 or 12 months, and parents are encouraged to assist with the booking and to be recorded as emergency or financial contacts.
Why purpose built housing matters in South Africa
Securing safe, well situated housing is still one of the toughest practical hurdles facing students in South Africa's university cities. Purpose built residences near campus cut down on travel time and cost, provide a steady base for studying and strip out many of the uncertainties tied to private rentals. RISE has founded its approach on six principles: quality accommodation, convenient locations, safety and security, health and safety, affordability and great student experiences. Because RISE is not tied to any one university, each building can accommodate students drawn from several institutions in the same city.
For families weighing up Student Accommodation in South Africa, the three residences in the spotlight this October illustrate just how much the network has expanded. Any student bound for Wits, UCT or the University of the Free State in 2027 now has a RISE option a short walk or trip from campus, in addition to the established buildings in Hatfield, Braamfontein, the Cape Town Foreshore and Kimberley.
Parents are more than welcome to tour any of the properties, and RISE suggests arranging a visit beforehand so that staff can be on hand to show them around. Since availability differs by location and room type, and RISE points out that only limited beds are left at some residences, students who already know where they will be studying next year are urged to get their applications in early. Should a property fill up, applicants can be added to a waiting list and contacted once a room opens up.
Students and parents can browse every residence, the 2027 rental rates and the online application at https://www.risestudentliving.com/.
About RISE Student Living
RISE Student Living supplies secure, modern, furnished student accommodation near university campuses in Pretoria, Johannesburg, Cape Town, Kimberley and Bloemfontein. Its residences take in Units on Park, Units on Jorissen, Units on Blackwood, Units on Cape Station, Units on Main, Units on Birbeck and Nala Units. RISE Student Living operates as a subsidiary of the Eris Property Group, a South African owned and operated real estate company.
Media Contact
Rise Student Living
Email: info@risestudentliving.com
Phone: +27 78 951 1261
Website: https://www.risestudentliving.com/