As October brings end of year exams to campuses across the country, many students and their families are already thinking past the last paper and towards where they will live in 2027. RISE Student Living, the student housing business of the Eris Property Group, is using this point in the calendar to draw attention to three of its larger residences: Units on Blackwood in Parktown, Johannesburg, Units on Main in Observatory, Cape Town, and Nala Units in Universitas, Bloemfontein. Together they add more than 3,000 beds to a network that already includes 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.
The timing matters for a practical reason. Each of these residences is currently advertising an early bird administration fee for 2027 applications, which applies only until 31 December 2026. Students who settle their housing before the festive season can lock in that lower fee and go into the new academic year with one less thing to arrange.
Units on Blackwood: a new address close to Wits
Units on Blackwood is located at 6 Blackwood in Parktown, a few minutes from the University of the Witwatersrand. The development offers 890 purpose built beds and is scheduled to welcome its first residents for the 2027 academic year, which makes the coming months the first real intake period for the building. Rooms are arranged in clusters, from two bed pods up to six bed pods, so students can choose between a smaller shared apartment and a larger household of flatmates. The current 2027 rate card on the RISE website lists monthly rent per bed from R5,950 for the six bed cluster to R8,000 for the two bed cluster, with no deposit listed for these unit types.
Like the rest of the portfolio, Units on Blackwood is designed around study and recreation facilities, and residents become part of the RISE Student Life Programme. That programme runs activities, events, support services, leadership development and community building initiatives, with the stated aim of helping residents grow personally while keeping up with their academic work.
Units on Main: 975 beds in the heart of Observatory
In Cape Town, Units on Main sits at 414 Main Road, Observatory, close to the University of Cape Town main campus, the UCT medical campus, Observatory Square and major transport routes. The building has 269 units and 975 beds spread across studio, two bed and four bed cluster apartments, and RISE describes it as fully compliant with the standards of the Department of Higher Education and Training. Residents have dedicated study and IT facilities, an on-site gym, laundry services, three landscaped courtyards and common areas on every level that overlook the Observatory neighbourhood.
The range of Student Apartments at Units on Main gives students a clear choice. A self-contained studio suits someone who wants privacy and their own space to study late, while the two and four bed clusters suit students who prefer to share a kitchen and lounge with others. The published 2027 rates run from R6,925 per bed per month for a standard four bed single room to R11,000 for a solo studio.
Nala Units: 1,191 beds near the University of the Free State
Nala Units, at 40 Groenewoud Street in Universitas, Bloemfontein, is the largest of the three, with 1,191 beds near the University of the Free State. The residence offers a wide spread of unit types, from The Duo, a two bed unit with one shared room, through to The District, a nine bed unit with single rooms. Shared room options on the 2027 rate card start at R5,402 per bed per month, single rooms start at R6,600, and no deposit is listed for these units. Dedicated study facilities and communal areas sit alongside the bedrooms, and residents also join the Student Life Programme.
For students heading to Bloemfontein for the first time, Nala Units means that the RISE model, with its security, inclusive rental and on-site support, is now available in a fifth South African city alongside Pretoria, Johannesburg, Cape Town and Kimberley.
What every RISE residence has in common
Whichever building a student chooses, the core of the offer stays the same. RISE Student Accommodation is built exclusively for students and located close to major university campuses, with grocery stores, pharmacies and other everyday shops within walking distance of the buildings. Security is round the clock, with 24/7 guarding, CCTV surveillance and biometric or electronic access control, so that only registered residents and authorised staff can enter.
The monthly rent typically covers the room, water and electricity, high-speed uncapped Wi-Fi, security and access control, and on-site support services. Laundry rooms with washers and dryers run on tokens that are allocated to students each month. Rooms come furnished with a bed and mattress, a study desk and chair, and cupboard space, and kitchens are fitted with appliances such as fridges, stoves and microwaves. Students only need to bring their own bedding and personal belongings.
Support does not stop at the end of office hours. Every property has a dedicated on-site team, and Resident Managers live on site to help students after hours. House Comms, a group of resident student leaders, help build a sense of community in each building, and students who feel unsafe or need support can be referred to professional services. RISE also accepts payments from recognised bursary providers and financial aid schemes, which is an important consideration for many families.
How to apply before the early bird fee ends
Applications are made directly through the RISE website. Students select a residence and room type, complete an online application and upload their documents. The documents typically required are a copy of the student’s and parent or guardian’s ID or passport, proof of physical residence that is not older than three months, proof of income or proof of funding where applicable, and proof of enrolment at the university. Lodger Agreements are usually signed digitally, and parents receive a copy for their records.
The early bird administration fee for 2027 applications is R750 until 31 December 2026, with R250 payable on approval and the balance on or before check-in. From 1 January 2027 the fee rises to R950. Lease periods generally follow the academic year and run for 10, 11 or 12 months, and parents are welcome to help with the booking process and to be listed as emergency or financial contacts.
Why purpose built housing matters in South Africa
Finding safe, well located housing remains one of the biggest practical challenges for students in South Africa’s university cities. Purpose built residences close to campus reduce the time and cost of travel, give students a stable place to study and remove many of the uncertainties that come with private rentals. RISE has built its approach on six principles: quality accommodation, convenient locations, safety and security, health and safety, affordability and great student experiences. RISE does not belong to any single university, which allows each building to serve students from several institutions in the same city.
For families comparing Student Accommodation in South Africa, the three residences highlighted this October show how the network has grown. A student heading to Wits, UCT or the University of the Free State in 2027 now has a RISE option within walking or short travelling distance of campus, alongside the established buildings in Hatfield, Braamfontein, the Cape Town Foreshore and Kimberley.
Parents are welcome to visit any of the properties, and RISE recommends booking a visit in advance so that staff are available for a tour. Availability varies by location and room type, and RISE notes that limited beds remain at some residences, so students who already know where they will study next year are encouraged to apply early. If a property reaches full capacity, applicants can be placed on a waiting list and contacted when a room becomes available.
Students and parents can view every residence, the 2027 rental rates and the online application at https://www.risestudentliving.com/.
About RISE Student Living
RISE Student Living provides secure, modern, furnished student accommodation close to university campuses in Pretoria, Johannesburg, Cape Town, Kimberley and Bloemfontein. Its residences include 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 is a subsidiary of the Eris Property Group, a South African owned and operated real estate company.
Media Contact
Rise Student Living
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +27 78 951 1261
Website: https://www.risestudentliving.com/
