What you pay, and how
Searching and booking on STAY365 is free for students. You only pay the booking deposit shown on the residence, and then your rent under your lease.
What students pay
| Using the website, searching and booking | Free. STAY365 charges students no platform, booking or admin fee. |
|---|---|
| Booking deposit | R2,000 unless the residence page shows a different amount. No deposit for NSFAS-funded students at residences that show "no deposit for NSFAS students". |
| Monthly rent | Set per residence and room type. The "rent from" price is shown on each residence page, and your exact rent is stated in your lease before you sign. |
| Other charges | Only those written in your lease (for example, a replacement access card or damage you cause). There are no hidden fees. |
All prices are in South African rand (ZAR).
How booking and payment work
- Choose a residence and press Book now. Fill in your details, institution and funding.
- Pay the booking deposit (if one applies) on Paystack's secure checkout by card or instant EFT. You get an emailed receipt and a booking reference (BK-…).
- We confirm your room. Our placement team allocates a bed and contacts you, normally within 2 business days.
- Sign your lease online. We email you a secure link with a one-time code. Your deposit then becomes part of your lease deposit.
- Pay rent monthly as your lease sets out (see below), and move in on your approved date.
How rent is paid
- NSFAS-funded students: rent is paid to the accommodation provider by NSFAS (or your institution) under the NSFAS rules. You must keep your NSFAS registration and lease up to date.
- Bursary or sponsor-funded students: your sponsor pays according to the payment arrangement confirmed in your lease.
- Self-funded students: pay monthly in advance by EFT to the bank account on your rent invoice, using your student reference. We will only ever give bank details on an official STAY365 invoice. If someone sends you different bank details, contact us before paying.
Payment security
Online payments are processed by Paystack, a PCI-DSS certified payment provider. STAY365 does not see or store your card number. STAY365 will never ask for your card PIN, password or one-time PIN by phone, email or WhatsApp.
Cancelling
You can cancel a booking and get your deposit back in full within 7 days of paying. After that, the refund is less a R500 admin fee until you sign your lease. See the Refund & Cancellation Policy for the full rules.
Accommodation providers and institutions
Fees for listing a residence, using the STAY365 portal or full property management are agreed in a written service agreement with each provider or institution. Students never pay these fees.