BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//CERN//INDICO//EN BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:UFS 2027 Off-Campus Accreditation Renewal Application DTSTART:20260630T220000Z DTEND:20260929T220000Z DTSTAMP:20260710T212500Z UID:indico-event-39981@events.ufs.ac.za DESCRIPTION:\n \n2027 OFF-CAMPUS ACCOMMODATION ACCREDITATION APPLICATION (RENEWALS ONLY):\n \nINTRODUCTION\n \n1.1        The University of the Free State (hereinafter referred to as the "UFS") recognises the impo rtance of providing access to safe\, secure\, and quality accommodation fo r every individual enrolled in tertiary studies and registered as a studen t of the UFS (the "Student(s)"). Accordingly\, the UFS places a high prior ity on ensuring the availability of appropriate student accommodation that supports students' academic success\, well-being\, and overall university experience.\n \n1.2        Accordingly\, the UFS endeavours to acc redit and facilitate access to private student accommodation that meets hi gh standards of quality\, safety\, and suitability. Such accommodation mus t comply with the applicable directives and guidelines of the  National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS)\, where applicable\, as well as the l egislative and regulatory framework governing student housing in South Afr ica. Through this accreditation process\, the UFS seeks to ensure that stu dents have access to accommodation that supports their academic success\, well-being\, and overall university experience.\n \n1.3        Acc reditation\, in relation to private housing and off-campus student accommo dation\, refers to the formal recognition and approval granted by the UFS to a property\, confirming that it is suitable for the accommodation of st udents and complies with the applicable norms\, standards\, legislative r equirements\, and municipal by-laws governing student housing. Accreditati on is granted only where the property satisfies the requirements and crite ria prescribed by the UFS\, including compliance with all applicable Natio nal Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) directives\, applicable Municipal by-law\, and guidelines\, where applicable.\n \n1.4        Further more\, the UFS requires all providers of off-campus student accommodation seeking accreditation to comply with the applicable legislative and regula tory requirements governing student housing\, including the norms and stan dards prescribed under the Higher Education Act\, 1997 (Act No. 101 of 199 7)\, as amended from time to time\, together with any regulations\, polici es\, directives\, and guidelines issued thereunder. Providers must also co mply with all other applicable national\, provincial\, and local legislati on\, including municipal by-laws\, insofar as such legislation relates to the provision and management of student accommodation.\n \n1.5        Every provider of off-campus student accommodation seeking accreditatio n by the UFS shall comply with the applicable provisions of the Policy on the Minimum Norms and Standards for Student Housing at Public Universities \, published in Government Gazette No. 39238 of 29 September 2015\, as am ended or replaced from time to time (the "Official Student Housing Policy "). Compliance with the Official Student Housing Policy is a mandatory req uirement for accreditation and must be demonstrated to the satisfaction of the UFS.\n     \nThe Official Student Housing Policy is available on t he website of the Department of Higher Education and Training at: https:/ /www.gov.za/documents/higher-education-act-policy-minimum-norms-and-standa rds-student-housing-public.\n \n1.6         In addition to the for egoing\, every provider of private off-campus student accommodation seekin g accreditation by the UFS shall comply with all applicable UFS policies\, rules\, procedures\, standards\, terms\, and conditions governing the pro vision of student accommodation. This includes\, without limitation\, com pliance with the UFS Policy on the Accreditation of Off-Campus Student Ac commodation\, as amended or replaced from time to time (the "UFS Student H ousing Policy"). Compliance with the UFS Student Housing Policy is a manda tory condition for obtaining and maintaining accreditation.\n \n1.7         "Applicant" means the owner of a property\, or a duly authorised agent or representative acting on behalf of the owner\, who applies to the UFS for accreditation as a provider of off-campus student accommodation. An agent or representative applying on behalf of the owner warrants that  he/she has the necessary authority to act for and bind the owner in all ma tters relating to the application for accreditation.\n \n \nAPPLYING FOR ACCREDITATION  \n \n2.1          To be considered for accredita tion as a provider of off-campus student accommodation\, an Applicant shal l complete the prescribed application form in full and submit it\, togethe r with all supporting documentation specified in Annexure A (Criteria for Accreditation) of the UFS Student Housing Policy. An application that is incomplete\, contains inaccurate or misleading information\, or is not acc ompanied by the required supporting documentation may be rejected or deeme d invalid by the UFS.\n \nOnly applications that are completed in full an d accompanied by all supporting documentation prescribed by the UFS shall be considered for accreditation. The UFS reserves the right to reject\, or decline to consider any application that is incomplete or not supported b y the required documentation.\n \n2.2         All applications for accreditation shall be submitted during the calendar year preceding the y ear for which accreditation is sought and must be received by the UFS on o r before the closing date determined and communicated by Housing and Resid ence Affairs ("HRA"). Applications received after the prescribed closing date may not be considered\, unless the UFS\, in its sole discretion\, det ermines otherwise.\n2.3         No application for accreditation re ceived after the prescribed closing date shall be accepted or considered b y the UFS.\n2.4         Application link can be obtained at: https:// www.ufs.ac.za/residences/housing-and-residence-affairs/information/off-cam pus-accommodation/application-procedure. \n2.5         By submittin g an application for accreditation to the UFS\, the Applicant acknowledges and confirms that they have familiarised themselves with the applicable a ccreditation procedures\, minimum eligibility and accreditation requiremen ts\, and all applicable policies\, standards\, terms\, and conditions gov erning the provision of off-campus student accommodation\, including the U FS Student Housing Policy. The Applicant further acknowledges that complia nce with these requirements is a prerequisite for the consideration and ma intenance of accreditation.\n2.6         The Applicant shall be the primary point of contact for all communications relating to the applicatio n for\, and any subsequent accreditation of\, the property. The UFS shall be entitled to correspond exclusively with the Applicant\, who shall be re sponsible for receiving and responding to all notices\, requests\, and ot her communications on behalf of the owner\, where applicable.\n2.7          The accommodation provider shall conclude a written lease agreeme nt with each student accommodated at the property prior to the student's o ccupation of the premises\, or within such period as may be permitted by a pplicable law. Each lease agreement shall clearly regulate the rights and obligations of the accommodation provider and the student in relation to the provision of off-campus accommodation.\n \nThe accommodation provider shall be solely responsible for the administration and enforcement of all lease agreements\, including the invoicing\, collection\, and recovery of any accommodation fees or other amounts payable by students.\n \nThe UFS is not a party to any lease agreement concluded between the accommodation provider and a student and shall bear no responsibility or liability what soever for the payment\, collection\, recovery\, or non-payment of any acc ommodation fees or any other amounts due under such lease agreement. The a ccommodation provider hereby indemnifies and holds the UFS harmless agains t any claim\, loss\, liability\, or dispute arising from or relating to th e lease agreement or the student's failure to make payment.\n \n2.8          Accreditation of an off-campus student accommodation property sh all be valid only for the academic year specified in the application and a pproved by the UFS. Accreditation shall automatically expire at the end of the applicable academic year and does not create any right\, expectation\ , or entitlement to renewal or continued accreditation for any subsequent year.\n \nWhere the UFS is responsible for facilitating the payment of a ccommodation fees on behalf of eligible students in accordance with applic able funding arrangements\, such payment shall be subject to the submissio n by the accommodation provider of a complete and accurate student occupan cy list and any supporting documentation required by the UFS Finance Depar tment. The UFS reserves the right to make payment directly to the accredit ed accommodation provider in accordance with the applicable funding rules\ , directives\, and guidelines issued by the Department of Higher Education and Training\, the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS)\, or any other relevant funding authority. Nothing in this Policy shall be constru ed as creating an unconditional obligation on the UFS to make payment to a n accommodation provider. Any payment by the UFS remains subject to the av ailability of funding\, compliance with the applicable funding requirement s\, verification of student eligibility\, and the provider's continued com pliance with the UFS Student Housing Policy and all applicable legislative and regulatory requirements.\n \n2.9         For enquiries relating to the accreditation application process\, Applicants may contact Housing and Residence Affairs ("HRA") by email at OffCampusAccom@ufs.ac.za.\n \n The UFS will not accept accreditation applications submitted by email\, ha nd delivery\, or to any individual staff member. All applications must be submitted strictly in accordance with the prescribed application process a nd by the submission method communicated by the UFS. Applications submitte d through any unauthorised channel or after the prescribed closing date sh all not be accepted or considered.\n \n \nACCREDITATION PROCESS \n \nOn ce a completed application\, submitted in accordance with paragraph 2 (App lication for Accreditation) and received by the UFS on or before the presc ribed closing date\, has been found to comply with the minimum eligibility and accreditation requirements\, the UFS shall commence the accreditation process in accordance with the procedures set out in the UFS Student Hous ing Policy.\nThe accreditation process for the 2027 academic year shall in clude the following:\n\nAn administration fee of R100.00 per bed shall be payable by the Applicant for each property submitted for accreditation.\nT he UFS shall issue an invoice to the Applicant for the applicable administ ration fee.\nThe administration fee must be paid in full before an inspect ion of the property will be scheduled or conducted.\nUpon confirmation of payment\, Housing and Residence Affairs ("HRA") shall contact the Applican t to arrange a mutually convenient date and time for the inspection.\nThe inspection shall be conducted to assess the property's compliance with the applicable legislative requirements\, the Official Student Housing Policy \, the UFS Student Housing Policy\, and any other applicable accreditation criteria.\nPayment of the administration fee and completion of an inspect ion do not guarantee accreditation. Accreditation shall only be granted wh ere the property has been found to comply with all applicable accreditatio n requirements and the UFS has formally approved the application.\n\n \n  \n______________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ _________\n \nANNEXURE A\n \nREQUIRED/SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS RENEWAL OF AC CREDITATION FOR 2027\n \n \n\n\n\nCategory:\nDefinition:\n Required Doc uments/Checklist:\n\n\nRenewal Individuals/Companies/Agencies/Trusts\n\nSe rvice Providers who were successfully part of the 2026 Accreditation Proce ss.\n2025 or BEFORE Accredited Service Providers will have to complete NEW APPLICATIONS.\n\n\n \n■ Approved building plans (MMM stamp) and Occup ancy Certificate.■ Special consent use/rezoning (For capacity of 5 & abo ve).■ Gas Certificate if gas is used on the property.■ Affidavit (ow ner resides/Caretaker appointed)/ Appointment Letter.■ House Rules.■  Lease Agreement for 2027.■ Utility Bill (not older than 2 months\, no t owing above R 5 000.00).■ Certified ID copy/ Passport (Applicant & Ow ner).■ Tax clearance (Applicant & Owner).■ Banking confirmation (Appl icant).\n \n\n\n\n\n \n\nhttps://events.ufs.ac.za/event/39981/ URL:https://events.ufs.ac.za/event/39981/ END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR