PIE Amendment Bill and NSFAS Rental MOU Announced

Posted 27 May 2026 Written by Acts Online
Category Property & Real Estate

Brought to you by SAnews: The Department of Human Settlements has announced regulatory interventions to address rental housing disputes and property occupation, including a forthcoming partnership with the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) and amendments to eviction legislation.

In terms of the Rental Housing Act, No. 50 of 1999, the Department of Human Settlements is finalizing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with NSFAS and provincial Rental Housing Tribunals. The agreement is designed to formalize a collaborative framework to resolve escalating contractual disputes and exploitation within the student accommodation sector. The partnership will focus on educating student tenants and landlords on their statutory rights and obligations, particularly where students fail to honor lease agreements despite receiving NSFAS funding, or where landlords exploit student tenants.

Rental Housing Tribunals are currently operational across all nine provinces, providing free, legally binding dispute resolution services as an alternative to costly civil litigation.

Draft Prevention of Illegal Eviction (PIE) Amendment Bill

To address the unlawful occupation of land and buildings, the department has drafted and published the Prevention of Illegal Eviction (PIE) Amendment Bill for public comment. The proposed legislation seeks to amend the Prevention of Illegal Eviction from and Unlawful Occupation of Land Act, No. 19 of 1998 by:

  • Strengthening administrative and legal mechanisms to manage and prevent the unlawful occupation of municipal and private property.
  • Balancing the constitutional rights of property owners and municipalities against those of vulnerable groups, including women-headed households, children, older persons, and persons with disabilities.
  • Standardizing procedures for municipal interventions in illegally occupied structures to mitigate hazardous living conditions.

The Department of Human Settlements is conducting nationwide public consultation sessions on the draft Bill. The deadline for submitting written public comments on the draft legislation is 16 June 2026. The department intends to formally table the Bill before Parliament in August 2026.

What this means for you, your business, or your clients

  • For yourself: No direct individual compliance obligations; however, legal and advisory professionals should familiarize themselves with the updated dispute resolution channels provided by the Rental Housing Tribunals.
  • For your business: Property management firms and student housing providers must review their leasing agreements to ensure alignment with NSFAS disbursement terms and prepare for increased oversight by Rental Housing Tribunals.
  • For your clients: Landlords, property developers, and municipal clients must assess the impact of the proposed PIE Amendment Bill on eviction procedures and property security, and submit written comments before the 16 June 2026 deadline to protect their commercial and statutory property rights.

Originally published at https://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/government-moves-tackle-student-housing-disputes

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