People are being urged to report any property listings which aim to rent out homes in exchange for sex. It comes after a room in Cork was advertised online as rent-free, as long as the tenant was willing to have sex with the landlord twice a week.
The ad was put up on the locanto.ie website by a man in his mid 40s, but has since been removed. “Granny flat rent free for sexual favours”. It’s one of a growing number on classified ads websites where men look for single women who need free accommodation.
The ad read “Hi, I’m 23 male. I have a granny flat next to my own house “You can have it rent free for sexual favours like bjs and sex. It’s out by whitegate. Lovely views of the sea. Genuine people only need apply thanks.”
The advertisement was spotted by a journalist at The Echo newspaper in Cork. She contacted the person she believed to be the landlord who said the property had central heating and its own bathroom but she would have to share a kitchen in the main part of the house.
He told the journalist that he expected “nothing other than satisfaction twice a week.” It is understood that the flat is no longer on the market because a third party has entered in to an arrangement with the landlord.
Cork Solidarity People Before Profit TD Mick Barry said that the ad shows just how vulnerable people can be when they look for accommodation.
“The key point about the Cork ‘sex for rent’ scandal is the shocking power imbalance now between landlords and tenants. “Real rent controls and anti eviction legislation is urgently needed now. Did the landlord who offered accommodation for sex in Cork break the law? There’s a strong argument that he did under the Sexual Offences Act.
