New legislation criminalising 'sex for rent' introduced in the Dáil

Sinn Féin TD Eoin Ó Broin wants to make it an offence for any landlord to seek sex in lieu of rent or to advertise to seek sex in lieu of rent.

Legislation to criminalise the sort of “sex for rent” scams first exposed by an Irish Examiner reporter has been introduced into the Dáil.

Sinn Féin TD Eoin Ó Broin wants to make it an offence for any landlord to seek sex in lieu of rent or to advertise to seek sex in lieu of rent.

He has proposed that the legislation be part of an amendment to the Residential Tenancies Act 2004.

Speaking in the Dáil on Wednesday, he explained that Irish Examiner reporter Ann Murphy broke the "sex for rent" scandal in 2021.

He told TDs: “It is predatory landlords preying on vulnerable — often young — women desperate to find rental accommodation, and attempting to pressurise them into exchanging sex for putting a roof over their heads.” 

He said Ms Murphy's reporting on the issue had highlighted “an entire underbelly of our rental sector”.

It was here that “a small but not insignificant number” of landlords were engaged in this activity, advertising such arrangements or engaging with tenants or prospective tenants.

In March 2022, Social Democrats TD Cian O'Callaghan introduced a piece of legislation which sought to make the seeking of sex in exchange for rent a criminal offence.

That bill was debated in the Dáil, passed second stage, and was even referred to committee stage.

'Irish Examiner' reporter Ann Murphy broke the 'sex for rent' scandal in 2021.

But, Mr Ó Broin told deputies, “for reasons better known to members of the committee”, it was referred back to the Oireachtas with a commitment from the Minister for Justice to look at the issue in the “overall context of the review of gender-based violence”.

However, in October 2023, he reminded deputies, undercover RTÉ Investigates journalists with hidden cameras interviewed landlords seeking these sex for rent arrangements.

He added: “I am sure this is a practice that everybody on all sides of the House feels is absolutely abhorrent. 

"I would like to think it is a very small part of our rental sector.

“The truth is we do not know, but the evidence suggests that it is. Not a single person should have to deal with this.

“We know from the information in the public domain to date that it is very often younger women, young students and workers, often working in towns and cities away from their family and support networks, migrant women, and others who are vulnerable and desperate to get accommodation.”