Government ‘is not prioritising law against sex for rent’
Ads offering rent-free accommodation continue to emerge online. While they primarily target women, the Irish Council for International Students report quotes a male student who was offered free accommodation that entailed him having sex with the landlord. Picture: iStock
The Government has been accused of failing to prioritise legislating against sex for rent after the Department of Justice admitted the laws are not expected to be ready before the Dáil’s summer recess.
There are now fears it could be next year before the laws can be enacted.
An amendment outlawing sex-for-rent arrangements in the rental sector had been scheduled to be included in the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Human Trafficking) Bill 2023 which is currently going through the Seanad.
However, the Department of Justice has now confirmed that, because of an urgency to enact the bill by the summer recess there are just a few days left to address the ongoing “legal and policy consideration” for the parts addressing the issue of sex-for-rent propositions if they are to be included.
Sources say the area is proving difficult to legislate against.
One said: “I am not sure it will be ready for next week and the bill has to proceed with or without the sex for rent provisions.
However, they added: “I don’t think it will necessarily fall under that bill then — it could be another criminal justice piece of legislation next year.”
It comes as adverts targeting women with rent-free propositions continue to emerge online.
In one of the latest such adverts, a Dublin-based advertiser offers a property which says “room not private” but it has a “private bathroom”.
He is looking “for a single, open minded and free spirited woman (21-55) to move in (rent free) and help around the house and more.
“General cleaning of bathroom, kitchen, bedroom and hallways.
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“If you can cook great if not no matter. Dishes, laundry, shopping and rest of chores we can split.”
The advert continues: “I am a man (39) who works 5 nights a week and doesn’t have too much time on my hands. Financially I can cover basic things, bills, cleaning and hygiene products, but I can’t afford any kind salary... "I would also support any good idea for extra earning.”
Sinn Féin housing spokesman Eoin Ó Broin introduced legislation in the Dáil in March seeking 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.
Mr Ó Broin said he does not accept that addressing the issue of sex for rent “is of such complexity that it cannot be done before the end of the Dáil term”.
“It obviously is not a priority and unfortunately it doesn’t surprise me,” he said.
"Women migrants in the private rented sector are among the most vulnerable groups subjected to this odious behaviour.
Irish Council for International Students (ICOS) director Laura Harmon said: “There are predators out there taking advantage of vulnerable people and the absence of legislation is making it worse.
“We are calling on the Government to pass legislation during the lifetime of this Government.
In November, a report by ICOS found that one in 20 overseas students had either been offered a sex-for-rent arrangement, or had seen an advertisement of such an offer.
A male Brazilian student was quoted in the report from ICOS about finding accommodation through an acquaintance before he got to Ireland.
When he arrived here, he was shown the property by the landlord, who told him “the vacancy was for sleeping on the bed with him and asked if we could have sex”.
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