No timeframe given for sex-for-rent legislation as more advertisements appear online

In May, the National Women’s Council published a report on sex for rent in Ireland, which called on the government to create a new and specific named offence for online with fair labelling principles in law to clearly target predatory ‘landlords’ and defining the specific behaviours involved so as not to overlap or interfere with other legislation.

A raft of new advertisements targeting female renters with “unique ways” to pay for accommodation have appeared online, yet there is no confirmed timeframe for legislating against sex for rent.

An advertiser on one website is advertising accommodation in two units in Cork City, one in Mallow and one in Blarney which he says he will “negotiate fair price for a female ;)". The same advertiser posted a similar ad recently, saying: “Am open to negotiations. Would rather female tenants and am willing to take payment in unique ways.”