Cork TD says Government must act on sex-for-rent ads

Cork North Central TD Mick Barry has labelled ‘sex for rent’ ads for properties in Cork as “utterly disgraceful”.

His comments come as the National Women’s Council report on sexual exploitation and sexual harassment in the rental housing market was released, and looks at cases in Cork and across Ireland.

The report states: “The precise circumstances of the housing market in Ireland create a perfect environment for the exploitation of tenants”, saying that the placing of advertisements by prospective landlords offering discounted or free accommodation in return for sex “has become a not uncommon occurrence”.

The report said: 

“Marginalised and vulnerable women are among those most harmed by sex-for-rent exploitation, including those without alternative housing options due to poverty, disability, insecure immigration status, domestic or family violence, debt, a lack of family support, or unstable/poorly-paid employment.”

‘Sex for rent’ proposals are not currently a specific criminal offence, as of yet.

Mr Barry criticised this, saying that the Government had not only failed to resolve the housing crisis but also to introduce legislation to outlaw the practice.

Mr Barry described online ads in Mallow and Blarney which state that the landlord is willing to “negotiate fair price for a female” and another which says: “Am open to negotiations. Would rather female tenant and am willing to take payment in unique ways”.

He said: “The Government’s failure to resolve the housing crisis is creating a space where predatory landlords feel they can confront potential tenants with a choice between homelessness and sexual exploitation.

“Furthermore, the Government’s failure to outlaw the practice is just letting these creeps off the hook.

“It’s just not a priority for this Government, and it’s outrageous,” he added.

The Dáil is being asked to sign off on the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Human Trafficking) Bill 2023 this week, with the Government claiming that work on a suitable amendment was not completed on time to meet the bill’s deadline.