Horrific practice of sex for rent must be made illegal as vulnerable being exploited by landlords, Cian O’Callaghan says
THIS week, the Government said it would not oppose legislation that would make it illegal for landlords to demand sex for rent.
Hard as it is to believe, the disturbing practice is currently not against the law here.
A bill proposed by Social Democrats housing rep Cian O’Callaghan seeks to create an offence of requiring or accepting sex as a condition of accommodation.
Sleazy landlords found guilty could be jailed for seven years.
It also proposes an offence of arranging a sex for rent deal, with a penalty of €50,000.
As the housing crisis deepens, there have been reports of some landlords demanding sex from potential tenants in lieu of rent.
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And the problem has been exasperated by the Ukraine war.
Writing today, O’Callaghan tells how some people here are exploiting the chaos in Ukraine for their own sick ends.
PREDATORY LANDLORDS
AS the rental crisis deepens, there have been growing reports of predatory landlords demanding sex from tenants instead of rent.
This shows the depraved depths of the housing crisis, where grossly exploitative landlords expect sexual favours in return for putting a roof over people’s heads.
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A chronic shortage of rental properties, and sky-high rents for the limited supply that does exist, means manipulative people are stepping in to take advantage of desperate people.
Some of these predators are so depraved that they have even begun to target Ukrainian refugees who are fleeing to Ireland for safety.
Last week, it was reported that a landlord in Co Clare had advertised a property which would be available to a “slim Ukrainian woman” with the expectation of sex.
It is difficult to understand how anyone could watch Ukrainian hospitals being bombed; people in Mariupol being starved and slaughtered and millions flee across EU borders and see only one thing — an opportunity to sexually exploit vulnerable women.
TAKING ADVANTAGE
But it is happening. It is happening in Ireland, it is happening across Europe, and it has always happened. There have always been twisted individuals who will use a crisis to take advantage of marginalised people.
The overwhelming majority of Irish people are repulsed by this kind of disgusting behaviour.
It takes a particularly revolting and immoral person to even consider demanding sex instead of rent. We must therefore do everything in our power to stop it.
Justice Minister Helen McEntee has confirmed there is no specific criminal offence for abusers who prey on vulnerable people by demanding sex instead of rent.
This has always been hugely problematic. The lack of a specific criminal offence means it is harder to gather data on the extent of the problem, because there is no way for Gardai to document it on the Pulse system — and it means victims are less likely to come forward and report the abuse.
HEAVY PUNISHMENT NEEDED
This is why I’ve introduced legislation to the Dail which would heavily punish anyone who engages in, or facilitates, this gross behaviour.
Anyone who demands sex instead of rent, and publishers who host ads that make those demands, would be guilty of offences — and face penalties of up to seven year years in prison or a €50,000 fine.
This week, when the Dail debated the legislation, the Government said it would not oppose it. However, it failed to give any commitment to enact it as swiftly as possible. This is not good enough.
This legislation urgently needs to be fast-tracked through the Dail to ensure that anyone who chooses to sexually exploit vulnerable people can be dealt with before the courts. It is also important to acknowledge that this legislation is not a panacea. It targets people who engage in this abuse — but not the underlying causes that allow it to fester and grow.
Those causes are a chronic shortage of affordable and cost-rental homes and rack rents for what little rental accommodation actually exists.
Whole cohorts of renters are being exploited in the Irish housing system by landlords and companies more interested in profit than providing decent accommodation.
Sex for rent is the most disgusting manifestation of this exploitation. But there are many other practices that also prey on vulnerabilities.
'MORE AND MORE LEFT OPEN TO ABUSE'
Landlords who cram as many people as possible into overcrowded properties; landlords charging extortionate rent for dilapidated properties; and landlords who evict tenants for spurious reasons so they can jack up the rent.
The Government’s continued opposition to banning rent increases, improving security for tenants, prioritising families, tackling vacancy and dereliction, and building affordable and cost-rental housing is deepening the housing crisis — and leaving more and more people open to abuse. Banning the practice of demanding sex instead of rent is long overdue and must be done as quickly as possible.
However, unless the Government addresses the underlying factors that are feeding a worsening housing catastrophe, the conditions that enable these abuses to flourish will remain.
