Investigation finds landlords offering rooms in exchange for sex

As if things with Ireland's housing crisis weren't bleak enough, a new investigation by the Irish Examiner has revealed that landlords in Dublin and Limerick have been advertising rooms at a reduced rent in exchange for sexual favours.

The Cork-based newspaper discovered advertisements online which sought to exploit the desperation of prospective tenants struggling to find accommodation in a landlord's market by offering rooms for a lower price, or in some cases for free, to those who would agree to 'friends with benefits'-style arrangements.

One such ad for a room in Newcastlewest, Limerick was listed as being available for a single lady "with a twist" and noted they "can do reduced rent for occasional fun."

A prospective tenant found out the landlord would agree to a monthly rent of €200 for the first month, and €250 per month thereafter, to a female tenant willing to engage in the aforementioned occasional "fun".

Upon further questioning, the landlord also expressed he would be willing to let the room for free if the woman became his partner in the future.

A number of similarly creepy ads are listed for properties in Dublin. "Hey currently have a room to rent in North county Dublin, not looking to rent for cash but instead a fwb situation. Strictly applies to females, no males will be considered," one ad reads.

A second advertisement offered a room in Santry entirely for free to the right girl: "House located in Santry Dublin, so close to city, free car park and bus stop at home.. Let's chat soon. Note please only for sweet cute and charming girl only...Hahahaha Ping me soon, NSA."

These dismal advertisements come following a recent report published by the Residential Tenancies Board which found that rents across the country grew at their highest rate since 2017 in the third quarter of 2021.

Housing Minister Darragh O'Brien spoke out in condemnation for such practices by landlords: "I condemn in the strongest terms any instance where properties are offered for rent in return for sexual favours.

"Where advertisements such as this are placed we would strongly encourage people to report it to An Garda Síochána."

Social Democrats TD Holly Cairns also commented on the behaviour of such landlords, saying the advertisements show "the depraved depths of the housing crisis where grossly exploitative landlords expect sexual favours in return for putting a roof over people's heads".

Featured Image Credit: Erik Mclean on Unsplash

Topics: Ireland

Gary Grimes

Gary Grimes is a sometimes journalist and sometimes publicist, originally from Sligo but usually in London. When he’s not PRing everything from gin to sex toys, he’s usually covering music, photography and pop culture topics for titles including Interview Magazine, The Face, Huck Magazine and Dummy. When he’s doing neither of those things, he’s probably rewatching weeks of Big Brother 2005 on YouTube or explaining to someone why Paris Hilton is a genius. Reach him at [email protected]

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