The Government is failing vulnerable tenants by not introducing promised legislation to make demanding sex for rent a criminal offence, according to Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan.
Deputy O’Callaghan, who is the party’s housing spokesperson, said:
“A new report from the National Women’s Council (NWC) has called for legislation to criminalise sex for rent.
“It is now more than two years since I introduced my Ban on Sex for Rent Bill 2022, which would have created an offence of requiring or accepting sex as a condition of accommodation.
“Regrettably, the Government did not allow my Bill to progress but instead undertook to bring forward their own legislation.
“However, despite a deepening of the housing crisis since then, they have failed to deal with the issue, leaving vulnerable renters open to sexual exploitation by a minority of manipulative landlords.
“The NWC report points out that marginalised and vulnerable women, including those without alternative housing options, are among those most harmed by sex for rent exploitation.
“The Government must provide an immediate update on how it proposes to protect renters from harm. There is absolutely no justification for the ongoing delay in introducing the required legislation, which I believe would have broad cross-party support.”
May 16, 2024