The Irish government is pushing to ban ‘sex-for-rent’ exploitation

The organization is urging the Government and Justice Secretary Helen McEntee to prioritize legislation banning ‘sex-for-hire’ schemes, highlighting that women are being forced to choose between homelessness and exploitation.

The NWC will brief politicians at Leinster House today at 11am and highlight its latest report on sexual exploitation and harassment in the rental housing market.

The report states that this type of exploitation is widespread across the country and is highly gendered.

According to Feargha Ní Bhroin, NWC’s Violence Against Women Officer, who conducted the research, it is “overwhelmingly women who are affected” by sex-for-rent exploitation, while the men involved are generally “in privileged positions compared to the women – they have housing and the victims do not.”

Students and migrant women are at greater risk of exploitation due to their “specific difficulties in accessing suitable accommodation” and tenants renting a room from a live-in landlord are also vulnerable as they lack the legal protections of other rental properties.

“As students return to university this autumn, there is an urgent need to ensure that all women are protected from this type of exploitation,” Ms Ní Broin added.

NWC director Orla O’Connor noted that there is still no legislation in place to tackle this form of exploitation, despite the fact that legislation to tackle this form of exploitation would be included in the Sexual Offenses and Human Trafficking Act.

“That bill has now come and gone, and there is still no solution for these women,” Ms O’Connor said.

“The 2025 Budget provided little assurance that the housing crisis will be addressed in a meaningful way, and this is the underlying context in which Sex For Rent exploitation can take place.

Even with legislation, until the housing and homelessness crisis is addressed, women will continue to be sexually exploited by unscrupulous landlords.

“The impact this has on women cannot be overstated, turning the place where they should feel safest – their home – into a place of sexual exploitation.”

Ann-Marie O’Reilly, National Advocacy Manager at Threshold, will join Ms Ní Broin and Ms O’Connor at the briefing at Leinster House this morning.

She said: “Finding a house to rent remains a struggle for many people today. Limited housing options can leave people with little choice but to accept housing that is unsuitable or substandard.

“It could also put some of the most vulnerable at risk of exploitation by unscrupulous actors. There is a role for legislation in protecting people from such exploitation, but ensuring access to safe, quality and affordable housing for all members of society is the only sure way to protect the most vulnerable.