‘Sex In Return For Reduced Rent’

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This afternoon.

In the Dáil.

Solidarity TD Ruth Coppinger said:

“We now have a situation where sex for rent is becoming a reality for a lot of tenants. We don’t have data in this country but in England, the Shelter organisation reports 250,000 women have been propositioned by landlords in this way.

“I’ve had a young woman who was renting a bedsit, in all but name, in the Rathmines area, who was a victim of this and I’d like you to listen to some of the messages that she was sent.

“When she said she had to leave as the rent was too expensive, the landlord said ‘are you coming to live with me in my house?’

“She said ‘are you being serious?’ and he replies ‘yes, I think you’re beautiful. Maybe you could stay there for two months at half money and we go for dinner and see what happens’.

“When she rejected this, he said ‘I’ll make you a better offer. You can stay for free until Christmas if we can agree something. Now, I have the text messages here and I seriously think that it’s high time that we collated data in this country because you’ve allowed a situation where young women, in very vulnerable situations, thankfully she was able to move on, could actually be put under undue stress and pressure because the landlords rule in this Dáil and you’ve done nothing about it.”

In response, the Minister for Housing Eoghan Murphy said earlier this year, the Government enacted “the most substantial reform for protecting tenants that had been enacted since we brought in rent controls in the first place”.

In relation to the specific case raised by Ms Coppinger, he said:

“That sounds disgusting and a horrible thing for someone to have to go through. It is absolutely a matter for the gardai and a criminal matter and I hope it is being addressed in that way.

“But in relation to the wider point you make – and research being done in the UK – I will of course talk to the Minister for Justice about what might be possible in relation to these types of situations women might be finding themselves in because it’s reprehensible.”

Via Oireachtas.ie

Pics via Ruth Coppinger

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23 thoughts on “‘Sex In Return For Reduced Rent’

  1. eoin

    Jeepers, time was, offering sex would mean you lived rent-free. Now, in this housing market, the best you’ll do is get a *reduction*

    That’s how crazy the housing crisis has become under 8 years of FG.

    1. eoin

      In fairness, Ruth tells the Dail that the woman tenant in question was offered completely free rent between now and Christmas in return for “dinner and let’s see afterwards”

  2. postmanpat

    Quick is #SexIsNotRent taken? here’s my moment!!!! get the Wikipedia’s fired up . I can see it now . the hashtag was made by…etc etc. god I hate twitter and slimy politicians . Hay everyone , are you following hashtag-don’t-be-a -baddie on your smartphone? why not? are you a baddie?

    1. italia'90

      +2019

      I’d bet there isn’t a father of a young woman amongst these trolls.

      I wanted to say that I’m a little surprised by Cian’s comment, and I don’t mean to single you out, you are all creepy fuchs!

      But hey it’s the FFG/PD way. Let the market decide quasi economics ideology.

      1. Cian

        Me?

        Today must be pick on the guy that points out the truth day.

        Landlord was totally inappropriate asking if she would to live in his house. But she then upped the ante by asking if it was free. It got sleazy after that.

        Anyway, this just shows a sleazy person that happened to be her ex-landlord. There was no abuse of power. E.g I’ll evict you unless you sex me.

        1. italia'90

          Your comment reminded me of the fella who says, she was askin for it!

          Ya know. Victim blaming.

          Read it again.

          Then pretend you are a young woman’s father and then keeping reading it, all night if you have to.

          1. Cian


            Landlord: Hi, What is the story about your flat. I think you said you were leaving of maybe not?
            Tenant: Hi, Yes we are, on 8th. I was planing to text you tomorrow to confirm it
            L: Are you coming to live with me in my house?
            T: Is it for free? :’-)

  3. A Person

    Well done the lefties. Have not produced a house and yet bring up sexual abuse in the Dail for publicity. Did she report the matter to the Guards?

  4. eoin

    I would love to see the tenant go to the Gardai and make a complaint under the 2017 Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2018.

    “A person who pays, gives, offers or promises to pay or give a person (including a prostitute) money or any other form of remuneration or consideration for the purpose of engaging in sexual activity with a prostitute shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction—

    (a) in the case of a first offence, to a class E fine, and

    (b) in the case of a second or subsequent offence, to a class D fine.

    (2) In this section ‘sexual activity’ means any activity where a reasonable person would consider that—

    (a) whatever its circumstances or the purpose of any person in relation to it, the activity is because of its nature sexual, or

    (b) because of its nature the activity may be sexual and because of its circumstances or the purposes of any person in relation to it (or both) the activity is sexual.”,”

    http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2017/act/2/section/25/enacted/en/html#sec25

  5. DOC

    A Lot of the TD’s in the Dail are Landlords themselves
    That is why this issue is rarely addressed
    They know who they are
    Essentially they are PIMPS
    And they do not care about anyone but themselves
    Does Anyone know of the 166 TD’s are Landlords?

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