Sex for Rent ads

CW// Sexual Offences

Sex for Rent is a crime whereby an individual offers accommodation at a reduced cost or for free, in exchange for sexual acts. This arrangement can be enacted at the outset of a new tenancy, or enforced during a tenancy, often when tenants experience difficulties in paying the rent.

A 2016 Shelter survey found that 8% of women had been offered a Sex for Rent arrangement at some point in their lives. However, only one person has ever been charged in a Sex for Rent Case, and only as recently as January 2021.

The dangers women face as private renters

Content Warning: Sexual violence and Rape

Click here to sign our petition to call on the House of Lords to support amendments that take action against sex for rent.

The Sarah Everard case and Clapham Common vigil earlier this month have once again brought the ugly realities of violence, and especially sexual violence, towards women, to the foreground. These attacks on and manipulations of women cut through every part of our society, including the private rental market. This can perhaps most clearly be seen in the crime of Sex for Rent, which sheds a light on the depths of exploitation women face in every facet of their lives.

Thank you for your support

From the team here at Generation Rent we wanted to say that we couldn’t have run the Renters’ Vote campaign without you.

What are mayoral candidates offering renters in city regions?

On Thursday, eight city regions elect a Metro Mayor. We have published two manifestos:

  • A manifesto for London, which contains 1m private renter households and has had a Mayor for 20 years
  • A manifesto for the rest of England. Between them, Greater Manchester, West Midlands, Greater Liverpool, West of England, Cambridge and Peterborough, West Yorkshire and Tees Valley contain around 750,000 private renter households and where the office of Mayor is still relatively new (completely new in the case of West Yorkshire).

Pets and Private Renting

I want to get a pet for my current property or I am moving to a new rented home with a pet, what should I do?

Looking for some help and can't find the answer ?

Let us know using the form below, and we’ll try to find out

Individual Advice

Generation Rent can’t offer advice about individual problems. Here are a few organisations that can:

You might also find quick but informal help on ACORN’s Facebook forum, and there are more suggestions on The Renters Guide.