Young reporter harassed by male landlords during apartment search
BRONTE was just looking for a new flat. But after posting an ad on a househunting website, she was inundated with sleazy deals.
A YOUNG journalist has described her horror at being offered a “sex for rent” deal from several male landlords.
Bronte Howard was looking for a new flat in the Welsh capital Cardiff after being scoring a new job when she discovered several creepy ads online.
One read: “Rent negotiable, depending on what is included”.
• Aussies shunning six-figure salaries
• Map shows richest, poorest areas
Ms Howard, who works for WalesOnline, initially thought the man was referring to bills, so she contacted him and asked about rent.
He told her was wasn’t looking for money, “just companionship”, before asking for photos, her age and hobbies.
Ms Howard, who had also posted an ad on a househunting site, was also propositioned by two men via creepy messages which implied she could stay at their place free of charge, in exchange for a certain “arrangement”.
Writing about her experiences on WalesOnline, Ms Howard spoke of her shock and disgust.
“It’s not a niche fetish site or disturbing internet-only community,” she explained.
“This was an ad on a mainstream renting website, where men were asking to have sex with me in return for a room.
“They’re somewhere in the city I now live in — we could walk past each other at any time, or might already have done.”
The young woman then researched “sex for rent” ads and was “surprised and horrified” by the sheer number of ads she found.
“The fact that ‘landlords’ are able to freely (and legally) post these adverts online terrifies me and makes you realise how close to home this actually is,” she wrote.
In the UK, posting sex for rent ads is not illegal, but the actual arrangements are.
Under the Sexual Offences Act 2003, they are considered to be inciting someone to become a prostitute.
Despite this, earlier this month, a man known only as “Simon” appeared on Britain’s ITV’s This Morning program to defend his offer of free board for women in exchange for sex.
On the show, Simon claimed his offer wasn’t illegal and that the women were willing participants.
It follows reports thousands of men and women across the UK have been offered a similar deal in the last five years, according to a poll carried out by YouGov and housing charity Shelter.
In February, news.com.au reported on a number of similar arrangements being offered by Australian landlords, who advertise reduced or free rent in exchange for sexual favours.
Homes Aussies are being forced to buy
The housing crisis is ‘pushing Aussies down’ into buying homes they might not otherwise want. But that might not be a bad thing.
$100m mystery over ‘Elton John’s Aussie home’
It’s the $100m+ mystery over one of Australia’s most unique, most luxurious and most expensive homes – that superstar entertainer Elton John wanted to call his own.
Prices soar, productivity slumps: Aussie housing crisis laid bare
The nation’s housing market is in turmoil as skyrocketing prices and construction inefficiencies threaten to leave buyers out in the cold. But some states are doing worse than others.