New laws banning sex-for-rent arrangements to go before Cabinet today
The move will come as part of a new Criminal Law and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025
Up to one in 20 students have been propositioned with a sex-for-rent scenario. Image posed. Photo: Getty
Long-awaited laws banning sex for rent will go to the Cabinet today.
Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan will ask the Government to draft, as a matter of priority, laws which he argues would address 'highly exploitative behaviour'.
The move will come as part of a new Criminal Law and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025, which aims to respond to 'a range of pressing challenges for the criminal justice system'.
With regard to sex-for-rent arrangements, the new bill will introduce two new criminal offences: offering accommodation in exchange of sex; and the advertising of accommodation in exchange of sex.
The main benefits of these provisions, the Cabinet will be told, include increased protections for vulnerable individuals and the potential to act as a deterrent to landlords or property owners currently engaging in such behaviour.
Ministers will be told the proposal supports the Government's broader efforts to tackle domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, and offers positive potential impacts for gender equality.
The laws aim to encompass both tenancies and licence arrangements. The proposed initial penalty is a class A fine, which is up to €5,000.
Social Democrats TD Cian O'Callaghan drafted legislation to tackle the practice in March 2022, but it was rejected after pre-legislative scrutiny.
A National Women's Council (NWC) report has found students and migrant women were particularly vulnerable to this form of exploitation. Up to one in 20 students have been propositioned with a sex-for-rent scenario.
Recent research into Ireland's rental market found it creates the 'perfect environment' for the exploitation of tenants, with some landlords offering discounted or free accommodation in return for sex. Some women are being forced to accept such arrangements to avoid becoming homeless, the report from the NWC found.
The NWC said practice of sex for rent has become a common occurrence.
An Irish Council for International Students survey earlier this year found one in seven people had been offered rentals where they share a room – and sleep in the same bed – with people they do not know.
All the respondents who received sex-for-rent offers were non-native English speakers and 68pc were female.
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