The underhand tactics of landlords in Wales, some of whom currently offer reduced rent in return for sex, are about to be “nipped in the bud†by ministers of the Welsh government. Dubious sales pitches have including lines such as:
‘Tenant with benefits wanted’
‘Maisonette share, very low cost, with dominant strict gentleman’
‘Female with whom I can come to an arrangement’
Renting rooms for sexual favours is seen as a growing menace by the Welsh government, and a by-product of a housing crisis where young people are unable to afford somewhere to live without spending excessively.
The government wants to confront the growing problem by amending the Code of Practice for Rent Smart Wales.
Dawn Bowden, Assembly Member for Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney, recently met with the Minister for Housing and Regeneration in Wales, Rebecca Evans, to express her concerns, with the latter pledging to end “these horrendous practicesâ€.
In a letter to Bowden, Evans stated that she had already instructed officials to amend the Code of Practice for Landlords and Agents licensed under Rent Smart Wales to make it clear that: “anyone who advertises property for rent with a requirement of sex risks losing their licence to operate in Walesâ€.
The letter from Evans also states that she had: “asked officials to work with advertisers, and others, to find ways to stop these advertisements. I would also like to see an awareness and information campaign to highlight the dangers of replying to such advertisementsâ€.
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RW/LCB