Welsh government to clampdown on ‘sex for rent’ landlords

Buy-to-let landlords in Wales who offer free accommodation in return for sex could lose their operating licences, according to plans being drawn up by the Welsh government.

Renting rooms for sexual favours is seen as a growing menace by the Welsh government, and a byproduct of a housing crisis where young people are unable to find somewhere to live without spending excessive sums.

The government wants to tackle 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 practices”.

In a letter to Bowden, Evans states that she has 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 license to operate in Wales”.

The letter from Evans also states that she has “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 advertisements”.

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