Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she is having with the police on (a) investigating and (b) prosecuting landlords that attempt to offer housing in exchange for sexual relations.

The Government is clear that exploitation through ‘sex for rent’ has no place in our society. However, there are two existing offences in the Sexual Offences Act 2003 which can, and have, been used to successfully prosecute this practice. The existing offences of causing or inciting prostitution for gain (section 52 of the 2003 Act) and controlling prostitution for gain (section 53 of the 2003 Act). These offences may capture instances of sex for rent, depending on the circumstances of the case.

We recognise the need to stamp out this abhorrent practice and support those at risk of exploitation. We have already taken action around this:

• to ensure prosecutors are clear on the law, the CPS amended their guidance on ‘Prostitution and Exploitation of Prostitution’ to include specific reference to the potential availability of charges for offences under sections 52 and 53 for ‘sex for rent’ arrangements;
• to better protect tenants from rogue landlords who have been convicted of certain criminal offences, the Government introduced banning orders through the Housing and Planning Act 2016. A banning order prohibits named individuals from engaging in letting and property management work, and we have been clear that both housing associations and local authorities should use these orders if needed; and
• we recognise the importance of ensuring we have the right legislation in place to tackle those seeking to exploit others through this practice, that is why in the VAWG Strategy we committed to working across Government and with partners to better understand the effectiveness of existing offences in tackling this issue and consider whether further reform is needed.

The Online Safety Bill will include relevant offences relating to the incitement and control of prostitution for gain in the list of ‘priority offences’ which internet companies will need to take proactive steps to tackle. The Bill will capture user-to-user sites, where the majority of ‘sex for rent’ advertising takes place. Furthermore, the Bill places a duty on certain companies to take action in respect to ‘content that is harmful to adults’.

In parallel, officials are working with the National Police Chiefs’ Council and the College of Policing, for example, to ensure there is appropriate guidance for policing on the issue of sex-for-rent.