Have you ever rented from a private landlord in the UK? Please take our survey

[JustineBMumsnet]

Research suggests that tens of thousands of women are propositioned to take up a ‘sex for rent’ offer each year, where landlords offer free or discounted housing in return for sexual favours. The government has now committed to undertake a consultation on this issue.

Mumsnet is working with Generation Rent, the campaign group for private renters, to find out how commonplace this type of behaviour is. We’re looking for responses from anyone who has rented in the UK, regardless of whether they’re currently renting, or if they’ve experienced behaviour related to sex for rent offers or not.

All Mumsnet members who complete the survey and leave their details at the end will be entered into Mumsnet’s monthly prize draw where 3 Mumsnet users will win a £150 voucher for a store of their choice (from a list).

Click here to complete the survey

Thanks

MNHQ & Generation Rent

Insight Terms and Conditions apply

[quote thecatneuterer]@butnobodytoldme I have to say I don't even understand many of your points, so won't be commenting on them. Apart from your crazy figures. Where on earth did you get the average room rent as £1000? Here's a link to the Spareroom 2021 survey showing average rents ranging from £420 in Northern Ireland to £768 in London. With most rents outside London being between £450 and £520.
www.spareroom.co.uk/content/info-landlords/average-rent-uk[/quote]
My third paragraph included the source for the £1,000 a week. That was simply the sum in a particular court case. Quite possibly it would be even a daily room rate in a prosperous area for those purposes. I believe the national average may have referred to a one room flat, not a share with pals. London, of course, does skew average figures.

Yes well I imagine the rates brothel owners charge for rooms bears little relation to the rates for an average room in a houseshare. Not that any of that is particularly relevant to the particular issue this survey deals with.

@JustineBMumsnet

The survey reads like a GCSE student has written jt.

Honestly, it's so amateur, no quantifiable, useful insights could be derived from it.

It's such an important topic yet this reads so poorly - does MNHQ qualify surveys & the authors before putting their name to them?

@unsurereallyx1

Landlords just want their rent paid on time and for decent tenants to look after their properties. All of you moaning about landlords, if you can't do that, just say :)

Do you think that’s a good comment for a thread about landlords who sexually assault people? Do you really think that landlords who sexually assault people ‘just want their rent paid on time’?

@thecatneuterer

Yes well I imagine the rates brothel owners charge for rooms bears little relation to the rates for an average room in a houseshare. Not that any of that is particularly relevant to the particular issue this survey deals with.

Actually running a brothel is illegal in the UK so is going to be operated by criminals who don’t take any notice of laws taxes or rules. A lot of sex workers (escorts) offer “personal” services sometimes with a maid often not, that is legal.

Thankfully I have never been a victim. However I think it I had, this survey would be quite triggering and also falls short of providing any information that could help prevent. You’d need to ask a lot more about who, what, where, when, how in order to draw out any meaningful outcomes. I have a relevant background and would be happy to consult on a more meaningful, helpful survey.

I've completed it with no no no ... I've never heard of anyone I know have these things happen. I'm not suggesting it never happens but I think it's restricted to certain sections of the market

@gogohm, same here. I hope they're not just looking for those that agree with them.

I agree with whoever said it looked like a survey a child might compose

Is ANYONE seriously going to 'disagree' or even 'strongly disagree' with the statement 'I would be in support of legislation that made it more difficult for landlords to offer sex for rent arrangements'.

Surely this is already illegal anyway?

Renting in the UK is shit. I've rented in 4 countries and the UK is by far the worst in terms of rights and protections for tenants. It's a large part of why I now am a homeowner, as I didn't want my kids subject to the whims of bad landlords, and sadly since you can't tell who's a bully at first, it's hard to figure out who's a bad landlord ahead of time. But a lot of people can't buy a house. It's high time the law around renting was changed - but unfortunately far too many MPs (from all parties) are landlords for it to change.

I've had lots of bad things happen as a UK tenant (mainly LLs just letting themselves in or demanding 'inspections' which I never had in any other country and poking around in your stuff), but being propositioned wasn't one of them. Having said that I only once rented as a single woman.

I do support Generation Rent, but I don't think this survey is going to help them - as so many PPs have pointed out it's not fit for purpose.

The term Generation Rent is absolutely infuriating. The fact our government has any dealings with an organisation so preposterously named must be legally dubious. What is the theory? At the age of (what? 35?) every woman is given her own house deeds, never again needing to rent? Or, no creep ever attempted sex with any woman over 35?

@theemperorhasnoclothes

Is ANYONE seriously going to 'disagree' or even 'strongly disagree' with the statement 'I would be in support of legislation that made it more difficult for landlords to offer sex for rent arrangements'.

Surely this is already illegal anyway?

Renting in the UK is shit. I've rented in 4 countries and the UK is by far the worst in terms of rights and protections for tenants. It's a large part of why I now am a homeowner, as I didn't want my kids subject to the whims of bad landlords, and sadly since you can't tell who's a bully at first, it's hard to figure out who's a bad landlord ahead of time. But a lot of people can't buy a house. It's high time the law around renting was changed - but unfortunately far too many MPs (from all parties) are landlords for it to change.

I've had lots of bad things happen as a UK tenant (mainly LLs just letting themselves in or demanding 'inspections' which I never had in any other country and poking around in your stuff), but being propositioned wasn't one of them. Having said that I only once rented as a single woman.

I do support Generation Rent, but I don't think this survey is going to help them - as so many PPs have pointed out it's not fit for purpose.

I have not suffered from anything to do with this survey but I did have to say that I have not experienced any maltreatment from landlords or landladies in the U.K. and I have rented here, New Zealand and in Portland Oregon in the States. The U.K. has much stronger laws to protect decent tenants for example I've had vermin infestations , faulty boilers , faulty ovens and here they were all resolved within days. In Auckland my rented house was run down and was inhabitable even though the estate agent promised me that things like a broken window would be fixed before I moved in and it was not for 6 months. I have also rented out a property in England I knew that I had to fix a boiler within 24 hours so I did. I provided a mobile heating unit straight away until that had been done In the States I couldn't get a front door step fixed for 2 weeks which meant I had to hike it over a fence around the back to get in

There are bad landlords and bad tenants and there are always going to be creeps, as far as I know it is not illegal to proposition an adult, if it happened to me I would report it to the police and the council trading standards, wether they record it I have no idea.

In my opinion there is only one aspect that needs changing. The ability to evict a tenant for no reason is a problem for families with children because of the disruption it causes with school and childcare not to mention parents work. Special protection should be made for families with children in private rented accommodation, it should not occur in social housing. ( unless someone knows different).

I stopped completing the survey because of how the issue of "unwanted presence at the property" was combined with all the other issues in further questions.

It'll massively skew your results because that could be non-sexual, as it was in my case. It made me feel like completing the survey would fuel bad research and lead to inaccurate reporting of the issue.

If this data is to be used in a sex for rent document, it needs to be broken down a LOT.

It's one thing being sexually harassed by a landlord you agreed to rent from and are paying rent to, clearly totally unacceptable. It's quite another however to enter willingly into an arrangement where you are receiving accommodation in exchange for sex, instead of paying rent.

It's disgusting that landlords (or ANYONE!!) would behave either way, but in the second example, surely the tenant has some responsibility for their actions in accepting the agreement in the first place?

Dear @JustineBMumsnet I’ll be more than happy to take partn surveys that pay the respondents not the sponsor.

my opinion there is only one aspect that needs changing. The ability to evict a tenant for no reason is a problem for families with children because of the disruption it causes with school and childcare not to mention parents work. Special protection should be made for families with children in private rented accommodation, it should not occur in social housing. ( unless someone knows different).

Needs to be not just families with children. Disabled we need secure homes especially be near support.

ANYONE seriously going to 'disagree' or even 'strongly disagree' with the statement 'I would be in support of legislation that made it more difficult for landlords to offer sex for rent arrangements'.

I disagree cos the alternative often being homeless or in hostel HMO place. Often more dangerous and more rapes and sexual violence.

Lots of vulnerable disabled low income including domestic abuse victims. We sometimes have no safer housing as landlords won't let us rent if on benefit. I've lived in dangerous places that broke laws on safety but couldn't complain or ask landlord to fix it cos safer landlords won't take benefits.

Be good maybe to ban consenting agreement to swap sex with landlord for safer housing, but only if was alternative options for secure safe housing. Otherwise if banned, tenants have only dangerous HMO places with risks of sexual harassment and assault or are homeless and so more risk of rape and assault.

I been in desperate situation with housing more than once. Know not helpful if ban consental sex for housing unless alternative affordable safe options available.

Good points well made *nosafeguardinsdults^

Yes, this is what people don't understand (including me at times I guess)! For some people in the UK there is just no prospect of secure housing and perhaps sex for rent is the lesser evil. But it shouldn't be this way.

Also agree with PP that the ability of LL to just evict - for no reason - families, disabled people and those for whom moving with a few months notice will be difficult, is the major problem with the UK private rental sector. My experience is that this happens frequently, often so they'll put up the rent beyond what would be considered reasonable or for a whim (e.g. wanting a family member to rent their house instead, just because, because of racism, because they're a bully and enjoy watching people squirm, they don't need a reason that's the point)

I did not want this disruption and insecurity for my school aged child - having to move schools all the time at the whim of landlords, sadly many people and children have no choice.

I remember very vividly the stress it caused me (and my DD) when we received the s21 'as standard' when our LL wanted us to sign another fixed 6 month contract, at a higher rent, rather than go onto a rolling rental contract with a more modest increase. Apparently, they said, they served an eviction notice to all their tenants when it was time to renew their contracts (i.e. every 6 months) - what kind of way is that to live for a child or anyone for that matter? Under the twice yearly threat of eviction? Then a bullying 'negotiation' about rent where the tenant has to face their child being uprooted from their life, possibly their school, or capitulate to the LLs demands knowing they're just going to threaten to uproot you again in 6 months?

What is so often missing from the 'oh but there are bad tenants too' discussion is that when there are bad tenants this doesn't make the LLs housing insecure, force them to move their entire life within 2 months paying extortionate moving costs, force their kids to change schools with 2 months notice with the trauma of leaving friends etc. The LL can happily stay where they're living. The power inbalance is stark. Moving is known to be one of the most stressful things you can do. Being able to inflict it on children, disabled people, for no reason whatsoever is a pretty awful reflection of our society.

@nosafeguardingsdults

my opinion there is only one aspect that needs changing. The ability to evict a tenant for no reason is a problem for families with children because of the disruption it causes with school and childcare not to mention parents work. Special protection should be made for families with children in private rented accommodation, it should not occur in social housing. ( unless someone knows different).

Needs to be not just families with children. Disabled we need secure homes especially be near support.

Agreed

The initial post needs to be clearer about the sort of questions asked.

@nosafeguardingsdults

ANYONE seriously going to 'disagree' or even 'strongly disagree' with the statement 'I would be in support of legislation that made it more difficult for landlords to offer sex for rent arrangements'.

I disagree cos the alternative often being homeless or in hostel HMO place. Often more dangerous and more rapes and sexual violence.

Lots of vulnerable disabled low income including domestic abuse victims. We sometimes have no safer housing as landlords won't let us rent if on benefit. I've lived in dangerous places that broke laws on safety but couldn't complain or ask landlord to fix it cos safer landlords won't take benefits.

Be good maybe to ban consenting agreement to swap sex with landlord for safer housing, but only if was alternative options for secure safe housing. Otherwise if banned, tenants have only dangerous HMO places with risks of sexual harassment and assault or are homeless and so more risk of rape and assault.

I been in desperate situation with housing more than once. Know not helpful if ban consental sex for housing unless alternative affordable safe options available.

Thank you. You know it is possible to be disabled. You may also know it is possible to be old. You may be aware local authorities do NOT house everybody who cannot merrily trot into an estate agent and come out with keys for a house on rental or on mortgage. Two million old people are below poverty level but not eligible for benefits therefore not for council housing. The Bournmouth Bus Shelter couple (in their 90s, he a wheelchair user) were NOT housed when their private landlord sold up. The rules which excluded them still exist. People able bodied should never moan.People not old should not. People still able to skip back to mummy should not. People able to join a band of chums should not. Private rentals are needed, as priority, for disabled and for elderly and for those NOT on benefits, therefore excluded even from a council hostel room.

P.S. You may also know there is no such thing as domestic violence protection, if your rapist, batterer, financial coercer is 'merely' a fellow occupant or sub landlord. You have an 'incorrect' assailant, so you do not count and your life does not count and you may not go to a refuge or get any help at all from domestic violence schemes.

If you have never had an 'intimate relationship' you are deemed magically capable of skipping off and getting somewhere else to live, the moment someone does something you dislike. (Illogically, because who on earth would be living in insecure dangerous usually illegal HMOs if they had anywhere at all they could go instead?)

The woman MP who brought the house of commons to tears, telling of her coercive partner, was surrounded daily by fellow MPs who were barristers and would have given free legal advice, and she could have ordered one of her secretaries to nip out and view a flat to buy or rent at any moment, with certainty she would be given first option and certainty she could afford it. On MP pay and perks, she could have rented a suite at the Dorchester. She was not stuck nor trapped nor unable to escape. Yet her pals wept, agreeing of course someone like her should have priority access to whatever is going in the way of domestic violence protection, police priority, free legal aid, refuge places, and the publicly funded charities specialising in domestic abuse from 'correct' assailants, including coercive behaviour of any sort.

Yes of course coercive behaviour should be an offence, but there appears some disproportion in the extremes of who is included, and who is excluded. An elderly disabled woman can be forced to hand over money, can be raped, can be beaten, can have absolutely no escape. And she does not count.

So called 'generation rent' people should be ashamed of themselves for Age Discrimination which is a legal offence as well as morally reprehensible.

being ‘on benefits’ is not a pre requisite for council housing. Certainly not in all areas.

Hey I’m new here and i hope that someone could help me and same if i could :)
Is it ok to fight with your partner about your own educational future? He’s making me feel guilty about not showing up on an important appointment in my Uni because i broke my leg and couldn’t move. I fee he ist unreasonable and he didn’t show me any kind of care in the past two days and his excuse was that he is mad at me from what happened and it’s just makes me feel sad and lonely