Property site apologises over ‘sex for rent’ advert

PROPERTY website Rightmove has apologised after it featured an advert offering reduced rent in return for ‘special favours’.

The advert, posted by accommodation service Student Tenant, offered female students a reduced rate for a two-bedroom terrace house in Birmingham.

Prospective tenants were told that they would pay £23 a month – rather than £100 – if they agreed to perform ‘special favours’ for the landlord. It is the latest in a series of ‘sex for rent’ scandals.

Jess Phillips, Labour MP for Birmingham Yardley, said: ‘It is a huge breach of trust.’ Paul Noblet, of charity Centrepoint, said thousands of young people were taking up such offers to avoid homelessness.

Rightmove has removed the post and said it would take steps to improve landlord vetting.