As a new series begins, Jeremy Kyle goes undercover to expose the grubby world of landlords who offer free rooms in exchange for sex
HEARING the key turn in the lock, Natalie quickly got ready, slipping into skimpy lingerie and heels as she heard footsteps coming towards the bedroom.
But this wasn’t a romantic date night in with her boyfriend - her landlord had asked her to dress up like this, and she was about to pay her rent - by having sex with him.
‘Sex for rent’ arrangements are on the rise, with pervy landlords shamelessly offering a free room - or even just the ‘opportunity’ to share their bed - in exchange for sex.
Staggeringly experts estimate that as many as 250,000 women have been offered free or reduced rent for sexual favours this in the UK in the last five years - and as the programme reveals, girls as young as 12 have been known to respond to these sleazy adverts.
Advertising sex for rent could be classed as inciting prostitution and can result in a prison sentence but so far there have been no successful convictions.
As part of his shocking investigation for a new series of ITV's The Kyle Files, daytime chat show host Jeremy Kyle lifts the lid on the murky ‘sex for rent’ problem sweeping Britain.
Speaking to Jeremy Kyle, frightened victim Natalie explains further how she ended up in this position.
So desperate for somewhere to live, she put an advert for cheap or free accommodation on the website Craigslist, and had been living in a sex for rent arrangement for over a month.
She revealed: “He showed me round the house and showed me where I should put my things and then immediately he was just like, touching me all over.
“He wanted me to give myself to him sexually. He really wanted me to dress up and wear heels and wear lingerie around the house."
When asked if she was afraid, she admitted :“I used to try and stay over at my friends' just so I could sleep soundly.
“Mostly, I’m just scared of not having a place to live.
“I try not to think about how I feel towards the situation or him but I wouldn’t want anyone else to be in my position. It’s just not good.”
Jeremy Kyle’s team found most of the adverts on Craigslist, and furthered their investigation by setting up a fake account to contact landlords offering this type of deal.
Out of 20, a quarter replied to confirm the room was free in return for sexual favours.
Disturbingly, one advert was looking for young or homeless girls aged 16 - 25.
It read: Free room for young or homeless girl... Are you a young girl 16+ who is stuck at home and wants to… cannot see a safe way out… well I have a free room available… In exchange for the room you’ll be expected to cook, clean, and..."
When a Kyle Files researcher messaged the landlord responsible pretending to be looking for a flat, he quickly replied, detailing his sexual preferences, saying he liked bondage, and that he expected someone to share his bed with him in return for a free room.
Horrifyingly, during an undercover meet up in a pub beer garden, a landlord - who is referred to as Chris in the show and admits he has a swimwear fetish - tells a female researcher that children as young as 12 have contacted him about the advertised arrangement. He insists he’s never followed through with an arrangement with a child.
He admits: “I’ve had 15 and 16-year-olds. I can’t do that, it’s too dangerous.
“I had a couple of 12-year olds which is really scary… It’s awful, never mind the predicament it puts me in because I’d be done for grooming.”
Chris, 50, also admits this isn’t the first time he’s looked for this kind of arrangement, and has done it already “seven or eight times” but is quick to justify his actions, saying: “I’ve done this on quite a few occasions over the last three or so years [but] I’m not the monster I come across on the internet.
“I would support you and help you in every way I can but I’m not quite a good Samaritan because I would want a lot from you in return - it’s not going to be a walk in the park in that respect.
“If you don’t feel comfortable then that makes it ten times harder.”
When the researcher asks for more details on what would be expected of her, he’s very upfront about his expectations, outlining he’d want sex as “often as possible”, and saying: “I’m not looking to abuse you. Yes, I want to take advantage of you - you’re in a difficult situation, I’m not going to deny that.
“I’m 50 years old and you’re very young and attractive.”
In a bid to reassure her, he then jokes: “Not one of them is buried at the bottom of the garden. Well not yet anyway - you could be the first.
“I would try and push you to do more, but all you have to do is so say no, worst case scenario.
"I’m not going to rape you.”
Despite being confronted by Jeremy Kyle and chased down the street, just six weeks later the same landlord posted another advert and once again arranges to meet up with one of Jeremy Kyle’s undercover team, before once again fleeing.
It seems to be an escalating issue. Jeremy Kyle says: “When I first heard that men were putting adverts online saying to women ‘you know what, you can live in my house for free in return for sex', I was totally shocked.
“But the more I’ve looked into it, the more I’ve realised this is a problem that’s growing.”
Shelter Chief Executive Polly Neate tells Jeremy: “We are hearing about this a lot. 250,000 women have experienced this in the last five years and it’s exploitation.
“We are in a national emergency when it comes to housing and what we’re talking about, predominantly women in this case, who don’t have a safe home.
"We’re just not providing homes that people can afford and that’s what creates the desperation that people are then able to exploit.”
Some names have been changed to protect their identities.
The Kyle Files airs tonight at 8pm, ITV.
