While violence and sexual abuse are increasingly denounced, what about the incentives of some owners to young women in precarious situations?
We indeed see flourishing on the Internet announcements of accommodation “to share” in return for a low rent or a “service”… which proves, most often, of a sexual nature.
This kind of "roommate" is not only immoral, but above all perfectly illegal: "When an advertisement mentions the age, sex or sexual orientation of the person sought, it is discriminatory and therefore criminally reprehensible", confirms the lawyer Nadia Belaid.
An offense punishable by seven years in prison and a fine of 375,000 euros
Housing "in exchange for service" exists, but it can only be exercised in very specific cases: "Rather than paying rent, the tenant or joint tenant can provide services, very often babysitting, of children, of gardening, specifies the lawyer.
But for this, the value of these services must be approximately equal to the value of the rent that he would have paid in the context of a rental, a sublease or a classic joint tenancy”.
In the specific case of sexual services demanded as part of the rental of a room, the owner can be prosecuted.
“This kind of practice is a criminal offence, since it is similar to sexual harassment, abuse of weakness, prostitution or even pimping;
and the penalties incurred can go up to seven years in prison and a fine of 375,000 euros”.
Discover the extent of this despicable phenomenon in this video from our partner Brut.
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