Landlords reportedly asking female tenants for sex in exchange for rent amid Cornavirus pandemic

The Coronavirus pandemic has brought about layoffs and furloughs, hence, a lot of people are staying home jobless.

Being jobless means, no more at the end of the day or week or month.

Now, if there’s no money, how do you cater for your rent and utility bills?

At the back of these, some landlords are reported to have resorted to asking their female tenants for sex in exchange for rent.

According to reports by Vlad TV, the Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women in the US has noticed an increase in reporting of landlords preying on tenants’ financial stress during the Coronavirus pandemic to request sexual favors in exchange for rent payment.

Immigration attorney Kevin Block says instead of asking for rent, some landlords are asking for ‘other arrangements’ and even sending graphic sexual images when female tenants ask about rent.

“I am concerned because reported incidents indicate a greater number of unreported incidents,” Block said.

Khara Jabola-Carolus, the Executive Director of the Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women also confirmed the sexual harassment by landlords saying: “There was no plan upfront to prepare for the physical and sexual violence from the combination of shelter-in-place, lost income and systemic sexism. So we need to get the information on rights and resources out as fast and wide as we can. There is help.”.

The commission also revealed that an online guide has been created for women in Hawaii to follow if they are victimized by a landlord. The HCRC will offer guidance on the emergency rent assistance at 808–586–5757, and will also be keeping a database of bad landlords.

Women in Hawaii were also told to file a complaint if they are victimized by any landlord.

Jabola-Carolus added, “Retaliation by a landlord for filing a complaint against him is illegal. If your landlord changes the locks or shuts off your utilities for complaining about his sexual predation, you can file a landlord-tenant TRO against your landlord and the court will take these cases during the crisis. Please contact Legal Aid Society of Hawaii for help with retaliation. There are no income limits for their help when it comes to fair housing matters.”

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