Students rally to start a campaign called Sex for Rent. The campaign seeks to highlight the danger for students of landlords or flatmates offering cheaper rent for sexual favours.

Palmerston North student associations are uniting in support for tertiary students lured into sex with flatmates or landlords.

Massey University's MUSA association and UCOL's student association are backing a campaign to raise awareness of students stuck in potentially abusive living situations where sexual favours are exchanged for rent payment.

MUSA president Nikita Skipper said she was first made aware of sex-for-rent cases in Auckland, after seeing "disgusting" newspaper advertisements which requested sexual favours from students.

She said the preventative campaign, called Sex for Rent, was a way of exposing the practice before it became a major concern in Palmerston North.

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"There are cases here - three to four - where students have come to us saying 'I'm not happy'. Sex should be an empowering thing."

Skipper was particularly concerned for international students being taken advantage of.

UCOL president Melissa Evans said tertiary students were adults who were able to make their own choices and give sexual consent. But the campaign was aimed at supporting those few students who needed help finding safer alternatives to pay their rent.

The association presidents hope to encourage students with financial worries to come forward and ask for help before they become trapped in a sexually abusive cycle.

Manawatu Property Investors president Pauline Beissel​ said a sex-for-rent situation was "totally unacceptable".

"As far as a landlord-tenant arrangement goes, that's just totally unprofessional, and I cannot envisage where that would happen, it's so absurd.

"I would like to think we are above that."

She said landlords who were members generally wanted to look after their tenants, not exploit them



"It takes a lot of courage to get out of a situation, but if anyone is feeling vulnerable, go to budget advice, or a student representative, or the police, or parents."

Detective Sergeant Gary Milligan, officer in charge of the Manawatu adult sexual assault squad, said there had been no recent incidents brought to police attention.

He said no one should be forced or coerced into having sex with anyone else, and that anyone with concerns regarding sexual violence should report the matter to police.

Massey University's communications director James Gardiner said in over 10 years, the university had never had a student come forward to them about a sex-for-rent situation.

He said the university had financial and support systems in place to help students in need.

Abuse and Rape Crisis Support Manawatu manager Ann Kent said the agency was supportive of the campaign.

"As an agency we haven't been aware of any individuals in that position but it doesn't mean it hasn't been happening."

She said she would hate to see people making choices along those lines because of financial reasons, and urged any young person in need of support and guidance to come forward.

Prime Minister John Key said sex-for-rent situations were "despicable", and it was important to ensure students could afford their rent.

"That includes everything from student allowances right through to student loans."

"Everyone's circumstances are a little bit different but for the vast bulk of students they're not in that position so I think the system is working well."

But New Zealand Union of Students' Associations national president Linsey Higgins said students today were down before they started.

"In the major cities your rent can be over $200 a week when you get $176 from the government.

"So you are already at a $30-$40 shortfall and you're meant to make that up some how while studying full-time. It's just not feasible."

Students involved in previous sex for rent situations did not wish to comment in the article. ​