Advertisements offering accommodation in Adelaide in exchange for sex show how unaffordable rentals can be for young people, Shelter SA says.

Key points: A bill to decriminalise sex work is before South Australian Parliament

A bill to decriminalise sex work is before South Australian Parliament People are posting ads online asking for sex in exchange for accommodation

People are posting ads online asking for sex in exchange for accommodation Police say the practice is "not illegal" but not recommended

The comment comes as debate continues on the sex work decriminalisation bill currently before the South Australian Parliament.

The ABC has seen several online ads offering accommodation in exchange for either one night of sex or ongoing sexual favours.

They appear to be placed by men, or by women offering pictures or services in exchange for money or accommodation.

Shelter SA executive director Alice Clark said she was not surprised to hear about the practice.

"I wish I was surprised and shocked, but because we have such a housing affordability issue in Adelaide and South Australia, people are getting desperate," Dr Clark said.

"We've got high unemployment and high utility bills on top of that, so really they're turning to anything that can keep a roof over their head."

She said the arrangements described in the ads left women open to exploitation.

"If you are living in someone's home and you've got this type of arrangement going on, I can see it quickly deteriorating," she said.

"Having that person in a position of power over many aspects of your life — where you're living and your body essentially — is, yes, absolutely asking for a situation where there's exploitation."

Several online ads offering accommodation for sex or sexual favours for money in Adelaide. ( Supplied )

Debate on whether sex work bill would help

Legislation to decriminalise prostitution passed Parliament's Legislative Council, upper house, in June, but has yet to be voted on in the House of Assembly, the lower house.

The bill was introduced by Greens MLC Tammy Franks and was supported by a majority as part of a conscience vote, with members from both Labor and the Liberal Party voting in favour.

Opposition Leader Peter Malinauskas revealed Tuesday morning that he would be voting against the proposed laws.

Sex Industry Network general manager Kat Morrison said the bill could allow for assistance for people involved in "survival sex work" because they would be less afraid to go to police or a lawyer if the situation turned sour.

However, she said the issue was more about the unaffordability of housing and the low Newstart Allowance rather than sex work.

"I think it's incredibly demonising to view the sex industry — whether it's survival sex work or working in a brothel setting — in an exploitative lens because the reality of sex work is it's always consensual," Ms Morrison said.

"If it's not consensual, then it's simply not sex work."

She said selling sex for accommodation did not happen "very often at all".

"However when it does, we 100 per cent support the individuals who make those choices to go into those agreements," she said.

"We're talking about consenting adults setting up a contract [and] agreeing on parameters to provide accommodation in exchange for sexual services."

Sex workers Dame Catherine Healy (far left) and Julie Bates (far right) visit Liberal MLC Michelle Lensink, Greens MLC Tammy Franks and Sex Industry Network president Roxana Klara at South Australian Parliament in March. ( ABC News: Rebecca Puddy )

Police say it is 'not illegal'

While she said she would support the decriminalisation bill, southern suburbs Labor MP Nat Cook said it was unrealistic that "the utopian world of decent contract law" could help women offering sex for accommodation.

"I say most parents around this state would be absolutely horrified to know that a young person — not just their own young person, a friend of their child, anyone's child — in this community can't afford to house themselves with a decent job in an affordable rental," Ms Cook said.

"Let's do whatever we can to increase the supply of affordable housing and maintain rental security and certainty for young people."

Prostitution laws in South Australia Under the Summary Offences Act 1953, the act of soliciting prostitution attracts a maximum penalty of $750, but those found to be living on the earnings from prostitution can be fined up to $2,500 or jailed for six months as an additional offence.

Clients of sex workers can be fined up to $1250 or jailed for three months for a first offence, with files and jail terms doubled for subsequent offences.

The penalties are outlined in the Summary Offences Act 1953 – 1.7.2013 under part five, section 25.

Legislation also outlaws landlords renting properties to tenants for the purpose of sex work.



Ms Franks said her bill offered a better solution for women offering sex for accommodation, than a contract between individuals.

"They are very vulnerable and they deserve all the protections of the law," she said.

In a statement, an SA Police spokesman said the request was "not illegal and does not constitute as any sort of brothel service".

"That being said, police warn members of the public that arrangements such as the one proposed places people under significant risk and in an environment they are unfamiliar with," the spokesman said.

"SA Police strongly recommend that members of the public do not engage in this type of arrangement for their own safety.

"Any arrangements … do not in any way remove the right and obligations around consensual sexual relationships or exercising freedom of choice."