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An investigation into landlords offering free rent for sexual favours has uncovered evidence of the practice taking place in Nottingham.

An undercover reporter from the Daily Mirror replied to posts in the housing section of internet ad site Craigslist.

She posed as a would-be tenant when replying to dozens of adverts on the site.

And in a string of meetings, she was urged to visit the landlords’ homes – despite them being strangers – and told she must perform sexual favours to live there for free.

Other advertisers responded to her by email.

One was a man, who claimed to be 48, who was offering a free bed in Nottingham.

He said in an email: “The idea of sharing a bed is that me – and the other woman – would have regular ‘no strings’ fun.”

The Mirror launched the probe after figures indicated 250,000 cash-strapped women are being offered sex in exchange for free or discounted lodgings.

Housing charity Shelter accused the landlords of an abuse of power.

Under the Sexual Offences Act 2003, it is illegal to cause or incite prostitution for gain. But the law says nothing specific of sex-for-rent deals.

Some landlords have previously argued there is no obligation for would-be tenants to respond to adverts. But as the rental market grows there are fears more women will be exploited.

Figures released last month reveal 46 per cent of 25-34-year-olds rent private property – up from 27 per cent in 2007.

The Mirror investigator found one 56-year-old advertising free food and board at his Hertfordshire home – on the ­condition that he’d regularly spank the tenant.

He told her the spankings may involve other implements in time, and insisted the arrangement had worked for him previously.

The investigator was also propositioned by a supermarket manager who offered her an attic room in West London for regular sex.

In an email exchange, he told her he was 31, and wrote: “My rules are you can stay at mine as long as you give me sex in return.”

When they met in person, the manager changed his age to 25 and immediately asked the reporter to get in his car with him – which she refused.

Other advertisers contacted on Craigslist included a man in Sheffield seeking a “mature, busty, chunky female”.

He told the reporter: “What would be your limits? It would only be twice a week. I’m not some weirdo...”

The ad has since been removed.

Craigslist has been contacted for a comment.

SHELTER: 'THIS IS AN ABUSE OF POWER....AND IT'S CRIMINAL'

Homeless and housing charity Shelter condemned the rogue landlords for “such awful, criminal behaviour”.

Chief executive Polly Neate told The Mirror: “Sexual harassment by landlords is yet another situation where men with power are too easily able to abuse women with none.

“The fact is that there is a shortage of housing, rents are unaffordable and there are few protections against eviction, so women who rent are often not in a position to take action against the minority of landlords who do cross a line.

“At the end of the day, no landlord should ever be allowed to get away with sexually harassing their tenants, and tenants must be empowered to take action against such awful, criminal behaviour.

“Whether it’s landlords stealing tenants’ underwear, letting themselves in unannounced, proposing sex in lieu of rent, or sexually assaulting tenants, our research clearly shows how landlords are able to take advantage of their power.

“Providing secure, long term tenancies can give them the protection they need to speak out without fear of eviction.”