DOES THIS HAPPEN IN NANAIMO?

 

This Doesn’t Happen in Nanaimo… Or Does It?

A New Twist in the Housing Crisis

Across Ireland, the UK, and even some North American cities, disturbing ads have been surfacing: rooms for rent in exchange for sex.
- Some are blatant, posted online.
- Others are whispered propositions made to international students or tenants struggling to make rent.

In a time when housing costs are breaking budgets and vacancies are scarce, some people see no other financial option.

Is Nanaimo Immune?

Vancouver Island University draws a large population of international students — many arriving with limited housing options and facing steep rents.
By law in Canada, selling sex is not illegal. But buying sex (or trading rent for it) is.
Enforcement is rare. And when it happens quietly, it leaves almost no trace.

So: could it be happening here?

Exploitation or Agreement?

Some argue these arrangements are “mutual agreements” — a financial trade between consenting adults.
But when the choice is between paying rent or homelessness, is it really free choice? The line between “agreement” and “exploitation” gets blurry fast.

Why It Matters

If it’s happening quietly in Nanaimo, it’s a symptom of a broken housing market.
It also raises serious ethical and legal concerns about power imbalances between landlords and tenants.

The Question for Us

This doesn’t happen in Nanaimo…
Or does it?

It’s worth asking — and worth watching.