Usually landlords who sexually harass tenants are serial offenders who’re “taking advantage of the situation to engage in misconduct they are generally already being investigated or caught for,” mentioned Ring.

She was already engaged on six sexual harassment housing instances earlier than the COVID-19 epidemic started. However the enormous variety of individuals being unable to afford this month’s lease has dramatically elevated the chance of it occurring.

“We’ve heard some landlords are attempting to use the situation where a tenant falls behind to pressure a tenant into exchanging sex for rent,” mentioned Ring.