A Sydney man who offered free rent for a "lot of rubbing" claims he was serious about the proposal.
The risque advertisement, posted on popular website Gumtree, has been circulating via email since it was posted in early January.
Debate raged as to whether the poster was serious when he claimed he was "not looking for anything too sexual, just some rubbing" from his would-be housemate in Sydney's eastern suburbs.
Rent is advertised as free for a "lot of rubbing", while the tenant would pay $50 per week in exchange for "some rubbing".
"No rubbing, but cleaning, cooking & shopping" is $100 per week, "no rubbing, but either cleaning, cooking or shopping" is $150 per week and "no rubbing, no cleaning, cooking or shopping" is the most expensive option at $200 per week.
It also promises all bills are included — "other than oils".
The mystery poster has now been identified as 32-year-old online entrepreneur Doron, who says he was surprised by the attention the ad received.
"A friend of mine was sick of me complaining about not having a flatmate so we wrote this one together for a bit of a laugh," Doron told ninemsn.
"I didn’t expect him to post it but he did, so I was surprised to start getting responses. "I must admit I did start taking it seriously once it was out there."
Doron says he got about half a dozen responses, but none appeared interested in the offer of bartering rent for "rubbing".
"Some people said that they would love to live with someone with a sense of humour and how refreshing it was to see something different," he said.
"I was hoping to get some (kinky responses), if only for a laugh if nothing else.
"I'm single and I would have at least had them in for an interview … I could imagine it may attract a few psychos, but I definitely had an open mind."
Gumtree promptly took down the post today when it was brought to their attention.
The online classifieds said it was not been aware of the ad's existence because it had not been "flagged" by any users who may have found it inappropriate.
"Very few ads of a sexual nature appear on the site, and if they do, Gumtree will remove them," a spokesperson said
