Every exchange in life leaves one person with power, and one without, to over generalize radically. Those with less power pay the higher price. As a disabled person, in every relationship I was in before I owned a home, I was in the situation you describe. Even if it was my lease, if I stopped pleasing the person, with whatever means of exchange we had established, I would face losing my shelter. It's fact. Being up front about it could either make it more comfortable or less. Is it easier to know we are being honest about the exchange? or to not think about, to pretend that power exchange isn't there? I don't know, I never tried making it up front and discussed. It's a bum deal either way, but for those of us who are dependent (like me) for whatever reason, it is an unavoidable one. Now, I own my home, but I still engage in the "keep me happy or lose your place" arrangement. Difference is that now it is with my parents so it doesn't involve sex.