Some of the houses allow the boys to drop in more or less when they like, although they are expected to stay at least five hours and to telephone in advance to check that they are needed. There are variations in the hours that the boys are expected to work. Some are heterosexual and have girlfriends. Some of the boys here are actors between jobs, but there are also office workers who are into the gay club scene in a big way and who cannot finance this lifestyle solely out of a regular wage. According to the Metropolitan Police, the last convictions for running a 'disorderly house were brought in 1990 against two men who ran a gay sauna in Streatham (they were imprisoned for three and six months respectively). There were five until last year, when the owner of 'Rome, a few streets away from Kensington Town Hall, was jailed for credit card fraud.

Fifteen seem to stay the course and, of these, four are known for offering sex on the premises. At any given time, up to 20 addresses in London offer escort and massage services for men, with men.