To reject potential tenants before I've met them, based on their Facebook profile?

[GunpowderGelatine]

I'm a private landlord and my flat will be available to rent again next month. Like I always do when I get a new tenant, I've advertised it on a local Facebook page. I've had quite a lot of enquiries, as it's fully furnished and a low price. I've checked out the Facebook profiles of the people enquiring and they include people who have the following on their profiles (I haven't friended any, this is what I can see publicly)

• An intro saying "If you don't like me then simple fuck off"
• A cover picture of a marijuana plant
• Shared memes like the attached

WIBU to say no upfront to these people?

Powerless - DH has a flat he rents out to a disabled mum and child. She’s a much better tenant than various working couples he’s rented to. However, the flat’s not got a mortgage on it, so mortgage terms weren’t an issue. He does have to pay extra for some insurance to cover non-payment of rent, but is happy to do that.

Powerless It might depend where you choose to live?
I presume as you can't work then you are not tied to the SE. You might find some areas are far less likely to ask for a 30 x rent guarantee.

powerless just to answer your question - if I got a good vibe from you then the things you put down wouldn't automatically put you off from my point of view and I am not restricted so I can and do rent to people that I understand are getting some housing benefit. However I do have an automatic preference for 2 people - hence a change in circumstances like one losing a job/benefits destroyed by a new government is slightly mitigated by the other person. But I also know the value of very long term tenants and actually like tenants with children for that reason. So its a bit of swings and roundabouts...
But from what I read and hear about I am unusual - I am not a 'professional' landlord and I don't use estate agents to manage everything and am probably the kind of 'hobbyist' landlord that I see lots of threads on mumsnet that will tell you to avoid!!!

powerless Where in the country are you? I rent to disabled people. Bungalows are tricky as very high demand. Would an apartment in an elevator building with shared garden for the building habitants work?

Facebook is great for getting people before interviews and before accepting them as a tenant.

You can tell a lot about a person from what they post on FB

I think that you are very sensible to make use of every toll you have to vet your potential tenants.

How would you know that your tenant is on benefits post first stage checks? You wouldn't know if your tenant lost their job as benefits go to the claimant.

How will it work with UC? You won't know if part of that is housing related as it's one payment for everything.

It is disability discrimination to have a blanket ban. I'm a single parent carer to two disabled children, my income is probably more stable than most jobs at the moment. My credit rating is 999/999 and my mum is a guarantor with high value in her property and a high earning job. I was still rejected from 51 properties before I managed to rent where I am. EHRC actually interviewed me over it, and they are looking into the legality.

I understand it's part of your mortgage agreement, but I can't see how it's lawful. Even if I was working full time, I'd get some housing benefit due to the disability entitlement!

The “if you don’t like me fuck off” would be a straight no from me. You know what, it’s a shitty attitude to have. It’s a cop out to make it so they can treat people (and property and landlords probably!) like crap. I wonder if they go into their place of work with that attitude. Judging by some of the responses on this thread, there are some mumsnetters you better avoid too

Why are you renting it out cheaply?

If you charge the market rate you may get people who place more value on their home and therefore potentially look after it better. I know that may be unfair to those on a low income but it is logical from an economic standpoint.

YANBU. It’s your flat. Don’t risk it.

Nibbling. Good for you. Still wouldnt have you in my house tho

hug I think that's part of the reason for UC. It will force BTL lenders accept those receiving benefits.

Your flat, entirely up to you who you rent it out to.

I hope it works like that want rather than UC (and therefore any woman with at least one child) being on the banned list.

We do this or rather I do when we are renting out one of our properties . Powerless we would rent to you as we don’t have mortgages on our properties . The last cottage we rented to a lady on sickness benefits . She was a good tenant for the 5/6 years she lived there .
Several of our tenants have been on benefits over the years . We tend to rent to local people so have a good idea of their background and reputation. You can judge a lot bout people by what they put on Facebook . I’m always surprised by how stupid some people actually are in regards to social media .

Powerless -you have a guarantor who is a home owner which is one of our requirements .

You can't judge a book by its cover.

1. You might like them and so not want to accept their invitation to those who don't.

1. Some people take marijuana on medical instructions/blessing, I wouldn't have a drug user as a tenant otherwise

1. Is fair enough really, and even if it wasn't who gives a shit if they're good tenants

From just what they show publicly I would avoid - the first comment about ‘if you don’t like me fuck off’ gives off a feeling of aggression and almost wanting to be a difficult person, the weed photo I just think is immature - do what you want if it’s not hurting anyone but this whole weed culture wanting to talk about it and tell everyone you love it is just immature I think, and the meme - well again I would imagine it would make them a difficult person to deal with and you may not get the respect you need as you will be seen as an inferior female. I’d avoid, not all people gel together, and if you are to entrust your property to someone I would make sure it’s someone who you are on a level with.

I always look on FB and other social media if I'm interviewing someone.

The best ever (zero privacy settings) was a bloke who posted on a Monday morning "Having a lovely lie in with my new bird [!] with thanks to my muppet boss who fell for it when I rang in sick"

Seems reasonable to me 😁

Powerless sorry for your situation, that is crap for you

Personally I don't run credit checks as I don't always think it's an excellent way to gauge if someone will pay their rent - and like you say ex partners can impact a perfectly good tenant. References are a big one for m - especially ones that say this is a good tenant who has always paid on time. Income is another - as long as you have the cash coming in I'm happy.

Ohhhhh @GunpowderGelatine I bet your property is a long way away from Yorkshire/Lancashire isn't it? :(

Thanks for your kind response xx

Ohhhhh @GunpowderGelatine I bet your property is a long way away from Yorkshire/Lancashire isn't it? :(

Thanks for your kind response xx

May I please also just ask - Any Landlords on here with a property to rent in North Yorkshire?! Would also consider West/East Yorks or Lancashire!

I'm desperate! X

i wouldn't rent a pad to someone who would stink up the place with maryjane smells. not unreasonable.

I always check profiles for DH when he is interviewing. The number of applicants who we bin straight away is amazing. A lot are smart enough to have their profile locked down but often you can still see the pages they like and groups they belong to.