AIBU to not accept new tenants currently on furlough?

[misstiggiwinkle]

I am letting out a small flat in London and have received an asking price offer from a couple, the main earner is currently furloughed. AIBU not to accept their offer as I am worried that they will be made redundant and then not be able to pay the rent?

Landlords rely on tenants to pay their rent to cover their mortgage
If a business person knowingly and deliberately put themselves in a position where the business will collapse if they can't always find a tenant that's their problem.
Personally I wouldn't feel happy operating on such thin margins but some people must like flying by the seat of their pants 😳

Agree B1rdbra and actually as a tenant I try to avoid landlords who might with a slight chance in living arrangements or financial circumstances have to sell the property. My current landlord owns hundreds of properties, it's a bit feudal but it's better for me.

You are being unreasonable to split an infinitive.

YANBU. You should certainly discriminate based on ability to pay the rent, and likely ability to continue to be able to do so.

I was made redundant almost two years ago and haven't been able to find a permanent job - I've never missed a rent payment.

Also you could rent to a couple who are both working and they could just as easily lose their job/s in the future.

If I had the choice between tenants furloughed or working I would go with working I suppose.
Which company are they furloughed from? That could indicate whether or not they’re likely to be employed in a few months.

Given a choice, wouldn't any rational person choose a tenant with more likely ability to pay now and in future? Yes, anyone can lose their job, but all potential tenants do not have equal ability to pay now and in future - those already without a job are in a worse position from a LL perspective than those in work and those furloughed are somewhere in the middle.

If it was furloughed person or no-one you might choose them or certainly look into the individual situation more and consider guarantors etc. However, if the alternative was a person with a secure looking job and decent rental history, why on earth would a rational person go for the furloughed person?

When you were thinking about how to get the place in trend to flip it, didn't you think about if the market would stall @misstiggiwinkle

Posted too soon, or is this a different 2 bed in London?

This is a different property @canigooutyet