The requirement to earn 30x rent has been one of the standard measures of affordability for decades. It has only become such a problem now because rents are very high and those on lower incomes can’t afford them. The solution is not for landlords to ignore or lower affordability criteria. This would be irresponsible and could lead tenants into debt as there are many other things that tenants have to pay besides their rent. There are plenty of stories on the forums of tenants not affording to heat their home and getting mold. I also think that courts will not look favourably on landlords trying to recover debt from tenants where they have not considered affordability when granting the tenancy.
The previous judgements of discrimination relate principally to landlords expressing a blanket ban on benefits tenants and under existing law it should not affect a landlord who considers such applications but rejects them based on affordability.