income of 3x the rent question

[Michael Olesky]

I have a quick question about the general rule of a possible tenant having an income of 3x's the rent. Does this rule change any depending on number of kids? If rent is 1000, then an income of 3000 seems fine for a couple, but I'd think a couple with two kids would need a higher income to afford the rent than a couple without kids. I don't have kids but they sound expensive!

Thank you in advance for your advice,

Mike