Potential tenant - divorce / money situation

[Emily Hassler]

We have a unit available for rent for $2,000.00. We were contacted by someone we are acquainted with (barely know) who got divorced last year and is required by the divorce stipulations apparently, to find and pay for a place for his ex-wife. He offered to pay three months' rent up front. I ran the credit/background/etc. for the tenant (the wife) and she has no income and less than great credit. 

Obviously this is a less than ideal situation as far as renting to her. I have a couple specific questions I'd like to get opinions on:

If we rent it to her, should it be HER name only listed on the lease as the one who is financially responsible? That way, she can get the money from him and pay us? Or should he also be listed on the lease agreement? Should I require six months or a year of payment up front? Or is this just a bad idea altogether? Technically with no income she obviously does not meet our qualification standards....not sure how to handle this one and we're not getting many bites on the place. 

[Nathan Gesner]

Pass. He can get her started, but you have no evidence she'll be gainfully employed and capable of maintaining the rent.

Personal opinion: newly divorced people are at high risk of bad behavior. This includes moving in their new biker boyfriend and his party-animal buddies, getting involved in drink or drugs, packing up and moving to California to live their dream of being an actress, or a hundred other things.