Child Support and Potential Tenant

[Daniel Kent]

Hi All!

I am in the process of trying to find a tenant for a rehab we just wrapped up and will be renting out.  We have a candidate where everything seems to line up.  He has just started a new job and his income is well within our requirements.  His credit score and background check all look great, and his references were good as well.  He seems like the perfect candidate.  The only thing that is concerning us, is that he has a child who he currently does not have full custody of, and we are unsure about any type of child support payments he may have to pay.  We have not asked him about it yet, not sure if it crosses the line of discrimination, fair housing laws (we are in NJ), and the other unknown is that since he has just started a new job, that has come with a pay increase we are worried that the possibility that the child support payments (if any) may increase.  Or the mother may be trying to get child support now that he has an increase in income.  Basically just worried about all the unknowns with the child support.  Again, everything else seems to line up perfectly, so should we consider the potential of child support just as if any other unknowns/what if scenarios?  Any input or advice on this topic would be greatly appreciated!