Tenant screening with child support

[Raghavendra Jakkani]

For my very first rental property the very first application I got had income which is 4.7 times rent. rent is $2550 and income $12k out of which $3kis child support.  Credit history is excellent. No criminal or eviction record. Even if I go by 3X applicant meets the rental criteria. 

1. I am here for experts opinion to find out what you guys think? Is there anything that I need to consider given this information?

2. Do I need to ask for screening of every one living or only persons signing the lease? The number of occupants listed in application is 3

Rental screening is through Zillow Rental Manager. 

[Matthew Paul]

Screen everyone over 18 years old and they also go on the lease

[Nathan Gesner]

Quote from @Raghavendra Jakkani:

Yes, you should screen and approve every adult living in the home, whether they contribute to paying rent or not. It's not unusual for one good person to apply, and they move in their half brother that just got out of prison or something.

There's a lot more to look at than just income. Here's a detailed guide on how to screen applicants: Application Screening Guide

[Lynn McGeein]

@Raghavendra Jakkani wanted to add that some states, source of income is protected so you can’t exclude income sources that may come from child support, government assistance etc. I screen all 18+. If they are legal dependent of qualifying applicant (ex., college student, dependent parent) then they still need to pass criminal background check.

[Kristin Flores-Brockman]

Just to reiterate what everyone else has said, anyone 18+ needs to fill out a separate application and be screened. 

I'd also like to note, using a Realtor can be a great advantage when it comes to renting your property. I help maximize and schedule showings, communicate with other agents and tenants, and provide access to promulgated paperwork and full transaction management. Just to clarify, this isn’t property management; instead, I focus on making the process smooth and stress-free for you.

[Rick Albert]

As a side note, I would look to see what is included in the application. I tried Zillow Apps years ago and saw that it wasn't very comprehensive. Look at Tenant Cloud, create your own application and then use MySmartMove.com. 

[Drew Sygit]

@Raghavendra Jakkani first, agree with everyone else about every occcupant 18+ being screened & signing the lease, with one exception - an occupant that is claimed on another occupant's tax return as a dependent. EXAMPLE: college student living with parent(s).

Regarding using child support - suggest you follow mortgage requirements:

1) Need copy of divorce decree to determine ages of children, so you can confirm how long it will continue.
2) Need proof of at least 3-6 months of actual payments, as too many deadbeat dads. Either bank statements showing deposits or Friend of Court printout. 
3) Since actual payments may vary, they need to averaged over the 3-6 months verified.

Legally, you cannot ask an applicant specifically about child support income, they can only volunteer it.