The Hollywood actor - who is engaged in a bitter custody battle with Lucia`s mother Oksana Grigorieva- is reportedly refusing to pay his court-ordered $20,000 monthly child support until the judge rules on whether he can charge rent for the Los Angeles home he owns, where his former lover and their child currently reside.

A source close to Russian singer Oksana told RadarOnline.com: "It`s simple - Mel wants baby Lucia to pay rent.

"Mel is holding out on the child support that has been ordered by a judge because he wants to charge Lucia $6,000 each month for rent, even though she is not yet 12 months old, to live in the home where she and her mother reside. What kind of a father would do that to his daughter?"

Oksana`s new attorney, Lisa Bloom, called Mel - who is worth an estimated $600 million - a "deadbeat dad" and vowed to ensure he pays his child support.

She said: "Mel Gibson, at this point, is a deadbeat dad. He is well behind on his court ordered child support, causing a lot of problems for his children and the mother of one of his children.

"He has a lot of excuses as to why he is not paying, but the bottom line is that, just like any ordinary person, who has to pay their court-ordered child support, wealthy celebrities also have to pay it too. We are going to fight until Mel Gibson pays every penny of the court ordered child support."

However, sources close to the 54-year-old actor claim it is unclear whether a new child support order signed by Judge Scott Gordon in September includes Oksana`s housing payments. The star wants clarification before he begins paying the new sum.

Oksana split from the `Edge of Darkness` star earlier this year amid allegations he assaulted her during their relationship.
sections: Celebrities