Dear Mary | 31 March 2012

Q. How can I road-test a potential lodger? I am under pressure from old friends who know that I live alone and am away a lot, and also that I have a spare room with a bathroom in my central London flat. They all seem to have children who cannot find anywhere affordable to live in London. I feel that it would be selfish not to let the room, but what if the young person turns out to be uncivilised? I have no children of my own, so I am probably out of date, but I still expect a bit of deference from someone 30 or more years younger than me. I am nervous of being landed with someone whose parents insist that they are meek and compliant, but who will bring people back, throw all-night parties etc. Most of all, I don’t want to fall out with the parents by falling out with the child.