WHEN a senior negotiator at an estate agent wanted to rent my annexe last December I was delighted.   I thought I was getting a trustworthy lodger. He had a hefty car bill at the time and asked not to pay the full deposit of a month's rent and so I agreed to accept less than a quarter.  There was also a verbal agreement that a month's notice would be required should he wish to move out. Imagine my surprise when earlier this month I received a text message to say he would be moving out the following day. ­When I reminded him of the verbal agreement he said as there was no written agreement he wouldn't be paying any more and that the small deposit would suffice. He admitted that his company demand at least two months' notice from tenants. He could not see that it reflected badly on his company and brought the company into disrepute. Work and private life were in different compartments.  I find it staggering that someone who has a senior position at a firm that sells and rents out properties could behave in such a way. Do we always have to rely on written agreements to do the right thing? And do we behave one way in the work place where we are visible and are bound by a work code of conduct but in our private life act quite differently just because we can get away with it?

Jacky Brennan Okehampton