[harmony]

Hi

I would appreciate any advice with the following:

I am renting a f/f 2 bedroom flat from a rental company. My previous flatmate has moved out and now am looking for a new one. My circumstances have changed and I need to be spending quite a few months of the year abroad (not sure how much time that will be as yet)...I need to keep the flat and my room so that I can have somewhere to come back to when I am in the UK, keep my stuff etc.

This leaves me a bit concerned as I am not sure how to choose a safe, reliable, trustworthy flatmate that will be keeping the house in good condition, will not take anything from the flat and leave etc. The rent contract is on my name and am responsible if anything happens so I need to have certain criteria about choosing somebody who will not cause any problems, leave me with unpaid bills, damage anything and not fix/eplace it etc.....I intend to keep a month's deposit but is that enough?

Please advice if anybody has been in similar situations...Thank you