The British landlord of the Chinese woman accused over the murder of Neil Heywood described her as the “perfect tenant” and said he never suspected her of having an affair with the businessman.

There have been allegations that Gu Kailai, the wife of the purged politician Bo Xilai, and Mr Heywood were romantically involved. One report even suggested that they carried on their relationship while she was living in Britain helping her son to learn English and get an education.

But yesterday the former landlord of Mrs Gu said he saw only a dedicated mother who often spoke of how much she missed her husband.

Richard Starley, a retired businessman, rented a modest top floor apartment to Mrs Gu and her son Bo Guagua above his office block in Bournemouth, Dorset, for just over a year between 1998 and 2000. “She was an excellent tenant. She looked after her son very well,” he said.

Earlier reports had said that she had been living there with Mr Heywood and Company House records show she lived with a French architect.

But Mr Starley said he never saw a man with her.

“I worked in reception in the building from Monday to Friday and I saw her almost every day,” he said.

“She spoke very highly of her husband and said she wished he could have come over, but he was not allowed. I never saw anyone else with her. I have no information of Mr Heywood – I never heard of him. I’m sure she was not having an affair with anybody.”