Q. The other tenants in my mother's building leave the outside gates unlocked because they have unauthorized family and friends without keys living with them.

There are three unassigned parking spaces. The other tenants and their live-in "guests" take over the parking area and block her in. She seldom moves her car and parks it in a way so no one can block her.

Yesterday the cousin of the third-floor tenant, who's not on the lease, asked my mother to move her car so she can park in the back (with her expired license plates).

When my mother first complained, the landlord used to come out and deal with the other tenants, but he stopped. Now when she complains, he gets angry with her.

Things are out of control with loud music at all times of day and night and drug-dealing, including young boys going out on the street. My mother is scared. How should she handle this?

A. Your mother will have to make choices. Does she like her apartment enough to put up with the situation? Or does she like it enough to try to correct the situation and take the consequences? Or should she live elsewhere?

To put up with the way things are, apparently all she would have to do is not block the parking space and otherwise be quiet.

Giving the landlord the opportunity to effectively intervene might be beneficial to both your mother and the landlord, since the continuation of this situation could have negative consequences for him, including having his building taken under drug nuisance and civil seizure laws.

If feasible, the landlord should speak firmly but civilly with the tenants involved, and deliver 10-Day Notice lease violation warnings if in order.

The landlord could assign parking spaces and stickers, post a warning and tow violators. If he can obtain the names of non-paying guests, he could post no trespassing warnings. Of course, he would have to catch the trespassers and call the police.

For your mother to attempt to correct the situation on her own requires making detailed complaints. For ongoing drug dealing, contact the Cook County State's Attorney Community Justice Center to report trafficking (773-334-4066), or your police district's neighborhood relations officer at 311. Police typically will not take action against vehicles with expired plates parked on private property.

Sounds loud enough to be heard on the street as well as crimes in progress should be reported to 911. Attempting to confront the neighbors through the landlord, law enforcement or face-to-face could be dangerous.

Leaving may be the best choice. Talk to the landlord or ask a lawyer about terminating the lease based on "constructive eviction."

Landlords can avoid scenes like this by careful screening of applicants. A screening class is part of Community Investment Corporation's Property Management Training program, (312) 258-0070.

Write Ed Sacks at Apartment Watch, Homelife, Sun-Times, 350 N. Orleans, Chicago, IL 60654, or e-mail apartmentwatch@earthlink.net.