prudence,

your advice is not bad, but it's not as helpful as it could be

the 20-year-old probably has a lease arrangement which requires her to pay for her part of the duplex . but she is incapable of the "quiet enjoyment" thereof, on account of her noisy neighbor.

let's leap to the conclusion that, being 20, she can't afford to pay for two apartments. she probably doesn't want to pay for two apartments, either.

she's suffering a constructive eviction, and she should make that known to the landlord. the living conditions void her lease.

on a different topic -- you are totally sexy. thanks for the column.

rob