A tenant called Sonia called me on the James Valentine show on ABC 702 last week to complain about a resident who has taken over her block’s common property garden and works in it, noisily, every morning from 8 am.

The garden is right outside her bedroom window and there’s much loud brushing and scraping going on, not to mention interminable chats with passers-by  about the weather.

As a tenant, Sonia has little pull with the Owners Corporation, especially since the keen gardener is the only owner-occupier in the block.  A student about to become a shift worker, she has spoken to Mr Greenfingers but his response was “tough!”.

Do laws on noise pollution apply in apartments as well as houses? asked Sonia,

Yes they do, but they don’t offer much hope. Powered garden tools can’t be used  from 8 pm to 8 am Sundays and public holidays and 8 pm to 7 am on other days. Brushes and shovels aren’t mentioned.

Her best bet is to check the building’s by-laws for restriction on creating noise on common property, then call Fair Trading on 13 32 20 and ask for a mediation.