Can they reduce the noise?

My house backs on to an urbanisation where the gardeners seem to possess every noise-making garden tool known to mankind.

Monday to Friday between 8.30am and 9am they commence with leaf blowers directly behind my house, which I have measured at 86dB.

They continue until lunchtime with mowers, strummers and cutters. We can easily smell the petrol fumes inside our house. We would appreciate some advice on this problem which has been going on for three years.

T K (Costa del Sol)

If there are other houses near you with the same problem, you could start by getting the owners together to prepare a joint complaint.

You then present this to the president of the community which employs the gardeners. This level of regular activity sounds more like a municipal garden.

In any case you need to identify the persons responsible for the noise. If the gardeners respect the legal time limits and only briefly exceed the allowed decibels you should be prepared for a lengthy procedure. You may wish to consult a lawyer.

Send your questions for David Searl through lawyers Ubeda-Retana and Associates in Fuengirola at Ask@lawtaxspain.com, or call 952 667 090.