Mission Australia Housing is seeking to lift a planning permit condition on Seddon Apartments in Buckley Street under which 46 studios can be leased only to full-time students.

The social housing provider wants to rent the studios - which measure between 27 and 29 square metres - to people eligible for low-income housing. It can already rent the building's other 20 apartments to such tenants.

The move has angered some neighbours, with about 30 lodging objections with Maribyrnong Council.

Many expressed concern about the size of the studios being used by anyone other than students.

Larissa MacFarl said: "The units are too small for people who may not have other places to occupy their time."

Another resident described the studios as being "no bigger than jail cells".

Many claimed that since MAH bought the building in March there had been a dramatic increase in antisocial behaviour in the street.

Complaints include littering, noise, smashed bottles, street fights, public drinking, drug taking, swearing and graffiti.

One resident said tenants had thrown "a sharp kitchen knife" and "a string of sausages" into her yard.

The behaviour prompted Bradmill Pty Ltd, opposite the apartments, to erect a security fence and gate.

"Our employees are now afraid for their personal safety on exiting the building," Bradmill CEO David O'Keeffe said. "If the proposed change to the current permit is approved by the council, we will be forced to vacate and seek alternative premises in another municipality on expiry of our lease."

MAH chief executive Andrew McAnulty said the permit change was about fixing an anomaly that discounted students who worked, part-time students and recent graduates on low incomes. "It's quite a narrow definition considering there's a whole swathe of Victorians who are being locked out of the housing market."

He said the development, and individual apartments, were of high quality.

Residents met MAH representatives to discuss their concerns at a planning forum last Wednesday. MAH is also seeking retrospective changes to the building after finding "a number of discrepancies between the council-endorsed plans and what has been constructed by the original applicant", according to its application.

The council is expected to decide on the application early this year.