Neighbours talking in garden til midnight

I am really surprised that the response to neighbour music (last week) and neighbour talking (this week) is so completely different - and even antagonistic - the comments on last week's complaint about music in gardens were mostly sympathetic and in agreement that unwanted noise from neighbours in their gardens can be very stressful and is inconsiderate. I definitely think you have every right to be as annoyed by talking after 11 as by others' music in their gardens . Both situations are equally inconsiderate and irritating. Why is everyone being so unsupportive on this one? You have my full sympathy, Atqui, and I would ask them to go indoors to talk or keep their voices down after 11. Everyone has the right to get to sleep without having to listen to others' intrusive conversations; (and I'm surprised they wanted everyone to hear their chat, as well? Odd) I was woken up at 1.30 am last weekend by someone outside my window with his car engine running shouting into his mobile phone for 40 minutes. I fail to understand how people can think this is OK, quite frankly. Aaargh. By the way, the rented thing is pertinent here, (we had terrible trouble with a rented flat across the road) for the simple reason that people who are in an area temporarily obviously have less reason to invest in good neighbour relations. and tend to treat the area like a stopover rather than nurturing a mutually beneficial long-term engagement with the neighbourhood. (Not saying all renters are like this, obvs.)

I don't really understand why some people have jumped on you from a great height. The key thing here is the word "loud" in your OP. People talking is one thing; having a "loud conversation" is something altogether different. No YANBU Atqui.
Having said that, I agree with some comments that they possibly don't realise they are being loud, so are not being deliberately inconsiderate, merely thoughtless. If it becomes a regular occurrence I'd be inclined to mention it to them gently.

There are advantages to those like DH who wear hearing aids. He doesn’t hear a thing.

Close the window and buy a fan.,

I know you didn't ask for suggestions but I would just have a chat with them . I think they are unaware of how noise travels.

For what its worth, we are " entertained" be screaming children on trampolines morning ,noon and night!!

Anyway, it seems that the consensus is that I am being unreasonable, and Imdid ask!!

Thank you Hilda and old batty. I am not thinking of complaining unless it's a regular thing; I don't want to fall out with them. I only googled environmental sites out of curiosity to see if anyone else agreed that 11 pm was a reasonable time. When my GC are here- a infrequent event due to distance, I will not let them go,into the garden until 9 at the weekend as I know how precious a lie in is when you are working. Yes ,live and let live , but have a bit of consideration I say.

there is no need to be quite so rude to the OP is there?

it was a reasonable enquiry and its like the bloody Gods have spoken from some people.

Such a situation can get annoying and when we are all having trouble getting decent sleep our tolerance for all things annoying decreases.
We've had a similar problem and it was also with tenants who practically camped out of doors all day....they had made the house a complete tip so it was inevitable.
There can be a difference between the neighbourliness of tenants who come an go and have no vested interest in laying down good relationships (needless to say many are lovely!) and those who are staying a long time and are usually buyers. Its not a snob thing....just a fact - tenancies are for fixed terms. We had two lovely young couples followed by two less than!
Its not unreasonable to feel some people are showing little consideration for others.....unfortunately when its not immoral or illegal you just have to learn to tune it out!

I love to hear people out in their gardens late at night.
We spend too many months with our doors and curtains shut.
I lived in a hot country for some years and that was what I loved, life didn't stop when you had the evening meal.
My next door neighbours had their garden lit in such a way that it was normal to see them gardening at midnight.

The kind of thing shift workers encounter all the time. They will be trying to sleep in the daytime when it's even hotter.

I recommend Boots Muffles earplugs. Brilliant little cotton/wax plugs which mould to the shape of the ear. They do soften more quickly in hot weather so keep a spare pair on the bedside cabinet.

Atqui I don't think you're being unreasonable, but neither do I think your neighbours are. I'm sure it's frustrating being kept awake after 11pm, but at the same time there is no malice in your neighbours wanting to sit out and enjoy the balmy nights. I'm afraid it's one of those situations where perhaps you need to just accept you'll get to sleep a little later than normal, but hopefully catch up by sleeping later in the mornings. Anyone who's camped knows that noises at night carry much further, but I expect your neighbours have no idea they are disturbing you.

I don't think it's at all unreasonable to be annoyed by audible talking late at night. I would be. I wouldn’t complain, though, because it is important to have a friendly relationship with neighbours if possible.

Everysummer we have this from neighbours around us but as GN posters say it is such a rarity, i just let it go.How often do we get an evening that you can sit out till that time of night.I find the fire works more annoying in the lead up to Halloween, bonfire night, xmas and NYE.

Not at all Atqui. You posted asking a question AIBU. Most people felt, in these circumstances, you were. Don’t think anyone meant to be rude.

I hear what you say about noise abatement but tbh I don’t think any council would bother themselves with a little extended “noise” in such circumstances. They would be fighting a losing battle anyway. Once the weather changes - problem solved! The 11 pm guideline is for ongoing problems such as construction, continuous loud music and such like.

As you say your grandchildren may annoy your neighbours if they are having a lie-in! Live and let live I say. Don’t take offence though.

Sorry Atqui another one who thinks you are being a bit unreasonable. I know this hot weather makes it difficult to sleep and makes me irritable. Combination of circumstances I think makes things seem worse than they are. Don't fall out with your neighbours over this.

We have some very loud neighbours who have moved into our area.
They are friendly, helpful, and actually really nice, but boy are they loud!
Its quite difficult to remember how nice they are when they're all whooping and laughing and screaming till all hours.
Whatever they're on, I'd like some!

Yes I agree too , crime of the century neighbours talking together in the warm night times
I m afraid it’s unreasonable Atqui don’t fall out with neighbours over such a benign thing of course people will stay out on these warm and barmy nights and they’re not going to just sit looking at each other, they will talk, put some ear plugs in, put a radio on very low, shut your window, change rooms, but don’t moan about it

I don't feel superior , but I probably added the word rental because the tenants come and go. When there is background traffic noise one doesn't notice shouting quite so much , but in a quiet rural area it is more noticeable. I realise now that I Should not have posted this , as it has prompted uneccessary rude replies - Riverwalk, your first response would have been sufficient. Anyway , since posting I have googled " nuisance noise" just out of interest, and most councils consider 11 pm to be a cut off point. I may add that I am not a total "misery" i can understand the occasional party, when considerate neighbours will give due warning. Anyway thank you all for your replies.At least I shan't feel guilty when the grandchildren make a noise in our garden.

Ditto.

I agree with the others, it is only for a very short time while the weather is so good.

And so it continues... more complaints! Just enjoy the good weather while it lasts and let your neighbors do the same!

If it gets totally out of hand stick your head out the window and join in the conversation- that will shut them up ??.

Not sure why you added (rented) in. Almost like you feel superior or something? I am sure lots of people all over the country are making the most of being outdoors- I know I am.

As long as it's talking then yeah you are being unreasonable, if they're shouting and hollering then No. Try playing some music quietly in the bedroom to drown them out.

Everyone is different but it doesn't bother me in the slightest when my neighbours have been coming home/talking outside late at night.

The summer won't last long and you'll be able to shut your windows again and not hear the noise.

I'd be wary of falling out with a neighbour over such a trifling matter.

Very heavy traffic goes past my home 24 hours a day and I find I just sleep through it. You'll perhaps get used to the noise of their voices.

Are you in a bungalow?If not,surely you can get to sleep against the background of talking even though the voices will carry. We live on a main road and with the windows open the traffic is very noisy even late at night but I can still sleep.Perhaps I am just lucky.

We really are a bunch of miseries - a few weeks of good weather and the moaners are rampant!