Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be nervous to buy a house with no immediate neighbours

212 replies

Mum2HC · 15/05/2025 12:30

Hello

we are house hunting and have seen a house that ticks all the boxes other than it is not in a village setting we are used to. My partner thinks it is perfect!
closest neighbour is about 200m down the road. Nearest town is less than 10 mins drive to the centre. There is a big Waitrose 5 mins away. Opposite (these are down a drive) a big golf course and tennis club.

would you be scared having no immediate neighbours?

thank you

OP posts:
MarryMeTomHardy · 15/05/2025 12:43

I do second the ring doorbell and a dog if you are nervous about the distance to text house, you can get some really reasonable home alarm setups that you can install yourself these days too 😀

ForAquaMember · 15/05/2025 12:44

I always said I’d never move somewhere which meant my children couldn’t walk to their friends or to the town centre etc. I wouldn’t want to be somewhere I would have to drive everywhere too

Although you did mention 200m away from nearest neighbourhood which isn’t that far

OrigamiOwls · 15/05/2025 12:45

Sounds perfect to me! I, like most other people on this thread, would like the Rightmove link! 😂😂😂

Abracadabra12345 · 15/05/2025 12:57

I know there’s a golf club opposite and the nearest house is 200m away but what’s behind and around you? No possibility of development given the “build build build” craze?

Otherwise, as a pp said it’s a dream come true for many and you’ve already addressed concerns about having to drive everywhere

Annoyingsquirrels · 15/05/2025 12:59

What does it border? If farmland I would check that pesticides are not sprayed close to your property. I would also check the situation re crime as isolated properties are more likely to be broken into.

nahthatsnotforme · 15/05/2025 13:02

On one hand I would love it, but I share your concerns about feeling vulnerable.

Snoken · 15/05/2025 13:02

I thought you were hesitant because you were worried there will be lots of developments popping up around you, not that you wouldn't have any immidiate neighbours. I like having neighbours but because of that I have chosen not to live rurally, if you want to live rurally I would assume it's because you don't want other people right next to you.

Ohwhatfuckeryitistoride · 15/05/2025 13:05

Make the most of it, I bet the land wil get sold soon enough and half a dozen ew builds slapped up.

BunnyLake · 15/05/2025 13:06

I’d love it during the day but would be creeped out at night, especially if I was there alone.

Original poster
Mum2HC · 15/05/2025 13:07

Annoyingsquirrels · 15/05/2025 12:59

What does it border? If farmland I would check that pesticides are not sprayed close to your property. I would also check the situation re crime as isolated properties are more likely to be broken into.

Hard to explain but it boarders 2 fields that have sheep in them which lead down to a stream/woodland which then on the other side is a few more houses in the woods and then after that it is the Waitrose and the start of the town. The land around is all greenbelt…

OP posts:
Croquembouchiere · 15/05/2025 13:07

Sounds amazing! I want a house with no neighbours too <stomp> 😩 😂

Ahsheeit · 15/05/2025 13:09

I'll come and live there. I'd love no direct neighbours!

Lemsipper · 15/05/2025 13:12

I would say if you are surrounded by open countryside (or even the golf course) bear in mind that this might be turned into a new build estate at some point. They’re popping up everywhere. Always remind yourself that you don’t own the view. And make sure you’re still happy to proceed even if the land around you turns into new build estates or god forbid a “mega shed” area.

pizzaHeart · 15/05/2025 13:13

I think it’s a very personal choice and a lot of people ( including your DH and other relatives) will tell you that it’s great and nothing to worry about but you do you. I know this type of living won’t be for me. I used to live in a city and would feel quite isolated and anxious about this set up.
My sister moved to a similar house as you described 10 years ago and now she has a huge problem to stay on her own. Our elderly parents stayed with her couple of times when her DH was away and recently when her DH was at the hospital her son stayed with her. I could imagine staying on her own with small children would be even more problematic. So it really depends on personality, there is no right or wrong.

Added Just saw your later post and my sister has much less space between her and nearest neighbours but still can’t stay on her own.

DisforDarkChocolate · 15/05/2025 13:21

That sounds lovely and with neighbours who are actually fairly close. I would love to be near a Waitrose again.

Trickedbyadoughnut · 15/05/2025 13:22

My experience is that neighbours are much more likely to cause problems than help in an emergency so I'd say go for it!

Kbroughton · 15/05/2025 13:27

Sounds amazing to me! Thats my dream. However I expect will take some getting used to in reality. It sounds like you are used to living remotely, but if you arent then I would maybe think again. Moving from the city to the country and suddenly having to drive everywhere is a bit weird. But you dont have that transition. Having kids in the country is also a pain. I am already shepherding my DD around and she is only 11. I lived in the country when I was a teen, and it did mean to got my driving licence quick smart.

If you dont move, Maybe you could recommend this house to the other poster today who doesnt like being in her garden at the same time as her neighbours!

LadyRoughDiamond · 15/05/2025 13:29

Just spend some time reading the huge number of threads on here that are complaining about neighbours - you’ll soon start to see it as a bonus!

GinnyW · 15/05/2025 13:32

I love living in a rural setting with no neighbours. I spend a lot of time here by myself and it is so peaceful. I do have 2 dogs though.

DrNo007 · 15/05/2025 13:33

The idea that neighbours will provide help in an emergency is a bit delusional, I feel. We get on well with our neighbour but when she phoned us in the middle of the night, worried because some evil kids were banging on her door (which we didn’t hear), we ignored the phone as we didn’t want to disturb our rest and thought it was some idiot nuisance salesperson from another country. Similarly another neighbour up the road said she never opens her door to anyone after dark, so that would include any neighbours needing help. My advice: in an emergency, call the emergency services.

That house with no neighbours sounds like my dream property, OP. While we are currently blessed in having a lovely neighbour, it’s quite likely she won’t be there forever and then we will be faced with new potential nuisance neighbours like some others in our area - yappy dogs, screaming kids, pot smoking blokes, spouses who regularly try to kill one another and don’t mind if the whole neighbourhood knows about it, etc.

LarkAscendingRose · 15/05/2025 13:34

I'd like it during the day, but not at night

Needanadultgapyear · 15/05/2025 13:34

I live in a house like this and bloody love it. I can go in the garden in my PJs. No- one can be bothered to come up our lane, we have a ring doorbell just so we can hear the bell, but we never get people poking around. I feel safer in this home than I did in one in town with neighbours - it is my castle I come home shut my gate and shut out the world.

MajorEruption · 15/05/2025 13:37

Sounds like heaven

Most places we have lived there have been problem neighbours, people are shit and noisy

My Gran had a lovely farmhouse on a hill on the edge of the moors with no neighbours and I LOVED staying there, all I could hear were birds and sheep it was lovely

I passed a farm in the Trough of Bowland on the moors once, it was soo remote and miles from anyone else, I just dreamed of living there, it would be lovely

stayathomer · 15/05/2025 13:37

We did for two years, found it very lonely and isolating. When you looked outside there was just nothing! A lot of my friends thought it was idyllic but the lack of noise and total darkness got to me

YesHonestly · 15/05/2025 13:38

ForAquaMember · 15/05/2025 12:44

I always said I’d never move somewhere which meant my children couldn’t walk to their friends or to the town centre etc. I wouldn’t want to be somewhere I would have to drive everywhere too

Although you did mention 200m away from nearest neighbourhood which isn’t that far

This is key for me to.

I get that the dream is for kids to be able to play outside with neighbours kids, but putting that aside what about when they’re a bit older and want to meet with friends? The risk is they’ll either feel isolated or you’ll be driving them everywhere and picking up again.