Cancel House Purchase due to Neighbours

[Badger87]

So a few months ago we decided we wanted to move from our town centre terraced house out to a detached house in a countryside village.

Ours sold and we had an offer accepted on a house we were really like

However a couple weeks before exchange we have found out the neighbour house is owned and rented by a cult, Plymouth brethren.

The owner of the house we were buying was honest enough to tell us on a second viewing. He admitted it was a weird setup and they do not communicate with him whatsoever.

This has been a major red flag to us as we would now feel uncomfortable with such a situation.

We are now about to pull out the purchase however feel awful to do this just before exchange.

Are we overreacting? Anyone else have any experience of a similar situation?

For the people saying it is not a cult, I'd love to hear your reasons for thinking that.

As someone who grew up in a cult similar to Plymouth Brethern, I wish everyone would educate themselves on what cults are. They are not all on compounds or obviously harmful. They can look so wholesome on the surface but have a very dark underbelly and have caused and still cause so much harm.

I was at school with some children who were Plymouth Bretheren. They were really nice, very clever and likeable people. My late DM was friendly with one of the mothers (she wasn't supposed to talk to people outside their Bretheren, but she did).

No-one had any issues with the families living next door to them (back in the 1970s) and we all just accepted they were who they were and we all got on with our lives.

I lived on a street which had quite a few Plymouth Brethren around, and their meeting house was nearby. They always said hello but did not ever try and make friends if that makes sense. I'd say they make good neighbours! I can't say I agree with their views on how women should dress etc. From what I understand some groups are stricter/more cult-like than others.

I feel so sorry for those sellers, if you are going to pull out because of something they said to you which was no doubt just a chatty observation, not a 'disclosure' of a problem. Poor buggers.

Avoid potential issues where you can, is what I would advise. There are enough folks here that would be concerned and why would you invest your money and buy a house if a sizeable number of folks feels uneasy about the set up. Whether rational or not. I wouldn't buy the house.

I agree. ButbInalsonfeelnsorryntjebthe poor neighbours if the sale does go ahead - I would hate to live next door to someone who could be so ill informed and judgemental as to seriously consider pulling out of the purchase on the basis of religious beliefs.

I do hope the op has read this and isn't busy pulling out of the sale (which is totally unnecessary!)

Genuine question for you @yougotmeonspeedial What do you think the childhood of a gay teenager is like growing up in a strict Muslim or orthodox Jewish family? Also do you think FGM is likely to cause trauma?

The seller would legally need to inform the buyer of the Christianity religion of the neighbours. It’s there on the form just below the box with “Please tick if any of the occupants of neighbouring properties voted leave in the EU referendum”.

As someone who has personal experience, my family has been very much impacted by the Plymouth Brethren - I can say in no uncertain terms that they are 100% a cult.

They are as dangerous as any other cult and have damaged so many people & families. Some of my family members carry deep trauma. Unless you have any personal knowledge you have absolutely no idea.

I obviously couldn’t live anywhere near that and if it bothers you to know the abuse & coercive control, particularly of women and children (and men if they aren’t “leaders”) would be going on the in house next door … pull out of the sale.

Even if they are a cult, it wouldn’t put me off living near a house they occupy. Unless of course, they have form for abducting people 🤔

Well at least they won’t be installing a hot tub in the back garden. Don’t know what their policy is re wind chimes though.

I lived in Plymouth for 10 years. I never heard anything untoward about Plymouth Brethren. I would carry on with your house purchase, but at the end of the day it’s up to you,

Lmao they're not a cult, your religious bias is showing

I would not pull out. Near us there are a few and they’re amazing people, peaceful, quiet etc. From memeory they won’t listen to radio, tv, music etc and are decent people. They get stick from people as they’re different so they’re often hesitant talking to people as they expect people to be unkind.

actually I’d like to live next to them - I’d prefer it! Better than the shower I live next to.

Wouldn't bother me in the slightest

They're not freaks

No different to Jehovah Witnesses....except they wont knock on your door and try to convert you

It would put me off. Go with your gut.

I think part of this is that people are just completely uninformed about the distinction between different groups of Plymouth Brethren. The vast majority of Plymouth Brethren (several million people) are part of IBCM churches that generally aren't cult-like (though some of the closed brethren are closer to that). PBCC is a specific group of Plymouth Brethren and membership is only about 50,000 (a small minority of Brethren worldwide) and the PBCC is definitely a cult. Quite a few of the non-PBCC groups have recently moved to drop the Plymouth when referring to themselves in order to avoid association with the PBCC which they themselves tend to view as a cult. A lot of posters here are talking about knowing some Brethren families and assuming they were representative of the entire movement... that's wildly incorrect.

But the rest is that people don't seem to understand what cults can actually look like, especially in modern day. Many cults absolutely do have websites, charitable status, schools, and members that can blend in. And most start as churches or other legitimate groups and become cults over time.

I think you have to go with your gut.

But as long as they were quiet it wouldn't bother me. But then I've lived between two horrifically noisy sets of neighbours so I'm biased.

could be worse - screaming kids, barking dogs, dope smoking chavs, leaf blowers. Sounds like bliss to me OP

😆😆

Yep, same - we have a family living on our street and they are very quiet unassuming people.

I would see it as a great opportunity to experience one of their rituals.

Genuinely wouldn’t put me off. Decent, quiet neighbours.