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Original poster

Cancel House Purchase due to Neighbours

370 replies

Badger87 · 03/03/2025 23:02

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?

OP posts:
lolly792 · 05/03/2025 08:29

Has the OP been back to explain what the issue actually is?

Unless the house is used as a worship/ meeting place, in which case there's potential problems like traffic and parking, I genuinely don't see the issue.

OP, is saying hello to your neighbours an essential requirement for house buying for you?

Belaymehearties · 05/03/2025 08:49

We lived opposite a corner house that was used as a free church (there was a hall built in the garden) and the only issue was busy parking on a sunday morning. They were polite and as quiet as church mice!

SirDanielBrackley · 05/03/2025 11:29

IME the Brethren only talk and interact with other Brethren, so they should be very quiet neighbours.

Gettingbysomehow · 05/03/2025 12:36

Aleister Crowley was brought up by the Plymouth Brethren 😂

user111222 · 05/03/2025 13:11

lolly792 · 05/03/2025 08:29

Has the OP been back to explain what the issue actually is?

Unless the house is used as a worship/ meeting place, in which case there's potential problems like traffic and parking, I genuinely don't see the issue.

OP, is saying hello to your neighbours an essential requirement for house buying for you?

No they haven't which is annoying

user111222 · 05/03/2025 13:17

SandieWooz · 04/03/2025 15:55

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,

I don't think it's anything to do with Plymouth though, or not any more at least. The ones who I lived next door to were in the north east.

envbeckyc · 05/03/2025 17:45

Badger87 · 03/03/2025 23:02

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?

We have a family who are part of this Christian group on our street. We barely see or hear from them, but seem to be good neighbours.

They keep chickens which is a bit unusual for our urban area… but in all honesty I wouldn’t pull out of buying a house over this!

Heyhoitsme · 05/03/2025 17:46

My aunt was Plymouth Bretheron. Perfectly normal woman.

SuperGinger · 05/03/2025 17:48

I think they are Quakers. Nothing to worry about

Arran2024 · 05/03/2025 17:58

I lived next door to Jehova's Witnesses for years. They were perfectly friendly. Quietish - they did have people round for parties in the back garden occasionally but they weren't remotely raucous.

Btw we have a friend who was brought up in a sect like the Plymouth Brethern. He spent his life at school or in church, which they attended every day. They didn't allow music or alcohol - tbh they would be great neighbours.

Weald56 · 05/03/2025 17:59

TheaBrandt1 · 03/03/2025 23:06

What’s the problem? Presumably they are quiet? Would rather have Plymouth brethren next door than loud / fighting / drug dealing / gangsta rap playing chavs. Sadly I have experience of the latter - hell on earth.

Apart from ignoring you as heathens bound for hell, they will probably be far less intrusive than many neighbours.

Leedsfan247 · 05/03/2025 18:10

I wouldn’t consider PB to be a cult not a million
miles from Amish. Chances are they will be quiet and keep themselves to themselves

Daisymae23 · 05/03/2025 18:13

Omg Plymouth brethren are not a cult!! I have worked with members and whilst not my cup of tea they are lovely. The main elements involve kindness and giving back to the community…. The horror 😂

CatMummyOf3 · 05/03/2025 18:15

IMO you are massively overreacting.

Whilst not direct neighbours, we have some Brethren who live a few houses away. They tend to keep to themselves, but not to the extent of not talking to other villagers; my DH has done work for them many times, and has received gifts at Christmas time as a thank you (in addition to prompt payment).

They don't try to force their beliefs on anyone, they just live their lives. We are not religious, they don't care; they are religious, we don't care. Simple as that.

The children attended the local primary school while my DC were there. They went home for lunch but that was the only difference to any of the other kids. They were model students, hardworking and polite.

Maybe they just don't like the current home owner? From my own experience, I can't think of any reason why they wouldn't talk to him. Maybe he also thinks of them as a weird cult...

walkingmycatnameddog · 05/03/2025 18:29

My only experience is that they won’t be neighbourly, possibly ignore you completely.

Sometimesright · 05/03/2025 18:37

Badger87 · 03/03/2025 23:02

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?

We lived next door to Jehovah’s Witness for a few years. I was gutted when they moved away.brilliant neighbours and never tried to convert us. They weren’t allowed to gamble even raffle ticket but they always gave the kids a donation. Lnock on the other neighbours doors and ask before you pull out. I wouldn’t jump to conclusions. The vender didn’t have to even tell you. It’s good that they did but it needn’t be a game changer

Jenasaurus · 05/03/2025 18:38

I hadnt heard of them before so looked them up and this is actually quite worrying for the members than the public, but shocked me too as it does sound cult like, they way they treat you if you break a rule.

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MrSofty57 · 05/03/2025 18:39

We had Plymouth Brethern living next door to us. They were lovely. We had a communal stretch of grass which we took in turns to mow. They don’t break bread with non Brethern, as we found out when we invited them round to ours!

Dogsbreath7 · 05/03/2025 18:40

I think the only neighbours who could top that for behaviour and quietedness would be a graveyard. 🤔

MrsElJefe · 05/03/2025 18:43

I used live next door but one to a Brethren family. Quiet as a mouse, after a while they would always smile and say hello. A Christian calender through the door at Christmas. The wife passed away and the husband is now in a home, I rather miss them.
If you like the house, this is not a reason to pull out.

anon666 · 05/03/2025 18:48

We are next to a road which is home to many Plymouth Brethren. As pps have said, they are very quiet. Nothing weird at all.

I saw it as a sign it's a nice area.

SillyOldBucket · 05/03/2025 18:48

I would be cautious and make sure all my concerns and questions are answered. I would want to know what is meant by a weird set up and then I would just knock on the door of the neighbours on the other side and ask their opinion. It might just be that the vendor finds their set up weird

sierramiller · 05/03/2025 18:55

Pulling out now is a c%%%y move

Especially for such s flaky reason

BeMintSwan · 05/03/2025 19:02

You're being totally ridiculous!

Jumpers4goalposts · 05/03/2025 19:17

My DH’s grandmother was part of the PB. Just a highly strict sub sect of Christianity from my understand she was lovely and I certainly wouldn’t class it as a cult.