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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:
rosemarble · 03/03/2025 23:26

My IL's lived next to a family who were Plymouth Brethren and never had a single moment of trouble or any issues at all. They were on 'good morning' terms and everyone was very polite.

DancingHippos · 03/03/2025 23:27

Plymouth Brethern are absolutely a cult. My DH knew quite a few families growing up and we had one family across the road. Their beliefs are way off. I would go into a purchase with my eyes open.

Scissor · 03/03/2025 23:30

They're never going to speak to you unless necessary, they will have as absolutely no communication with you as much as they can, think Amish.
They will be very quiet.
If they have children you will not be communicating with them as they will be schooled within the faith.
No television, radio or access to internet apart from the faiths whitenet for the purpose of school within their school.
It's a patriarchal and fundamental religious interpretation of Christianity that goes to the complete limits of what is acceptable.
But they run very profitable businesses and own their own schools so run under lots of radars.
They are only allowed to live, work or be schooled in detached premises so it may be that the neighbouring house is not from a richer person in the faith and maybe a property that is part of their wider community faith.

soupyspoon · 03/03/2025 23:32

DancingHippos · 03/03/2025 23:27

Plymouth Brethern are absolutely a cult. My DH knew quite a few families growing up and we had one family across the road. Their beliefs are way off. I would go into a purchase with my eyes open.

What do you mean by 'way off'?

What would living next door to a family like this mean then?

CarrieOnComplaining · 03/03/2025 23:33

DancingHippos · 03/03/2025 23:27

Plymouth Brethern are absolutely a cult. My DH knew quite a few families growing up and we had one family across the road. Their beliefs are way off. I would go into a purchase with my eyes open.

What did the families your DH knew do that would make them troublesome neighbours?

Mirabai · 03/03/2025 23:34

Wtaf. I swear MN gets madder by the day.

tallhotpinkflamingo · 03/03/2025 23:36

There's a very eye-opening thread on Reddit about them. If that thread is true I certainly wouldn't want to be living next door.

ghostyslovesheets · 03/03/2025 23:36

They are not a cult they are a sect of Christianity- like 7th day eventists or Quakers (bloody love Quakers and would be happy to live next to them) - their beliefs would have zero impact on you so stop being so ignorant

suburberphobe · 03/03/2025 23:37

Nah.

Wouldn't buy a house next to a bunch of religious nutters, however quiet they are, thanks.

CandidHedgehog · 03/03/2025 23:37

Plymouth Brethren are fine. I know someone who worked in one of their schools as they don’t do higher education but they do educate their children properly (at least to GCSE level) so they need outside teachers.

She had no issue with them and was very happy dealing with them day in, day out for years. Also, they don’t recruit, or at least they made no attempt to recruit her.

I’d be more than happy to live next door to a Plymouth Brethren family.

Nanny0gg · 03/03/2025 23:40

Yes, you are overreacting

NC28 · 03/03/2025 23:41

tallhotpinkflamingo · 03/03/2025 23:36

There's a very eye-opening thread on Reddit about them. If that thread is true I certainly wouldn't want to be living next door.

Ooh, can you link it?

Nanny0gg · 03/03/2025 23:41

suburberphobe · 03/03/2025 23:37

Nah.

Wouldn't buy a house next to a bunch of religious nutters, however quiet they are, thanks.

Edited

'Nutters' is rude

What exactly do you think they'll do?

justasking111 · 03/03/2025 23:42

The worst women in our village ran everything at the church of Wales building and hall. They were known as the three witches. Awful biddies. I'd much rather the Plymouth Brethren.

Never2many · 03/03/2025 23:43

suburberphobe · 03/03/2025 23:37

Nah.

Wouldn't buy a house next to a bunch of religious nutters, however quiet they are, thanks.

Edited

Presumably you’d prefer drug dealers or students throwing loud parties or my neighbour who used to have physical fights with his wife and one day did something to his child that her terrified screams could be loudly heard through the walls.

Yeah. Dear someone who worships a higher being over that lot.

Addictedtowotsits · 03/03/2025 23:45

stichguru · 03/03/2025 23:18

The Plymouth Brethren are not a cult, they are a recognised church. What is a 'weird situation'? I don't have the same religion as my neighbours and we're on friendly terms, but don't see each other much. It's not a problem.

They are actually a cult, but they're not trouble as neighbours. My best friend in year 9 and 10 belonged to them - it's a pretty insane group. But I wouldn't mind them as neighbours because they won't be noisy!

Littlemisscapable · 03/03/2025 23:45

Yes you're overreacting.

ThisFluentBiscuit · 03/03/2025 23:47

Oooh OP, maybe they'll recruit you or your DH or your pets!

valentinka31 · 03/03/2025 23:47

How can it be owned and rented? What does that mean? Was the 'rented' just included because it sounds bad?

healthybychristmas · 03/03/2025 23:47

Why do people think the only other option is drug taking fighting and shouting families? It's good to get on with our neighbours and I wouldn't want to live next door to them at all. It might not technically be a cult but it's as near as dammit.

MollyButton · 03/03/2025 23:48

Whether they are a cult or not, they would be ideal neighbours. And they won't even try to convert you.
It would be like living next to the Amish.
I wouldn't want their lifestyle but they are no bother as neighbours.

DancingHippos · 03/03/2025 23:51

Most people posting here are just doing Google searches on PB. We have first hand knowledge of what goes on with them.
It is horrible and shocking. The guy across the road in his 70s would parade outside naked when neighbour's teenage dd was downstairs doing her hw in the front room early in the morning. That's just one story.
I'm not sure I'd want to live next to them tbh. I have too many such examples but they are DH's experience really

Bumcake · 03/03/2025 23:52

DancingHippos · 03/03/2025 23:51

Most people posting here are just doing Google searches on PB. We have first hand knowledge of what goes on with them.
It is horrible and shocking. The guy across the road in his 70s would parade outside naked when neighbour's teenage dd was downstairs doing her hw in the front room early in the morning. That's just one story.
I'm not sure I'd want to live next to them tbh. I have too many such examples but they are DH's experience really

What?! That’s illegal (and cold), why would they do that?

Never2many · 03/03/2025 23:52

healthybychristmas · 03/03/2025 23:47

Why do people think the only other option is drug taking fighting and shouting families? It's good to get on with our neighbours and I wouldn't want to live next door to them at all. It might not technically be a cult but it's as near as dammit.

The thing is you don’t know what the neighbours are going to be like.

The OP does know that these people are quiet, keep themselves to themselves and don’t bother anyone. But if she pulls out of this purchase then she could literally move into a house next door to anyone, and she has no idea.

Most people just say hello to their neighbours. My parents’ neighbours are friendly enough but they spend all weekend doing DIY, and have done so for the past 23 years. I’m amazed there’s anything left of their house because they’re forever drilling and hammering and have had at least three new bathrooms and two new kitchens since moving in.

I certainly wouldn’t want to live next door to that no matter how friendly they are.

So you don’t say hello on the doorstep, but that’s the only downside.

LBFseBrom · 03/03/2025 23:53

Plymouth Brethren are not a cult.

The neighbours will be pleasant in passing, cause you no problems, won't look different to anyone else. There is nothing to worry about.

Look them up!

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