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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:
user111222 · 04/03/2025 06:29

We had neighbours from this religion a few years back - absolutely lovely. If you pull out for this reason you are making a mistake!

ItShouldntHappenToMeYet · 04/03/2025 06:31

Hardly a cult, for 'heaven's' sake!
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plymouth_Brethren
The owner was 'honest enough' to tell you it's a cult? No, the neighbour lied ther socks off.
Why not do some research yourself? Ever pp has told you the PB aren't a cult; you could have googled them when you were told and saved yourself a lot of stress.
Honestly, I do wonder about people sometimes

Plymouth Brethren - Wikipedia

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plymouth_Brethren

Genevieva · 04/03/2025 06:34

You’ll have quiet neighbours. I’d be pleased.

Khayker · 04/03/2025 06:38

You can't choose your neighbours. You could find the perfect house, in the perfect location but if undesirable neighbours move in after you, what would you do then? I think youre overreacting as co.pared to some of the neighbours I've dealt with when I was working, Plymouth Bretheren don't seen a concern. You could have much worse.

babyproblems · 04/03/2025 06:39

I think you’re overreacting. I would consider the ‘wider’ community though when we move, eg are we likely to have ‘nice’ neighbours we can be friendly with, local groups etc. I wouldn’t let just one house of many affect my choice; unless it’s literally a hamlet with just you and them and no one else for miles around like some kind of Netflix thriller setting! Beyond that I think it’s totally fine

VintageFollie · 04/03/2025 06:51

HoppingPavlova · 04/03/2025 04:58

So dogs barking and biting. Disregard me, barely talk to my DH. Believe the end is nigh so caravans for extended family, boat, random badly kept animals

Sounds really odd. I was always struck by the fact none of them had any pets and on telling someone more familiar with them, they said they were forbidden to keep pets? Definitely no dogs or cats with any that lived on our street, and there were many households. It was bliss. No barking dogs. Not nearly as many cats shitting in your garden. Hardly ever heard their kids but saw them so they existed. They didn’t try and convert us as they didn’t speak to us as we were not their religion. All very very perfect.

Should add, if anything they would have had the shits with us as in warmer weather our kids lived in the pool playing Marco Polo and even I wanted to stab knitting needles through my own ear drums at times, but again, they didn’t seem to be able to talk to us so no complaints🤣. We did have another neighbour in the street (non Brethren) who would send their kids down in swimmers to join in when ours started up🤣.

Edited

That poster has since discovered their neighbours are not in fact PB, so their post has zero relevance.

beardediris · 04/03/2025 06:52

They used to (probably still do) own a very large iron mongers business (hinges etc) in south London selling mainly to the trade. They were always exceedingly polite, they dislike swearing and blaspheming and had a notice up asking customers to refrain from both. Occasionally I have seen them going out for the day at weekends, they are obviously very family orientated and very polite. They are quite insular but personally I don’t see this as a problem in a neighbour.
My neighbour is a JW now that I do see that as a cult apparently they dont socialise with non JWs which is fine by me but we are are on smile and wave when we see each other and take each others rubbish in/out if the other is we away and take in parcels etc. If the chips were down and If I urgently needed help Im sure they would step up and I’m pretty sure you’d find the same with the Plymouth Brethren.

WhichLevis · 04/03/2025 06:57

They sound like dream neighbours to me 😅

pilates · 04/03/2025 06:57

They are not a cult. Crazy reason not to buy a house. They will be quiet - probably perfect neighbours.

Charlize43 · 04/03/2025 07:01

I would knock on their door to introduce myself and then just casually mention that you are lactose intolerant and also have an allergy to tanis root, (and to be on the safe side) then throw in that you've had a hysterectomy and aren't up to carrying Satan's spawn.

Ask them what day the Council collect the bins?

PurpleFlower1983 · 04/03/2025 07:03

Probably much better than plenty of other neighbours you might find yourself next to. I don’t think this would be a problem.

SwingLifeAway · 04/03/2025 07:05

I know some members of the Plymouth Brethren, and I’d live next to them in a heartbeat (not friends just know professionally) - but based on some of the awful neighbour stories you hear on here, they would be a pretty safe bet.

FlamingoQueen · 04/03/2025 07:08

I know a PB family. Would happily live next door to them - they are delightful.

PaterPower · 04/03/2025 07:09

They won’t own a television or radio, won’t swear, won’t bother you to convert. They’ll be quiet, respectful neighbours.

So what if they don’t talk to you? Compared to some neighbours I’ve had in the past, that would be a blessing!

Lucelady · 04/03/2025 07:10

Brethren are fine. Our local interiors shop is owned by brethren.
They don't work weekends and do not 'press gang' anyone into their religion.

whirlyhead · 04/03/2025 07:11

Grew up with Plymouth brethren living next door and played with their kids. They were great neigbours, very quiet. They aren’t a cult either! I don’t agree with how they conduct their life, but I wouldn’t object to them as neigbours. I also used to work with one who was very sweet though she never ate with us and kept to herself.

Deathraystare · 04/03/2025 07:22

Well it is entirely up to you but as others above say it would be better than living next to drug dealers/murderers and XXXXXXXL bully dogs!

The only thing my friend had against them was that her Aunt's son (so her cousin?) put god before the aunt. They rarely visited, even when she was ill.

I doubt they will speak to you much and I doubt they will try and convert you.....or will they!!!

Pancakeflipper · 04/03/2025 07:23

A Plymouth Brethen family bought a big house opposite my parents.

They were quiet. The male was friendly and chatted to neighbours, the females kept themselves to themselves.

The main issue was when other members came, the amount of cars but it was only once a week.

Bumblebeebumbl · 04/03/2025 07:25

Follow your instincts; if you are not happy s o about it, pull out.

MyDeftDuck · 04/03/2025 07:25

You could take the time to visit them, introduce yourselves and explain that you're considering purchasing the neighbouring property and wanted to know a little more about the area. Why would you think that they are some kind of threat to society??

Mere1 · 04/03/2025 07:26

friendofsadgirl · 03/03/2025 23:10

Plymouth Brethren are a Christian church not a cult. Is the building next door used as a church or is it the home of a family who follow the Plymouth Brethren church?

This.

LochKatrine · 04/03/2025 07:26

As pp have said, the Plymouth Brethren are just a Christian religious group. They keep themselves to themselves and are law abiding. I think they'd be perfect neighbours..

IButtleSir · 04/03/2025 07:30

I live very near a Plymouth Brethren church. They are absolutely no trouble.

LochKatrine · 04/03/2025 07:32

My son had PB in his class at school. They were lovely children, quiet and well behaved. They're not exactly a problem community!

Doingmybestbut · 04/03/2025 07:32

Aren’t they just a type of conservative Christian where the women where head coverings? I don’t think they’ll cause you any trouble.

The neighbour issues I would worry about: noise, aggression, drugs, scary dogs, vermin, level of tatty and tumbling down/mess that it affects the value of your house as well, adult children with too many cars on a small street.