To speak to the housing association about my neighbour.

[livedtotellthetale]

I live in a small block of 5 flats, have lived there for 5 years they were new build when I moved in. 3/4 of the flats are private and our 1/4 housing association, about 3 months ago a new neighbour moved in opposite me a young man aged about middle 20s, first thing that worried me is that he has a fairly big dog in the flat (pets are not meant to be allowed) but it hasn't caused me any issues as noise smell its not aggressive and he seems to care for the dog and love it and we have plenty of palks nearby that he takes it for walks. So I have just left it.
he now has put a big union jack out on his balcony plus a big stuffed toy (that looks like his dog) that stay on the balcony, we aren't allowed washing etc on the balcony's, it looks terrible and really makes the flats look bad, also its a really multicultural area and feel it could be seen in the wrong way. Also this is my concern me and my dd have seen young boys aged about 10 11 coming from his flat and him saying if you want to visit the dog come any time, I am not assuming anything bad is happening but it just doesn't fee right.
I have spoken to him briefly a couple of times just neighbour hello asked about the dog etc and get the impression he might have leaning difficulties or some other problems. I don't know what to do, would you raise these concerns or just but out.

No, lala. Lots of posters were saying do not intervene and I (and a few others) said do intervene and gave the reasons why. No agenda.

So, what is your view now - should the OP find out if the 10/11 year olds are safe, or should she ignore it?

And if you think she should try to find out, how should she do it - thinking about what others have said about the fact that it might be innocent?

NeedAScarf apparently since a tiny, racist group like to wave the Union Jack, the rest of us shouldn't.

Oh, my Lord! What is my view "now"? The same as it was. She can talk to the children and talk further with the man. She stated that they are in a small block of flats. Surely, as an adult endowed with reason and logic, she can get a better feel for whether there is really an issue with the children before she brings in any authoritative body. The actual issue appears (to me and to many other posters) to be that his flag and his stuffed animal make "the flats look bad" -- as "it was a new build" and "3/4 are private."

I'm out.

Flags are really aggressive but in mainland Britain we don't get that. And that's not just the Union Flag or other British flags.

A neighbour of my white mum flies a Union Flag on a flagpost. Next door is a black single mother to two black daughters. It's a very white neighbourhood.

It's not an innocent expression of pride in his nationality. It is a threat to them and they have to live with it. There are BNP councillors in that ward.

It also looks like ugly shit and drags down the neighbourhood who thankfully don't concur with him.

I say that but enough people in the ward must have voted BNP while smiling to her behind their eyes.

I hate flags of any nation displayed on houses because they are divisive and don't add to the gaiety of nations.

I don't much like them on public buildings either except on embassies.

I liked the idea before Princess Di died and everyone went a bit mad that Britain didn't go a bundle on flying our nation's flag. We didn't need to.

Flag flying strikes me as insecure, ranging to tinpot or aggressive. Why do you need to be proud of your nation? It's just where you happen to have been born.

I also hate people hanging out washiing or storing shit on balconies in blocks of flats or putting up reed modesty screens. If you don't like the rules, don't move in. That's what I decided when I viewed some really nice flats.

Why do you need to be proud of your nation?

You don't but I am. I am also not going to bow down to pressure because some people display flags in a threatening way. I have never actually hung a flag but I will be damned if The BNP will stop me doing it in future. Perhaps people should realise that the majority of people hanging flags do so through pride. The minority do it as an aggressive move.

I lost you at your Princess Di part but I seriously think we will not agree on this.

But why do you need to be proud of your nation?

It's just where you were born.

That's for me to decide and not you. You might view your nation as just where you were born, I see it as more than that. My prerogative.

The journalist Simon Heffer, who now works for the Daily Mail, said something while working for the Daily Telegraph that really resonated with me.

He said that flag-flying was the mark of the insecure. He was proud of the fact that the British, before Princess Di died, didn't fly flags. We just were. I think he was right though I don't agree with him on other scores.

I see it as more than that. My prerogative.

Of course it is.

Where have I said that it's not?

I'm really not a big nationalist person at all but I hate the idea that people can't even fly their own country's flag without it being seen as something it's not.

Also, the opinions of any journalist who would choose to work for the Daily Mail are really not something that I am interested in. I also disagree with what he said, from your small snippet. I don't see why people can't hang a flag without there being any ulterior motive. Just pride.

I hate the idea that people can't even fly their own country's flag without it being seen as something it's not.

But it is often a provocative act.

If you don't realise that then I congratulate you on your nativete.

Despite all of the talk of nationalism and sectarianism, draping flags on balconies looks like shit.

I'll assume that was you trying to call me naive?

Of course it can be a provocative act. It can also be an innocent one. Perhaps I'm not naive but you are incredibly cynical.

Op, you state that the dog doesn't bother you but the flag/dog does?

Why don't you have a friendly chat with the guy saying something like 'you have a lovely dog and I would hate for you to lose him as, I don't think you're aware, dogs aren't allowed. Neither is having a flag on your balcony and that might alert the ha and they'll come to see you re the flag then notice the dog. I would not like to see you lose the dog, he seems to be a bit of a hit with all the kids that come to see you'

Win, win for you. He gets to keep the dog, which as you say is no problem, the flag gets removed (I don't disagree with flag flying btw, but I don't want him to lose his dog) and you alert him to the fact you've seen the children going to the flat. If he's up to no good then he'll realise you know, if he's completely innocent, which he probably is, then it'll go over his head.

First sentence should read 'flag/stuffed dog'

The police introduced the non-emergency number 101 specifically so that we can call to mention things when we aren't sure they are urgent.

I would definitely ring it to mention unaccompanied minors visiting an adult in his home.

If you are a teacher, social worker, HCP or youth worker, you're committing a crime if you don't report it. That's how seriously it's taken.

But it is often a provocative act.
Many innocent acts and things can be misused.
That shouldn't stop anyone from flying the national flag out of pride for their country.

If you don't realise that then I congratulate you on your nativete.
If you don't realise your spelling mistakes then I congratulate you on your naivete.

Despite all of the talk of nationalism and sectarianism, draping flags on balconies looks like shit.
In your opinion, which seems to be a very biased and provocative one.

You don't actually know that he is not allowed his dog. Have you seen his tenancy agreement- even with HA they are not all the same, especially if there has been a policy change in the time between you moving in and him? Or, he could have applied for special permission to have a dog...

In regards to reporting the kids going into his flat, in all fairness it could be him at risk, if he does have LDs, he is vulnerable in his own right and may be open to exploitation/abuse.

He may be allowed the dog, Mencap did a big campaign about this, HA will sometimes waver that policy for disabled people. I hope if he hasn't got permission he has support to fight the dog being PTS, or him being re-homed were he can keep the dog (if he is disabled).

OP, I would directly say to him that the flag is against the rules and keep an eye on the children knocking because they could become a problem for him (if he is disabled).

Clutter on balconies and in front gardens looks like shit.

Could be rusty old white goods, bikes, toys, prams, washing lines, towels and flags of whatever nation. Especially faded and tattered ones. Nothing says more about the esteem in while you hold your nation more than a dirty rag.

I have an especial hatred for people who chalk their door number on the wall by the side of their front door too. IME they have aggressive dogs and rickety front gates.

But it could also be middle-class new-agey shit like reed-screens on glass balconies, noisy water features, wind chimes or hair-trigger security lights.

If it breaches the lease, don't be surprised if you get reported.

Nothing says more about the esteem in while you hold your nation more than a dirty rag

Sorry, to you SPAG hounds Twinkie and Sallying. That was another typo. I deeply apologise.

I meant: 'in which you hold your nation'.

I meant the rest of it.