House viewings - neighbour refuses to take down flag

[KayleighhMum]

Our house is up for sale and we have viewings commencing from tomorrow - 7 in total lined up over the course of the week.

Our neighbour hung a large England flag from his top window on Friday and it has remained up. DH saw him outside the front on Saturday and politely asked if he could take it down before Tuesday. He basically laughed and said if any prospective new neighbour dislikes the flag then they won’t be the sort of person he’d want living next to him. It remains up now.

I am concerned this would be off putting, but speaking to my mum earlier she thinks I am over thinking things and it wouldn’t make a difference if someone likes the house.

Do you think we should try and ask again or would you assume it shouldn’t put people off? We are semi detached so it will definitely be noticed.

No prior issues with this neighbour who has always been friendly etc.

I dunno if it would put me off. Maybe? Part of me would think its a football thing but a part of me may think more into it.

I wouldn't ask again though. Its his house and he can have a flag up if he wants to.

Are these the certain type of people who hung rainbow banners, flags and posters up on their houses during lockdown in support of the NHS? Because that is exactly the same.

But it is true though. “Operation raise your colours” is founded by Andy Saxon, former member of the now banned fascist group the English defence league, a member of far right party Britain First, and a man who was jailed for causing the death of a man in a racist attack. Also far right thug Tommy Robinson, and fascist Britain first leader Paul Golding. You cant deny the facts, just because you don’t want it to be true.

I wouldn't worry about it.

We have some neighbours who put up Labour party election posters and others who put up posters for the Green party.

The neighbourhood hasn't noticeably gone downhill...

The irony of that comment!

Hopefully you will sell the house to the sort of people who like an England flag hanging out a window.

It wouldn't bother me one bit as long as everything else was fine. If the house looked otherwise in good condition with well maintained gardens a flag would make no difference to me buying the house next door.

Cheeky to ask

My neighbour is Muslim. He hung a flag in his garden to support the British Lions. Would you call that bigoted ?

Yes living next door to someone with a vote Labour poster in their window would be much more off putting to me.

Shame some ruin it then.

It would all depend if he was flying it because far right groups were telling him to, which is what is happening with the England flag. If your going to start with whataboutery, make sure you’re making a just and like for like analogy.

That because we’ve been conditioned to be ashamed and embarrassed by it.

If anyone asks just say you think they’re supporting the women’s rugby team and leave it at that

I didn’t do that either.

People are getting all weird about it because it is part of a campaign being driven by fascist far right groups, headed up by a man who was jailed for causing a man’s death in a racist attack.

Well at least I'd know what the neighbour is like. I wouldn't even get-out of the car if I saw that. But that's just me. Apparently displaying a massive St George flag is the new black and everyone wants one. Having said that, mu local cathedral has it flying always but I expect that's for different reasons.

This.

I wouldn’t offer on a house with a flag next door - I’ll admit I’d judge the neighbours to be at worst racist and at best a bit rough.

I do think you are overthinking - especially with just one flag.

This. It's almost as if people are ashamed to be Brtitsh.

Fly your national flag with pride, whatever the colour!

Oh and frankly OP, I think you're a CF for even asking.

12 years ago this very thing did put me off a house. I didn't buy it

No, I'm not ashamed to be British.

However, I am ashamed of how racist this country is becoming.

You were cheeky to ask to take it down.
However, especially as a foreigner in the UK, I can tell you 100% I would not put an offer in for your house even if I absolutely loved it. In the current climate, I'd be too scared to move next to an English flag flying house.

How on earth would you know if everyone flying the England flag/Union Jack is racist. You don't know. You cannot say that is true. You can have your opinion on it but it doesn't make it true.