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.

Not at all.

If it's true that the flags have only just gone up and aren't standard 'public/state building' ones I think that's very unusual. I'd be really surprised if their weren't complaints about an England flag suddenly appearing on an NHS building at a time when that symbol is being used in an extremely contentious way by certain political factions. It's absolutely not appropriate.

And be careful, your 'narrative' point could just as easily be turned around on you. Only someone with a narrative to push would refuse to see how alienating (at best) or hateful (at worst) this would be to any British citizen who is not white, amongst others.

Why would you want to risk that, unless... that's precisely your intention?

I'm waiting to see one with Yaxley Lennon's face on one side and Farage on the other, like MAGA hats for true believers. I'm astonished this marketing opportunity has been missed. Anyone might think they'd be ashamed of it but no, they're loud and proud in their balaclavas, so come on chaps, give proper credit to your Lords and Masters.

But seeing as there is a very well publicised campaign founded by far right fascists, one of which killed a man in a racist attack, there is a very high chance that it does mean that. It may not, but a lot of people currently wouldn’t take the risk.

Unless he is flying ISIS/Nazi/USSR etc flag what is the problem?

Rather rude you think you can make any demands regarding his property.

I have no narrative to push. I'm just clearly stating that you can't call everyone who is patriotic a racist and that if you do then others who display other flags should also be subject to the same level of hatred and judgement. Whats so hard to understand about that?

Are any of these flags abundant in middle class areas now?

I live in a shithole now, so there have always been flags hanging out of windows on the estates anyway, but I never saw them when I lived in a nice area. It just wouldn’t have happened.

Fuck patriotism, people wouldn’t have wanted to look scruffy.

That would definitely put me off.

Has the Greek flag only very recently started being displayed in LOTS of locations? Coincidentally right after relevant "protests"?

I’d rather live next to a neighbour flying that flag rather than any other ones flown recently….

A family members neighbour has a at lest 6ft giant mosaic bunny in their front garden. At Christmas they add giant baubles. Definitely catches your eye.

I hate this attitude; so sneery and superior. I rather like the current increase in flags, we need to normalise normal, sensible national pride and not leave it as the sole domain of the EDL and football hooligans.

I am neither ashamed of nor embarrassed by the St George flag. Its vocal supporters are a different matter.

So the Palestinian flag is racist?

NC for this!

Dear God! Where to begin! I am ethnic minority, so hear me out. Been listening to LBC and flags are a topic now. It ranges from not bothered to those really going for it. Funnily I have formed no view as nothing is new or has change.

would never ask a neighbour to take it off before viewings- op is brave! I would probably not list property lol

I buy houses and flats. Luckily in Chelsea where it is expensive. So if a 2 mil property is on offer for 1,7, I will take it lol lol no matter how many flags surrounds it including on property itself lol lol but then I am only talking as it is an unlikely scenario. I do know a good bargain though, so that will be hard to resist.

conclusion it depends on buyers individual experiences and perspectives, I believe. Plus, I am a lawyer, so I can and do look after myself just fine! Again, if kids involved, different considerations. Good luck op, I don’t envy you!

Unfortunately it is ex EDL members that are running the campaign that is the cause of the current flag increase.

The reality is right now that the increase in flags has nothing to do with NORMAL national pride and everything to do with support for far right racism. National pride in the flag has been hijacked. Only flags flown on public buildings and for special national occasions are non partisan. People who do not wish to be associated with flag flying will not do it, those who are racist dickheads will, and love it.

And in the real world…

I would bet my house that the neighbour is indeed racist.

Yes. I mean, I wouldn’t like it as a design choice, but I wouldn’t be worried that the people that are displaying gnomes right now are racist, if that makes sense.

So if Farage has Roses in his garden, anyone else planting roses would be far right racist? Is it really as purile as that!

How the fuck is that the same?

I know you can't but I'd love to see a photo of the bunny.

I’d rather live next to a house flying pretty much any flag than those nauseating NHS rainbows.

This is my thought too. He can do what he likes with his house, but it would defo put me off buying yours, sorry. Equally though, there are others for whom this might be a positive.

It would put me off irrespective of which flag it was. (Unless it was for a jubilee or major sporting event) I just find it messy & tacky

But @KayleighhMum I wouldn't dream of asking someone to remove one from THEIR property because I had MY house on the market. That's out of order!

He has a right, but I wouldn't even consider buying that house. Not just the flag but I would expect them to be bad neighbours in many ways. I say this as a white person.