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House viewings - neighbour refuses to take down flag

1000 replies

KayleighhMum · 25/08/2025 15:53

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.

OP posts:
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Notmy1stRodeo · 25/08/2025 19:44

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callfromthemountain · 25/08/2025 19:44

I would turn around and walk away from the viewing if I saw it tbh. Good luck OP.

missrabbit1990 · 25/08/2025 19:45

Twinkylightsg · 25/08/2025 19:34

I feel I will get told off for this comment as I have been off the news and debates past few weeks. But what is the problem with the flag? It is the UK, are people not allowed to put flags of their country up? I wouldn't think anything of it. (I am not British). I don't understand the problem really.

For a very long time, there was a strong association between being a member of the National Front or British National Party or other far right organisations and the flag. People who fly the England flag in their front garden tend to be racists. It’s a covert message. Not always, but often.

Lndnmummy · 25/08/2025 19:45

I must admit I wouldn't even get out of the car if the house I was viewing was surrounded by huge England flags. I would never view it, let alone consider buying it. Your neighbour is very unreasonable. Red flag.

Tryingmybest100 · 25/08/2025 19:46

Yes it would put me off but you cant ask him to take it down either. Just hope someone who views doesnt mind it and makes an offer anyway.

JMSA · 25/08/2025 19:48

I’d be wary of this even as a British white person. It would be a ‘hell no’ if I were a person of colour.
Sorry OP and best of luck with your sale.

JMSA · 25/08/2025 19:48

Oh, and your neighbour is unreasonable.

the5thgoldengirl · 25/08/2025 19:49

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Poppins2016 · 25/08/2025 19:49

The flag would definitely put me off buying... but I think it's better that future buyers are aware of their neighbours from the get go (and can be sure that future relationships will be harmonious/compatible), rather than figuring it out later down the line and potentially pulling out...

Americano75 · 25/08/2025 19:50

BettysRoasties · 25/08/2025 19:11

I’m sure by the time we next visit even more things will have been added to it. It’s a lovely garden. Lots of flowers and then giant bunny.

God, it sounds lush.

the5thgoldengirl · 25/08/2025 19:50

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Bink666 · 25/08/2025 19:51

FrenchLavendar · 25/08/2025 16:46

Well, I would actually prefer that he leaves it where it is, to be honest, because it at least would alert me to the type of person who might be living nextdoor - and it could put me off buying the house.

I think if I really loved the house, I'd want to speak to the neighbours in person, to find out what motivated them to hang a flag out of their window. I would then need to make a character assessment and decide whether I would want to live next door to them or not.

You would actually interview the neighbourhood.
And “make a character assessment “ 😂

anon666 · 25/08/2025 19:52

I used to think this was a bit "chavvy", and would avoid, but recently I feel a bit bad about that judgement.

White working class culture is a legitimate culture within our society. It was, until recently, the majority culture in the UK. Patriotism, the queen, the flag, the army, football, these are emblems of pride for them. It might be looked down on by the intelligentsia, but these values were what took us through two world wars.

I think the recent resurgence of flag waving is a kind of desperation from a group in society that is increasingly marginalised. The white working class are underachieving both academically and economically, particularly boys. Yet they sit back and watch every government policy insist on weighting privilege and funding against them.

Yet they're not in general, troublesome or criminal, or that antisocial. Or inherently any more racist than any other group.

They might be less vocally "virtue signalling", but they're the ones whose communities have been most impacted by multiculturalism. They live in many of the areas where they have become a minority.

Personally, i think the whole antagonism towards "chav culture" has led us to a point where they have decided to stand up and make themselves visible. They've watched as their home communities have become less recognisable as theirs. Whilst this opinion might be unpopular, its not something we would expect any other country in the world to eagerly embrace.

I think its time to respect those people, and hopefully improve harmony and race relations before they are provoked into a real crisis. I'm surprised by the amount of negativity here. Let them have their flag. 😔

Throwitaway12345 · 25/08/2025 19:52

You've never had any issues with the neighbour so clearly flying the national flag isn't a sign of a problematic neighbour.

I have my national flag flying but as it's the white and blue variety that appears to be totally fine on MN.

Psychologymam · 25/08/2025 19:52

it would put me off - I would assume UKIP voters!

Sesma · 25/08/2025 19:53

Most of the viewings hopefully won't be on Mumsnet so probably won't care, I wouldn't buy a semi detached house anyway, flag or no flag

Ketzele · 25/08/2025 19:54

Can anybody deny that since the 1970s far right racist parties have co opted the St George cross?

That doesn't mean everybody who flies our flag is racist. It doesn't make the flag itself racist. It doesn't mean we shouldn't be allowed to fly our flag.

But it does mean in OP's scenario, that potential buyers will wonder if the neighbour is one of the flag-wavers who IS racist. That is inevitable. And if your kids were black, or gay, you too would have these concerns in mind.

Don't blame victims of racism for the ugly consequences of far right PR. Don't make out that we are the intolerant ones. That is illogical and gaslighted.

SecretNameforMN · 25/08/2025 19:54

It's the flag of the country your house is in. Pity you don't love your country like your neighbours do.

TheLastOfTheMohicans · 25/08/2025 19:57

I'd explain to prospective buyers your neighbours are enthusiastically following the women's rugby world cup

the5thgoldengirl · 25/08/2025 19:57

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Mixedmix · 25/08/2025 19:59

Bepo77 · 25/08/2025 19:40

No, but if you look into the history of the British empire, and what it took to establish it, and what it took to keep it in power (we're now moving into fairly recent history), and after that are still a big enough fan of Britain that you want to fly the flag for it outside your house, I'd question either your motives or your intelligence. Or both.

Do you feel the same about most of Europe who colonised other countries? I question your intelligence if you hate England but live here.

BurntBroccoli · 25/08/2025 19:59

This was posted on X
I don’t think we can now separate the flag with the far right.

House viewings - neighbour refuses to take down flag
the5thgoldengirl · 25/08/2025 20:01

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anon666 · 25/08/2025 20:01

Also - if youve generally got on with him and he's normally okay, I'd say that to any prospective buyers. I'd say he's not previously had the flag up so it's not a permanent feature. Having said that, maybe this latest wave of flags might neutralise the previously right wing connotations? I hope so.

Bepo77 · 25/08/2025 20:02

Mixedmix · 25/08/2025 19:59

Do you feel the same about most of Europe who colonised other countries? I question your intelligence if you hate England but live here.

You question my intelligence for living in a country I was born in?

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