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 think he should keep it up so folks can decide if he's the type of neighbour they want.
He may also not want people offended by it as his neighbours either, so everyone knows where they stand.

You have no right to ask.

But we wouldn’t put an offer in.

You can’t really ask again, but I would probably not bother even looking around the house if I turned up to meet the estate agent outside and saw the flag. I think we all know exactly the type of person who does this and I definitely wouldn’t run the risk of having them as my neighbour. Completely appreciate opinions differ and there are apparently plenty of “patriots” out there who love their country. This is just my opinion.

Flags are obviously very ‘big’ in America but given the current administration there, that in itself adds to the controversy, however, when you go to Europe you can’t move without falling over a national or EU flag. How have we allowed the right wing nutters to highjack the national flag and get us all wound up about it?

Fair play to you for asking. You’re moving anyway so have nothing to lose!
I’m sure you will sell it but I would also be concerned.

No the flags in Birmingham were part of the far right “Raising the colours” campaign. The council don’t allow anything attached to lampposts because it can actually present a danger.

Attaching flags, especially to tall lampposts (up to 8m or 26ft), can cause structural stress, weaken the columns, and potentially lead to collapse.

Additionally, people using ladders to attach flags put themselves at risk of falling, and the flags could obstruct visibility or the proper function of the lampposts' lighting.

It can also be a distraction to drivers or could present a hazard if it becomes detached on a windy day.

I suppose he has a point re new neighbours - if they are against him flying the flag they won’t be neighbours that would get on.

It wouldn’t put me off the house as I understand why people have started to fly flags on their properties. I have a neighbour around the corner who has had a flag pole for about 16 years, they fly various flags throughout the year. It doesn’t bother me, I actually think it looks quite nice.

Well that is somewhat stating the obvious, but people do make it an issue, evidently (all you need to do is read this thread).

Apart from at the Olympics - I just associate it with catching pirates. The English flag outside sporting occasions and particularly in the last few weeks however...

I definitely wouldn't buy, it would be a clear indicator of neighbour problems to come.

Lots of stereotyping on these posts. There are plenty of reform supporters living among you, many of them will be your neighbours already. My mother lives in a nice area in a lovely bungalow in a cul de sac. She's voting reform. I think people assume it's white working class tracksuit wearing yobos. Far more of the reform supporters are ex conservatives fed up with their broken promises.

I think it will put off some people. However, no law is being broken.

Make sure OP you vote at every election, local ones included, to help make sure Reform do not win any more councillors, MPs, police commissioners or any other elected office.

It would put me off because I find it trashy to display flags of any sort, don’t care if it’s the English flag or any other flag. My old neighbours had a Ukrainian flag and then a Palestinian flag, they were white English with no connection to either country so it pissed me right off. Idiotic. I don’t find it racist to fly the English flag (I’m not English and not white fwiw) but flags in windows are chavvy, might make an exception if someone was ex military. That said you absolutely can’t ask him to take it down unfortunately.

I don’t see it as anything to do with reform. Where I am, it’s just the thick ones. Not much going on up top, other than “Engerrrrrlaaaaand”.

Nothing wrong with being proud to fly the England flag - plenty wrong if it’s part of the far right campaign to ignite racism!

Read an article today by an estate agent about house prices expecting to drop in areas with lots of new flags - which have nothing to do with national pride at all as we all know!

good luck OP!

YABU

If I bought your house and found out that you'd got the neighbour to remove it specifically for viewings I'd be wondering what else you'd deceived me about in regards to the house.

It's a flag of the country you presumably are living in, I think you're being a tad ridiculous. Other countries aren't so highly offended about flying their own flags.

What if viewings were happening during the world cup, or an England rugby match, would you also be concerned at viewers "noticing" it? 🙄

I'm not English, but live in England, and I don't get offended or horrified at English people flying English flags in England.

The flag has been highjacked by the right wing, it is not just a national flag anymore. It is a sign of racism and intolerance. Sadly.

Would you feel the same if it was the flag of any other country?

People can be proud to be English without being racist

Birmingham Council are removing flags that have been randomly put up on lampposts by members of the public, who have not considered the safety ramifications - not because the council is ‘anti-British’.

The council stressed they still regularly fly the Union flag at the Council House and acknowledge the national flags as symbols of pride. Residents are free to display flags from private property, like homes, gardens, or community buildings—just not on street infrastructure.

I’d annoy you horribly lol. I’m fascinated by other cultures, religion and food etc. I’m too blunt though and ask lots of questions lol.

@CRCGran you think someone flying the English flag is scum?

My grandad fought in WW2 and he flew the flag until he died, he’s not scum. My brother who also served flies the very same flag in honour of my grandad, and he certainly isn’t scum.