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.

What a nasty post. Read the news once in a while and educate yourself on what’s happening.

Flag pole in the garden, no amateur cable ties for this chap.

I think you’re being really cheeky to ask and totally overthinking things. There’s quite a few flags flying in the lovely little village I live in, they have been there for as long as we have lived here and I have never given it a second thought.

it has been pointed out countless times that the few people that have always flown them are not the problem. It's the people who pretend they've been banned and are doing it because Yaxley-Lennon and co have told them to.

Well that's not a problem then is it.

A union jack on a flag pole doesn't carry the same connotations as a st George's cross dangled from a bedroom window. Though I'd probably still avoid just in case.

Why would you avoid?

Our Royalist neighbours have a permanent Union Jack that I can see through the window

Oh I can guarantee they're not missing the point, most arguing against OP know exactly the context of the situation, they're being dumb and obtuse on purpose though

Maybe he was happy to see the England men's football team return.

Because I'd rather not take the gamble when other houses are available.

It would give me an indication he’s may be racist, as said previously by me, not all flag flyers are racist, but my risk assessment would tell me they’re more likely to be racist than non flag flyers.

Where did they return from?

Completely agree with this. I mean it's Tommy Robinson's mate who is behind this "raise the flags" campaign. Enough said!

Someone near me has had a flagpole for years with a Union flag on it. It's never crossed my mind that he's racist. But if another neighbour suddenly today draped an England flag out their window I'd assume they were a racist. Unless there was a football/rugby match on I guess.

With the current attention on the flag, it would put me right off.

He has made his feelings clear, you won’t be able to change his mind. Which kind of proves the point it’s not a neighbour I’d want.

Yes, new behaviour coordinated with EDL is an indicator of who your neighbours are.

This house is probably a semi detached box on an estate so there will be a variety of owner/renters anyway, up and down all the streets.

I see why you want it down.
I'd never buy a house with England flags on the road or caravans on driveways on the road.
Yes I'm judgemental, but everyone has their own things that put them off buying a house.

I wouldn’t even view the house if I turned up and saw that. However, I would be even more pissed off if he took it away for the viewing, then put it back after I bought it!

"I'm not racist but they have so many children don't they...'

My ex-MIL said almost exactly that about her new neighbours, who were black. I asked how many children they had, and it was 4.

I pointed out that MIL had had 6 kids, living in an identical house...

Exactly. Apparently they are being “patriotic”.

It would put my DH and me off, tbh - I wouldn’t want to live next to him

There is no way in hell I'd even consider buying your house with that flag next door. My DH is brown, we have DC. I wouldn't even get out of the car. Reform - UGH.

I wouldn’t put in an offer, regardless of how nice or affordable your house is. I have had my fill of nightmare neighbours over the years so I do what I can to avoid them now. It would be different if he was in a different house on the street, but no way would I buy your house when he’s literally next to you.

I’m sorry, you’re in a stressful situation and I completely empathise.