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.

You don't 'fly a flag' from a windowsill. At best, you've slung it out and then slammed the window shut on it. Dead classy, they must be so proud.

Tbh the people buying your house have a right to know what kind of people they are moving in next to. If they are not of that ilk better they know before they live there. Others may like it. I'd leave it as is.

This is UK, England, a flag of the country should not put of any Non-UK residence who choose to buy property in UK and be a part of our society.
I am British but foreign ethnicity.
xx

What??? What are you talking about?

You shouldn't dupe potential buyers. They should be able to make their own minds up if they want to purchase a house next to these neighbours. I've had two terrible neighbours and I wish someone was upfront about them to me so I could have made an informed decision...
Also, you wouldnt tell someone to take down a Jamaican flag would you?

Sorry I'm 100% with your neighbour on this. I am an equality and diversity rep and it should never be acceptable that in our country we have to fear flying our flag over others. All flags should be treat equally. If any buyers have issues with the flag they are not going t last tow minutes next to the neighbour. Everyone's views are acceptable. But he has a right to fly his own countries flag. Would you be demanding a palestine flag be removed if it were up. I doubt it.

Pardon me if I ask. Have these neighbours caused any problems to you with anti social behaviour, noise, nuisance or harassment? If not, you are being very precious to say the least. Many people have real problems with atrocious neighbours and find it difficult to get any action taken against them. I count myself fortunate to have good neighbours on both sides. If the only problem you have is them hanging a harmless flag outside their window, you are very lucky.

Utterly ridiculous to suggest that people who put flags up dont want brown neighbours??!! What planet are you on dude??? You assume everyone is racist do you? Just for putting a flag up you have no idea.

Who is your employer @H0210zero?

Not all flag flyers are racists, but a higher percentage than non flag flyers are.

This would put me off too. You are not overthinking.

Does your statement include ALL the flag flyers not just UK?

How sad that we can't be patriotic in this country.

England women’s rugby World Cup is on. Nothing wrong with that !

I don't understand why anyone would find it off-putting. Why should English people not put up their flag? Are they embarrassed of their country? I live in Northern Ireland and we have flags everywhere. 🤷 I've also lived in America and Australia and people put their flags up as well.

We are indeed, why do you ask?

I would not buy the house, sorry.

Even if I knew the neighbour was a very considerate person in other ways. Even if the neighbour has the right to hang up whatever flags he likes (which he does).

So many holier than thou people on here. There are many black and brown people who love their country, this country and who fly the flag with pride. Many ex military. Why is everyone assuming you have to be white to be British and fly our flag? If that’s not stereotyping I don’t know what is.

It’s a flag with Father Christmas flying on his slay saying merry Christmas lol the kids love it

Estate agent debrief - 3 viewings today, of which the one who was most keen on the house mentioned the flag being off putting and to the extent they are not prepared to make an offer due to it.

Brilliant.

They sound like sensible people.

DH is furious and is going to go round there again tomorrow so hopefully common sense will prevail.

I'm sure there are other buyers who will come along shortly. In fact, im beginning to smell BS on this thread.

Just be grateful that your neighbour hasn't decided to go out of his way now to make it impossible for you to sell your house because I would if some stuck up cow had asked me to remove things from my property to make her house look better. I hope he buys a battered old sofa and dumps it in his front garden and sits on it swigging lager singing the national anthem every time you have a viewing.

No you wouldn’t.