By Katie-Ann Gupwell
A man is seeking retribution against his neighbour after being asked to take down his Pride flag from his garden , sparking a row that he’s now turning to the public for advice on how to manage. The individual took to Reddit to detail his predicament, expressing his frustration over the demand to remove his flag. He revealed that his neighbour’s house is up for sale, and there’s concern that the flag could detrimentally affect their selling prospects, but the man isn’t convinced that he should have to give in to their property biases. Sharing his story, he posted: “I live next to a house that is currently on the market. It has only been on for two weeks, but the owner is panicking that he won’t be able to sell it. “I have a few political banners hanging on my fence, nothing outrageous, and a Pride flag hanging from my porch. The other day, the realtor selling the house came over asking if we can take the banners down because it ‘doesn’t exude the luxury experience they’re selling’. “Whatever. I said ‘fine’ to not escalate things and took some of the banners down, just leaving the Pride flag. The realtor then came back, angry, wanting to know why we didn’t take the Pride flag down too. “We told her it’s not coming down and, because of that demand, put the banners back up. She came back and tried to bribe us with a $200 (拢145.89) gift card to take the banners and the Pride flag down. I said no. “Today they complained to my landlord, who just called me and said that the banners and the Pride flag have to come down. I looked through my lease and there is no stipulation on outdoor decor whatsoever. “I’m not really worried about the landlord though, he’s pretty hands off and wouldn’t risk losing tenants, but what do I do about this realtor who keeps harassing me? I’m assuming the fact that it’s a Pride flag they’re going after is a big deal?” The tale has left many astonished, with several people believing that there’s no need for the flag to be taken down. Nonetheless, there are usually some rules that tenants should adhere to. One individual remarked: “The realtor can’t legally force you to remove the flag.” A second person contributed: “In terms of legality, you have no problem. “You just have to decide how much friction you want to risk with your landlord.” A third offered advice, stating: “There are many municipalities with sign/banner prohibitions but political speech, including signs and flags, are supposed to be exempt.” Property specialists often note that the display of certain flags could negatively impact house prices, particularly if the flag is deemed contentious or distasteful by a significant number of would-be purchasers. That said, this doesn鈥檛 sway all prospective buyers, though it may deter some. Typically, individuals are permitted to display flags in their garden, provided they adhere to specific guidelines. Without planning permission, there are usually limitations on the size of the flag, the height of the flagpole and the type of flags you can hoist. If you have any worries about flags in your garden, or in someone else’s garden, it’s advisable to seek guidance. You can consult your local council if you have any concerns about flying a flag, especially if it’s a large one or one that could pose a safety risk.