A London resident has been ordered to take down a Union flag displayed on his balcony after a neighbour complained that it was "intimidating".
David Gilley, 31, received a letter from a housing officer at the Labour-controlled Southwark Council warning he could be in breach of his tenancy agreement if he failed to remove the flag.
The letter arrived just days before St George's Day celebrations.
Mr Gilley told The Sun on Sunday: "I got a letter from the council saying someone had complained that the flag was intimidating."
The London resident remains defiant, insisting he will not comply with the council's demand.
He said: "But I am not taking the flag down. It is crazy.
"It was St George's Day it is just disrespectful."
Mr Gilley maintains the flag, positioned on his own balcony, causes no harm to anyone.
A London resident has been ordered to take down a Union flag displayed on his balcony after a neighbour complained that it was 'intimidating'
|X/David Gilley/VMMChamberlain
The correspondence left him anxious about his housing situation, with references to his tenancy contract raising fears that he could face eviction over it.
Despite the warning, he intends to display additional flags when the World Cup begins next month.
He noted that the majority of his neighbours have raised no objections to his patriotic display.
Liberal Democrat councillor Victor Chamberlain condemned the authority's handling of the situation.
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David Gilley received a letter from Southwark Council warning that he could be in breach of his tenancy agreement if he failed to remove the flag
|X/David Gilley/VMMChamberlain
"How absurd!" he wrote on Twitter, criticising the decision.
The councillor added: "We celebrate Southwark's diversity. The Union Flag is for everyone & people should be free to be patriotic."
He told GB News: "He was sent a letter by the Council last week to say that the union flag that he flies outside of his front door could be deemed offensive to his neighbours, and he had five days to remove it.
"Otherwise it could be taken off by the council. The letter basically said this is a breach of his tenancy to fly the Union flag, the national flag. So yeah, it's bonkers."
Liberal Democrat councillor Victor Chamberlain condemned the authority's handling of the situation
|SOUTHWALK COUNCIL
Mr Chamberlain added: "So it just seems really odd that the council suddenly made this arbitrary call and one that really will just antagonise local people.
"I don’t know what the council’s playing at, and you know we fly the flags from the town hall. So it’s just absurd.
"I think everyone should have the right to fly whatever flag that they want. I just think it’s a really stupid letter."
Southwark council admitted they were wrong and apologised for the error, according to The Sun.
A spokesman said: "We support the freedom of residents who wish to display the Union flag.
"The Kirby Estate in Bermondsey for example is well-known for its Union and St George’s flags.
"This letter was not authorised and doesn’t reflect our position.
"We’ve reviewed the matter, apologised to our tenant and confirmed he does not need to remove the flag."