Rental Home Safety: What You Need to Know About Blind and Curtain Cords

To ensure the safety of your rental property, curtain and blind cords or chains need to be secured properly. Both owners and renters have a responsibility to ensure risk is minimised and any concerns are addressed immediately.

Window dressings have a huge impact on how a room looks and feels, with a range of choices that are versatile with appearance, function and control over light and privacy. To ensure the safety of your rental property, curtain and blind cords or chains need to be secured properly. Both owners and renter have a responsibility to ensure risk is minimised and any concerns are addressed immediately.

Owners

It is the responsibility of the owner to ensure the rental premises are safe to live in. If a child is harmed or death is the result of negligence in the rental property, as an owner, you may face legal action. As a matter of best practice, owners should be familiar with their obligations under the Residential Tenancies Act to comply with building, health and safety laws.

It is essential to assess curtain and blind cords, checking there are no unsecured cords or chains a child could reach or become entangled in. Any looped cords should be kept out of children’s reach with cleats or tension devices, securely fixed to the wall or window frame.

Your property manager should be conducting curtain and blind cord checks regularly, if you are notified of an issue, Marshall White can arrange for urgent repairs.

Renters

The renter is responsible for securing any curtain or blind cords so they are not hanging down and presenting a hazard for children. If possible, looped cords should be removed. It is your responsibility to ensure there is no furniture placed where a child might be able to reach a cord or chain.

It is essential to assess curtain and blind cords, checking there are no unsecured cords or chains a child could reach or become entangled in.

You may ask for permission to install curtains or blinds in the rental property, in which case your property manager should provide information regarding the mandatory safety standards. You should notify your owner immediately if you have any concerns about potential risks.

Being proactive in ensuring the safety of the rental property by performing regular checks is essential to protect babies and children in the home.

‘If a renter reports an issue, the owner should take action immediately. In saying that, if a renter is highly concerned I would not leave this to chance. I would recommend that the renter take action themselves if they perceive a genuine threat to their family,’ says Tania Smith, Marshall White property management team leader.

Renters and owners can order safety kits from Consumer Affairs Victoria here. The free curtain and blind cord safety kit contains a tension device that holds looped cords to a window frame, making the cords safer in the home.

If you have any queries regarding property management or leasing, please contact our Marshall White Property Management Team who will be happy to assist. For more information contact us on (03) 9822 8711.