Blind Safety in Rental Property: What Landlords Need to Know

According to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), at least 35 young children across the UK have died because of looped cords on blinds since 2001. Whilst new blinds are manufactured to improved safety standards, it is reckoned that there are millions of older blinds in homes across the country. For this reason, it is crucial that landlords take steps to ensure blind safety, particularly when renting to families with children.

What is the problem with looped cords on blinds?

To a young child, looped cords on blinds can be deadly if they inadvertently get them caught around their neck. Research undertaken by RoSPA reveals that most accidental deaths involving blind cords occur in the bedroom amongst children aged 16 to 36 months.

Because toddlers’ heads weigh proportionately more than their bodies and their muscular control is not fully developed, it makes them more prone to being unable to free themselves should they become entangled. They are also more likely to suffocate if their necks become constricted.

As is the case with drowning, toddlers can be strangled by looped cords quickly and quietly, with parents nearby, unaware of what is going on.

What should landlords do to make blind cords safe?

In order to prevent blind cord accidents, the best thing to do is replace all blinds with new ones which are safe by design. Such blinds do not feature looped cords. A new safety standard introduced in 2014 made it the law to ensure all new blinds are safe by design, or installed with appropriate child safety devices.

If it is not possible to replace old blinds that have looped cords, then the cords should be secured using a safety device such as a breakaway connector, cord and chain safety retainers (cleats), or cord tensioners if you have roller or Roman blinds fitted. This is a provision of the 2014 safety regulation. Without a safety device installed, an old blind will not be considered compliant.

In addition, blind cords must be kept at least 1.5 metres from floor level. For low level blinds that hang less than 1.5 metres from floor level, an operating chain with a maximum loop of 20cm can be used. This is not considered a choking hazard as it is not up high.

RoSPA does not recommend that cords are cut, even as a short term solution, as they could become tangled and therefore even more hazardous.

This useful video on how to make existing blinds safer is worth a watch if you have old style blinds:

What do landlords need to know about blind safety standards?

RoSPA has been working with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), CEN (the European Committee for Standardisation) and the British Blind and Shutter Association (BBSA) since 20014 to raise awareness of blind cord safety through the Make it Safe campaign, and has continually encouraged the blind industry to voluntarily make products safer.

The amended safety standard (EN13120:2009+A1:2014) was introduced in 2014. This required all new blinds to be safe by design, or be supplied with the appropriate child safety devices. Such safety devices either break under pressure, tension the cord or chain, or store the cord out of reach. Professional blind installers are required to fit these devices.

If you decide to fit blinds yourself, then you should follow the instructions supplied with the product, and be sure to fit the appropriate safety device. All types of blinds are covered by the safety standard, which also imposes a maximum cord and chain length, and requires all blinds to display safety warnings.

Looking for a property management service with a difference?

If you are thinking about renting to families with children, but really would like to take a back seat and pass all the associated property management and legal responsibilities over to a team of specialists, you will do well to choose homes2let, where guaranteed rent comes as part of the deal.

Not only will we take care of absolutely everything, including tenant sourcing and referencing, ensuring legal and safety compliance, arranging inventory and check-in/check-out inspections and getting the property back to rentable standard at the end of the tenancy, we’ll also pay your rent in full every month, including during void periods, courtesy of the homes2let guaranteed rent scheme.

Interested to learn more? You are welcome to get in touch with our helpful team.