Importance of Blind safety cleats for rental properties

The safety of rental properties should be of utmost concern to landlords. There are many hidden dangers in a home and there are many regulations in place to help protect both landlords and tenants. Landlords and letting agents need to be familiar with numerous safety standards and make sure that properties are compliant. This is important because if a rental property is non-compliant and an accident should occur, then the landlord or letting agent could be liable. One such safety standard specifically pertains to blinds and curtains, to avoid accidents involving children.

2014 Blind Cord Safety Regulations

The 2014 Blind Cord Safety Regulations covers a wide range of blinds, such as roller blinds, venetian blinds, vertical blinds and more. Blinds may have cords or chains, where young children or babies can become entangled or could pose a choking hazard. Under this regulation, cords and chains must be secured with a cleat or clip. The cord should be kept short, at least 1.5 metres above the floor, and out of reach of children. Additional safety recommendations include not installing blinds with cords in a child’s bedrooms or near a baby’s cot.

Landlords are responsible for installing blinds properly and buying blinds that are safety compliant. They are also responsible for the safety of blinds that a tenant may have installed. Prior to letting a property to a new tenant, landlords should check or remove blinds that they did not install themselves to ensure the new tenant’s safety. 

If you are unsure, contact the British Blind and Shutter Association (https://bbsa.org.uk), which provides free advice on window blind safety.