In a move to ensure the safety of children in rental properties, a new blind cord safety standard has come into effect in Victoria this week.
The regulation requires all internal window coverings in rental homes to be secured with a cord guide or cleat fixed to the wall.
According to the state government,t his critical safety measure addresses an alarming issue, as unsecured blind or curtain cords have claimed the lives of up to two Australian children each year. Previously, the standards only applied to blinds installed after 2015, leaving many homes with potentially hazardous cords.
The changes now supersede these exemptions, making it mandatory for all rental properties in Victoria to meet the blind cord safety requirements, regardless of installation date.
Tenants now have the right to request urgent repairs to non-compliant blind cords and can install their own cord cleats or guides without the rental provider’s permission.
Rental providers who fail to comply with the new standards could face penalties, as it is now an offence to allow tenants to move into a property that does not meet the minimum safety requirements.
“The safety of children is non-negotiable,” said Kidsafe Victoria CEO Sarah Sexton. “We are incredibly grateful for the many voices who have championed this reform, so that no other family has to experience the heartbreak of losing a child from such a preventable injury.”
Free curtain and blind cord safety kits are available from Consumer Affairs Victoria, which include a device to tension looped cords and reduce the risk of strangulation.
