Blind cords are easy to overlook because they are part of everyday living. In homes where young children live, stay, or regularly visit, they can present a serious safety risk. This is one of those hazards that often sits in plain sight until someone points it out.
For landlords, this is worth treating as a proactive safety issue rather than waiting for a tenant to raise it. If a property has existing blinds with long, loose, or looped cords, the first step is to check whether those cords are within reach of a young child, especially near beds, couches, drawers, or other furniture a child could climb on. If they are, the risk should be addressed.
For existing blinds, the fix may be straightforward. Cord tensioners or cord cleats can often be used to keep cords taut and out of reach. In some cases, cords can also be retrofitted to make them safer. If the window furnishing is old, poorly positioned, or still leaves cords accessible even after adjustment, replacement may be the better option. Simply having blinds in place is not the issue. It is loose or reachable cords that create the danger.
When installing new blinds or curtains, safety should be considered from the start. Cordless options are the safest choice where young children may be in the home. It is also important not to focus only on visible front cords.
Some blinds, including Roman and Venetian styles, can have cords at the back that are just as dangerous. Asking the supplier about child-safe and cordless options upfront is a far better approach than trying to solve the issue later.
Property managers can help by identifying this during routine inspections and raising it with the landlord as a practical safety issue. Tenants may also identify a concern once they move in, particularly if they have a young child or their circumstances change. Where that happens, the best outcome is usually a sensible discussion and a shared focus on making the home safer.
The Residential Tenancies Act 1986 allows tenants to request minor changes. However, where there is an obvious blind cord risk, the better approach is usually for the landlord and property manager to act promptly, proactively and sensibly to put a safe solution in place that stays with the property. This is often a low-cost fix. In some homes, it may simply be a matter of securing existing cords properly. In others, it may be time to replace outdated corded blinds altogether.
The main point is simple. Blind cord safety is easy to miss, easy to delay, and often easy to fix. A quick check, followed by the right solution, can make the home safer for young children and avoid a risk that no one wants to discover too late.
Back