New Victorian Blind Cord Safety Standard for Rental Properties (2025)

As property managers, keeping your rental properties safe and compliant is a top priority. The Victorian Government has introduced important updates to the Rental Minimum Standards concerning corded internal window coverings, and it’s crucial for you to be aware of these changes.

These regulations are all about child safety, aiming to prevent tragic accidents involving loose blind cords.

Why This Regulation Exists: The Critical Why

Blind cords, while seemingly harmless, can pose a serious strangulation risk to young children.

The new regulations are specifically designed to eliminate this danger by ensuring cords are secured out of reach or managed in a way that prevents hazardous loops.

It’s about creating safer homes for all renters, especially families.

When Does This Apply?

This standard for corded internal window coverings comes into effect on and from 1 December 2025.

This gives rental providers and property managers time to assess and update properties to ensure full compliance.

What to Look For: Key Requirements at a Glance

The core of the regulation is simple: no dangerous loops within a child’s reach, and cords must be properly secured.

Here are the key things your inspections should focus on:

• No Dangerous Loops: A loose cord cannot form a loop of 220mm or longer that is less than 1600mm from the floor.
• Cords Must Be Secured: If a cord could form such a loop, it must be secured using either:
  • A Cleat: A device around which the cord is wound.
  • A Cord Guide: A device that tensions or secures the cord.
• Proper Installation: Any securing device (cleat or cord guide) must be installed according to the manufacturer’s instructions and effectively prevent dangerous loops.

Visual Guide: Cleats and Cord Guides

Is Your Property Compliant? Use Our Interactive Checklist!

To help you easily assess your properties, we’ve developed a simple, interactive checklist. It guides you through the process, ensuring you cover all the key points of the regulation.

Rental Minimum Standards Checklist

Compliant vs. Non-Compliant Examples

To help clarify, here are some practical examples.

Compliant Property Examples

• High and Secured: A living room blind has its cord secured by a cleat mounted 1700mm above the floor. The cord is always wound around the cleat when not in use, ensuring no loose loops.
• Tensioned Cord Guide: In a bedroom, the blind cord runs through a cord guide installed at 1200mm. The cord guide is very firmly attached to the wall, and the cord is kept firmly held, making it impossible to form a loop larger than 220mm.
• No Accessible Cords: A modern rental unit features blinds with internal, tensioned cord systems or cordless systems where no accessible cords hang freely, eliminating the risk entirely.

Non-Compliant Property Examples

• Long, Dangling Loop: A blind cord in a kitchen hangs freely, forming a loop that is 300mm long and dangles at just 800mm from the floor. There is no securing device.
• Loose Cord Guide: A child’s room has a cord guide installed at 1000mm from the floor. However, the cord guide is loose and can be easily pulled away from the wall, allowing the cord to form a dangerous loop.
• Low-Mounted Cleat: A blind is fitted with a cleat, but it’s installed only 1100mm above the floor. Even if the cord is wound, the low height makes it accessible to a child who could unwrap it and create a loop.

Get Ahead of the Curve: Prepare Your Properties for 2025!

This updated blind cord safety standard is vital for occupant protection. Our application now includes the 15. Corded internal window coverings category, allowing clients to proactively prepare for the December 1, 2025 regulation.

Our interactive checklist is your go-to tool for tracking compliance with this new blind cord standard and all other existing Rental Minimum Standards categories.

For rental providers needing to secure cords, we also recommend ordering a free curtain and blind cord safety kit directly from Consumer Affairs Victoria.