Making blinds safe around children: the rules, and what to fit instead

What the regulations actually require

Blinds and curtain fittings supplied in the UK must either have no accessible cords or chains, or be fitted with a safety device that keeps any cord permanently out of a child's reach, such as a breakaway connector or a cleat that the cord is wound onto and secured. This applies to new blinds at point of sale and installation, and it is treated as an essential safety requirement rather than an optional extra.

In practice this means a corded blind cannot simply be hung with a loose chain or cord looped within reach of a cot, high chair or play area. A safety device has to be fitted and, just as importantly, actually used every time the blind is operated.

Breakaway devices and tension cleats explained

A breakaway connector splits the cord loop apart under a small amount of force, so if a child becomes caught in it the connection releases rather than tightening. A tension device anchors the bottom of a looped chain or cord to the wall or frame at a fixed low point, which keeps the loop permanently short and out of reach rather than relying on someone remembering to wind it up.

• Breakaway connectors: the loop separates under load.
• Tension devices: fixed to the wall, keep the loop permanently short.
• Cleats: wind and secure the cord after every use, but only work if used consistently.

Cordless options that remove the question entirely

A spring-operated cordless roller or Venetian blind is raised and lowered by hand on the bottom bar, with no chain or cord anywhere on the product. Perfect fit blinds are inherently cordless because they are operated by a small side wand rather than a hanging chain, which is one reason they turn up so often in nurseries and children's bedrooms.

Motorised blinds for total peace of mind

Motorised blinds are operated by a remote control, wall switch, or app, with nothing hanging from the headrail at all. This is a common specification in nurseries where a blind needs to be adjusted quietly without a hand-operated chain rattling, and it also suits anyone who simply does not want a cord in the room regardless of the age of the occupants.

Nurseries and schools: what caretakers and staff should check

In a nursery or school setting, every window a child can reach should be checked for a working safety device, not just the obvious ones near cots. Blinds fitted years ago may have had a device at installation that has since been removed for cleaning or redecoration and never refitted, so a periodic check across the building is worth building into a maintenance routine.

We supply and fit compliant blinds for schools and offices as well as homes, and can advise on which existing blinds in a building need a retrofit device rather than full replacement.

Retrofitting an older blind you already own

If you have an older corded blind that predates current fittings, a tension device or breakaway connector can usually be retrofitted without replacing the whole blind. This is a sensible interim step in a rental property or while you plan a longer term cordless replacement.

Rented homes: whose job is it to sort this out?

In a rented property, responsibility for a compliant blind generally sits with the landlord as part of keeping the home safe, but a tenant with children should not wait for a scheduled inspection if an existing blind has a loose or missing safety device. Flag it in writing and, where the landlord agrees, a simple retrofit visit can often be arranged quickly rather than waiting for a wider redecoration.

If you are a tenant fitting your own blinds temporarily, choose a cordless spring roller or a wand-operated product so you are not relying on a device you may not be able to alter or replace yourself at the end of a tenancy.