- Published:
- Monday 25 November 2024
The Allan Labor Government is protecting children in rentals and introducing a new heating standard for rooming houses.
Unsecured blind or curtain cords claim the lives of between one and two Australian children every year, which is why the Labor Government will make it mandatory to secure blinds cords with either a cord guide or cleat installed against a wall or structure.
This will apply to all rental properties, with no exemptions, from 1 December 2025 and Victorians can order a free curtain and blind cord safety kit from Consumer Affairs Victoria.
The current Commonwealth Safety Standard mandates that all blinds or curtains installed from 2015 have cord safety anchors. This standard does not apply to blinds installed before 2015.
The new reform will ensure all Victorian rental properties meet this critical safety standard, no matter when the curtains or blinds were installed in the property.
This new standard follows the reforms announced last week on mandatory smoke alarm, gas and electrical safety checks for all residential rental properties.
The Labor Government is also introducing a new standard requiring safe heating for residents in rooming houses – home to some of the most vulnerable Victorians.
Under the standard, rooming house operators must install an electric fixed heater in residents’ rooms. By 2030, all heaters in residents’ rooms must be fixed and electric, with a two star energy efficiency rating.
These improved standards in rentals and rooming houses are in addition to the nation leading rental reforms already announced by the Labor Government, including banning no fault evictions, scrapping fees on rent payments and capping the cost of breaking a lease.
Work is ongoing on minimum energy efficiency standards for rentals with almost 2,500 survey responses and submissions made throughout the consultation process.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Consumer Affairs Gabrielle Williams
“These new mandatory safety standards will make a big difference to the safety of rental properties – this will save lives.”
“Everyone deserves to live in comfortable and safe housing – our new minimum standards will improve safety for rooming house residents.”