Private landlords and letting agents across the East Midlands are being urged to pay close attention to recent findings regarding child safety in rented homes, particularly around windows and balconies.
A new briefing from the National Child Mortality Database (NCMD) reveals that nine children under the age of 11 died after falling from windows or balconies in social housing over the past six years. Although these incidents occurred in the social rented sector, not in private rented properties, the issues highlighted are highly relevant to the entire housing sector, including private landlords.
In the majority of cases, vital safety measures such as window restrictors or locks were either not installed, faulty, or had been overridden. The findings coincide with a report from the Housing Ombudsman, which exposed significant failings by 16 social landlords in dealing with repair complaints related to windows. Over half of the reported cases involved children being placed at risk due to delays or inaction.
Why This Matters to Private Landlords
While the statistics specifically relate to social housing, local authorities will be looking to reduce risk across all rented homes, including those in the private rented sector. As such, landlords and agents should be aware that councils are likely to be increasingly vigilant during inspections and more responsive to tenant complaints involving safety concerns, especially those affecting children.
Michael Petter, Housing Strategy Officer at East Staffordshire Borough Council, shared the NCMD’s findings with EMPO, encouraging landlords in the region to familiarise themselves with the report and take proactive steps to ensure their properties are safe. He confirmed the report will also be referenced in future communications with East Staffordshire landlords and discussed at the Landlords Forum.
“This is an important piece of research. While the data is from the social housing sector, it raises issues relevant to all landlords, and it’s clear that local authorities will be keen to ensure similar risks are not present in the PRS”, he said.
Key Risk Factors Identified in the NCMD Report:
- Broken or damaged windows left unrepaired, even after repeated reports by tenants
- Window restrictors removed or bypassed, often due to hot weather or the need for ventilation
- Furniture or climbable objects placed near windows
- Overcrowded living conditions, making it harder to arrange furniture safely
- Insufficient supervision in homes where safety measures were missing or ineffective
These findings underline the importance of not only installing proper safety devices but also ensuring tenants understand their purpose and do not disable or remove them.
Actions for Private Landlords and Letting Agents:
Whether you manage flats, HMOs, or family homes, consider these steps:
- Check that all windows and balcony doors have compliant restrictors or locks
- Ensure any reported safety or repair issues are resolved promptly
- Avoid placing climbable furniture near windows, and advise tenants to do the same
- Provide guidance to tenants, particularly families, about safe window use
- Document safety checks and repair responses in case of future inspections or complaints
Taking a proactive stance not only protects tenants but reduces risk of enforcement action under housing safety legislation.
Download the NCMD Briefing
We strongly recommend members read the full NCMD briefing, which includes detailed analysis and clear action points for all housing providers, social or private.
Download the briefing from the NCMD website
A Message from EMPO
While the data comes from the social housing sector, the underlying issues around window safety, repair delays, and housing conditions are relevant to all tenures. As local authorities look to improve standards across the board, private landlords and agents should be prepared for greater scrutiny, and take action now to reduce risks and maintain safe homes.
If you’re unsure whether your properties meet current safety standards, we encourage you to carry out a review and seek professional advice where necessary.
Let’s work together to ensure that no preventable tragedy occurs in any of our properties.