Whether a first-time property investor or someone with an extensive property portfolio, it is no surprise that apartments will make up the core of any acquisition strategy. One of the reasons for this is because apartments are often considered a safe bet (in comparison to detached houses) when it comes to public/tenant liability.

 That is not to say apartments aren’t without their own risks. That in mind, to help avoid any possible pitfalls when it comes to investing in apartments, here are five potential safety points to keep an eye out for:

 1. CURTAINS AND BLINDS 

According to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission one to two children die every year after being strangled by blind or curtain cords, with 15 deaths reported in Australia since 2001. Many of which are a result of children becoming entangled in the cords that are used to raise, lower, open or close the blind or curtain.

 Recently, in an effort to lower these statistics, several states made several important changes pertaining to the regulations surrounding curtains and vertical blinds.

 New laws include an update to the pulley system, as well as installation regulations, such as: (1) ensuring any cleat used to secure a cord must be installed at least 1,600mm above floor level and (2) no part of a cord guide may be installed lower than 1,600mm above floor level unless the cord guide remains firmly attached to a wall or other structure or the cord is sufficiently secured or tensioned to prevent the formation of a loop 200mm or longer.

 For more information on the new 2014 regulations, click here.

 2. WINDOWS 

When it comes to apartments, another child-safety issue is windows. Stipulations on how far a window is able to open were introduced in order to prevent children falling out of high windows – these vary from state to state. For instance, in some states there are rules that require windows can open to no more than just 12 centimetres width.

 In addition to regulations differing between states, sometimes they even change within apartment complexes as well. For example, while windows above a certain height from the ground may have a tight restriction, some ground floor units may be exempt. With so many variables that come into play, the safest way to really ensure your apartment’s windows are fully compliant with state regulations is to seek professional legal advice. 

 3. BALCONY BALUSTRADE 

Again, like window and curtain regulations, balcony balustrade height requirements vary from state to state. If you are thinking of buying an investment property with a balcony balustrade and it appears to be low, it is certainly worth making an enquiry into this with the selling agent. It is also worth investigating into compliancy issues that may result from a child (or adult!) balcony fall or accident as a result of a low-built balustrade. 

4. STAIRWELL BALUSTRADE

Be conscious of balustrades on stairwells - both inside and out – with an exception of ‘common property’ stairwells, whereby any accidents or deaths (pertaining to incidents) are handled by the strata plan liability insurances, not the individual unit or apartment owners. 

3. FIRE ALARMS 

With a large number of property fires around Australia every year, it is no surprise why we have such tight regulations surrounding fire and smoke alarms. This one should be relatively easy to regulate, given that most professional managers check smoke alarms and safety switches as part of routine property inspections. However, that does not mean you should get complacent. A simple follow up from time to time to ensure the agent is signing off on the inspection report is worth it, to ensure alarms are in working order. Again, while this is a good habit to get into it, it still is not an iron-clad guarantee that the devices are functional or have even been checked for that matter.

 It is important to reinforce that many of these regulations change per-state/territory. Thus, knowing the state rules in which a property resides is key.

For more information on property safety or to ensure your apartment is up-to-date with the latest laws and protocols, it is best to speak with a legal advisor who can inform you of your responsibilities and duty-of-care as a landlord.

 Here at HSBP we pride ourselves on working with some of Brisbane’s best Property Managers and Legal Advisors in an effort to bring you apartments that offer safety and a solid return on investment. For more information or to schedule an appointment with one of our professional agents, contact Hannah on 0419 782 133.