Understanding window & balcony safety

If you live in a tall building, falls from height pose a serious risk to you and your family, especially young children.

We recommend opening windows to help air circulate throughout the year. But open windows can still be dangerous for children and vulnerable people. Sadly, serious injuries and deaths have occurred when people have fallen from or through windows.

As your landlord, Birmingham City Council has a legal duty under the Housing Act 2004 and the Building Safety Act 2022 to keep your home safe. This includes making sure that windows, balconies and glazing do not present a fall hazard.

Please report any fault, crack, loose part or damage straight away so we can inspect and, if needed, make it safe within 24 hours.
By reporting issues promptly, and us acting quickly, we can prevent accidents and keep your home secure.

Understanding the Risks

One of the best ways to prevent accidents around windows and balconies is by understanding the risks.
When parents and carers know what to look out for, they can take simple steps to keep children and vulnerable adults safe.

Our Commitment to Safety

Birmingham City Council’s City Housing team regularly inspects windows and balconies as part of our maintenance and building safety programme.
We check window restrictors, locks and safety glazing.

All windows above ground-floor level are fitted with restrictors to stop them opening more than 100 mm. Any damage or tampering can put people at risk, please report this immediately.

For new and empty properties, safety checks are carried out before re-letting to make sure restrictors and balcony barriers meet current standards. We also use safety glazing where needed to reduce the risk of injury from broken glass.

Last updated: 14 October 2025