Hotel windows

[spaceghetto]

We just stayed at a well known hotel chain. We checked in and went to our room. I really needed the toilet but thought i'd wait until dh returned from parking the car. I opened the curtains to check out the view and saw the sash window was open at the bottom which left a big gap.

I had a horrible panic that if i had gone to the toilet, my 2yo could have easily climbed out of the window and fallen out. We were on floor 3!

I mentioned it to reception and they said they do this in all rooms in the hot weather. Aibu to think this is completely dangerous?They did a lot of eye rolling and I was made to feel over the top.

Take lots of pictures that clearly show the window open. They should have a limited fitted. Is there one in place that's maybe broken?

There is a concealed hazard, and they knew you’d booked in with a child. They should have warned you at check in,

That is awful, any hotel I have stayed in has had window locks restricting the gap, I would write to head office to let them know your concerns

@unsureofneighbour nothing was broken. They said the window met health and safety regs but both my 6yo and 2yo could fit through it. Plus there was a chair right next to the window. I couldnt sleep last night thinking "what if" and now i worry a child will get really injured because of this.

@OneEpisode

There is a concealed hazard, and they knew you’d booked in with a child. They should have warned you at check in,

No. It should never have happened. The windows should have been fitted with a limiter. I find it hard to consider a big chain hotel wouldn't have these in place so it's more likely that it's broken. Pictures will help.

I said this @OneEpisode and they said that all guests need to keep children supervised at all times.

[quote spaceghetto]@unsureofneighbour nothing was broken. They said the window met health and safety regs but both my 6yo and 2yo could fit through it. Plus there was a chair right next to the window. I couldnt sleep last night thinking "what if" and now i worry a child will get really injured because of this. [/quote]
Pictures. Take lots of them. There is no way a child should be able to fit through the window.

The thing is you may not notice something wrong with the window, but it could be faulty. Reception staff are unlikely to know much about it and would just trot out 'it's safe' because they will assume the window is not faulty.

Are you still there? Can they give you another room?

Thank you @chergar i'm going to call them. This morning before we left they offered me 50% off a future stay. I said I didnt want anything, just reassurance they'd stop opening windows.

I think it might actually be a legal requirement

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/4407978.stm

I think you may have missed the boat in terms of being able to show the window was broken, unless you took pictures before you left. It absolutely won't be standard that a 6 year old can fit through the gap. It's broken.

@unsureofneighbour we're at home now. We closed the window fine and it stayed shut all night. It was heavy to open so there's no chance a child could open it. But the receptionist said, even when seeing the window, that this is standard to leave it open as the rooms are so hot.

@chergar that's awful and is what I really worry will happen at this hotel too. I'm going to call their head office first thing. The receptionist said she was going to pass on the complaint too buti dont think she really understood what my problem was.

That's really bad. The opening windows should be high up and only be able to open so far, just a little bit. I would take lots of photos and email them, try and get it forwarded to someone high up in the chain.

Found this as well www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.ihasco.co.uk/blog/entry-amp/1942/are-window-restrictors-required

I think my dh took a picture but in the meantime, this is what it looked like... (this is just a google image!) 

It did have a chord down the middle but plenty of space either side for a child to fit through.

Image attached!

Thanks @CarnationCat I will do.

If it a proper sash window then they can have the open gap at the top.
In fact they work better for ventilation with a bigger open bit at the top and a teeny one at the bottom.

Also on sash windows you usually get little blockers that can stop it going up or down.

@GrrrlPwr we couldn't understand why they didn't just have to open at the top anyway. When I opened the window to show them what it had been like, they just couldn't see what the issue was and just kept saying health and safety have checked the gap and it's fine. If that's the case, it's terrifying as both ds could have climbed through no problem.

It's pretty obvious a small child could easily climb out of an open sash window. Maybe a letter to head office?

@GrrrlPwr I emailed their press office, hoping they'll flag it up quickly to the best people. I couldn't find a general email for customer service.

I reckon they were fobbing you off about it being safe and checked etc! Sounds like they were rude to you.

Surely you’d check a room was secure and hazard free before leaving a toddler in it?

Agree the window was a massive hazard but there could have been all kinds of other hazards like blind cords, a hairdryer in the drawer, small items she could put in her mouth. At that age I’d either secure the room first (the window being the first place I’d check) or just take her into the bathroom with me. Hotel doors aren’t the safest either, the handles are often low enough for toddlers to open!

Or ask hotel in advance to set up a travel cot so you have a safe place to put her on arrival?