9 hours ago
Americans are losing their minds over the 'dystopian' way British windows open
A post about windows in the UK has reignited a furious debate between British and American people.
A US tourist visited Britain during summer and struggled to cool down in his hotel room because of a removable child lock that wouldn't allow his window to open 'more than two inches'.
The man claimed the lock was installed because of a British regulation that restricted citizens from opening their windows more than a few inches and complained about it online.
The post quickly went viral and drew in hundreds of replies with Americans expressing their outrage and confusion over the hotel window while British users defended their nation's windows.
In a post to X, the US traveller said he tried to open his accommodation window as his 'boiling' room was much hotter than the outside temperature but was thwarted by a child lock.
He assumed the child lock was installed because of a regulation restricting how much Brits can open their windows.
'It's 100 degrees in my room, but 68 outside, but I can't change that because England has dumb rules,' he posted.
The man later revealed that he managed to pry the lock off the window with his nail clippers because the hotel didn't have a key and 'every store was closed and nobody had a screwdriver'.
It's 100 degrees in my room, but 68 outside, but I can't change that because England has dumb rules
— Chris Arnade 🐢🐱🚌 (@Chris_arnade) September 10, 2023
The cultural misunderstanding, posted back in 2023 and is doing the rounds again on X, has prompted an online war between Brits and Americans.
Americans took the post literally and were shocked to 'learn' that the UK has a law that doesn't allow any windows to open all the way in a bid to stop children from falling out with one calling the country 'dystopian'.
'I have an American Mind and I do not understand this,' one person replied. 'I don't understand, so like they have a law preventing them from opening the windows?' a second asked.
'The amount of laws in England is wild,' a third commented and a fourth wrote: 'Wait wtf is this contraption?'.
'The way I'd lose my mind if I couldn't open my windows,' someone added.
'Might as well put holes in the bottom of buckets so kids won't drown in them,' a man said.
'Thankful for the freedom I have to open my dang windows,' another chimed in.
Many were concerned the window restrictors created a hazard as people wouldn't be able to escape a building via the windows in the case of a fire.
'Yeah, best burn to death in case of fire to prevent kids falling out of the window,' one person scoffed.
'So if the building is on fire and the only way out is the window…you're dead, basically?' another asked.
In the UK, there is no law that restricts windows opening all the way in residential buildings and homes however some hotels use the locks for guest safety.
The safety cables can be released by key and are installed to prevent people, particularly small children, from falling out or from robberies.
Window restrictors are only a legal requirement in buildings with vulnerable people like schools, hospitals and care homes.
Brits were quick to point this out to the outraged Americans while some claimed they had never seen the locks before despite living in the UK for years.
'An entire thread full of poorly travelled Americans who think this is a 'rule' in England, rather than the choice of a single establishment with a single window,' one user quipped.
'I am British and have never encountered such a device. What is its purpose and what do you do in the event of a fire?' someone asked.
Is it illegal to open windows all the way in the UK?
No. Regulations vary depending on the type of building and between local authorities but residential dwellings are not required by law to have window restrictors.
They are a recommendation, not a legal obligation, in houses and flats but some landlords chose to install window restrictors and child locks above the ground floor to protect tenants from injury or break-ins.
Hotels often also have window restrictors to protect guests from falling but it is not mandatory by law.
Depending on their purpose, some buildings must only have windows that open no more than 100mm.
Windows restrictors are required by law in places with vulnerable people like children and the elderly including hospitals, schools and care homes.
'People really out there thinking it's against the law to open the window,' a third said and one commented; 'It's a window comes with keys. Stop being dramatic'.
'I was born and lived here all my life and never have I seen windows like that in any house in London,' a Brit responded.
'The rule was brought in because Americans kept coming over and falling out the windows when it was too hot!' another joked.
