Home Dangers

Risky habits at home are far from rare. More than four out of five (83%) of Australians admitted to at least one dangerous habit in the past year. Electrical complacency tops the list, with nearly half of Aussies (48.1%) leaving kitchen appliances, such as kettles and microwaves, plugged in when not in use. This is closely followed by leaving electrical items such as TVs and computers plugged in when not in use (44.1%). What seem like simple habits, electrical appliances and faults are in fact the cause of 40% of home fires and 40-50% of them start in the kitchen. 

Leaving windows open while no one is home was the third most common risk (33%). The “I was only gone for a moment” mindset leads to easy oversights, and it’s not just windows; more than a quarter (27%) have left dryers, dishwashers, or washing machines running while asleep or out, and almost one in four (22%) admit to leaving food on the stove or in the oven while on and unattended. These everyday slips can create real risks, from fires and floods to break-ins, and in some cases, could affect your home insurance. 

Some habits differ slightly by gender. Women are a little more likely to leave kitchen appliances or windows open, while men are more likely to leave doors unlocked or overload power boards. Other risks, such as charging devices on flammable surfaces or leaving cooking unattended, are common across both. 

Some hazards are far less common. While lithium‑ion batteries are an increasing cause of home fires, particularly from e-bikes and power tools, only 5.4% of people admit to charging them unattended, and just 2.9% leave them in hot areas. What some people may find surprising, is that even charging a battery while you sleep counts as leaving it unattended. More than 450 fires in Australia have been linked to the e-scooter, bike and car batteries over 18 months. At the end of last year, NSW recorded its 100th e‑rideable battery fire after a lithium‑ion e-bike battery sparked a blaze that destroyed a terrace home.  

Risky home habits peak in early to mid-adulthood. Over the past year, Australians aged 25–34 have reported engaging in the most hazardous habits, averaging nearly four of the risky behaviours on our list, with 35–44 year olds close behind. Younger adults between the ages of 18 and 34 are more likely to leave candles burning or share holiday plans online, while those in mid-life tend to leave dryers, dishwashers, or washing machines running while out or asleep. 

Older Australians play it safer overall, which might come down to life experience. Those aged 65 and over reported the fewest risky habits, but electrical complacency increased with age, with more than half of 55–64 year olds reporting they leave appliances plugged in, compared with only a third of 18–24 year olds. For some, it could be simple forgetfulness or the assumption that “nothing’s ever happened before,” but accidents can still happen. Across all ages, every day slips and habits shift in type and frequency, showing that no one is entirely risk-free. 

Dangerous habits don’t just vary by age or gender; our study also found differences between states. Victoria comes out on top for leaving kitchen appliances plugged in, with more than half (52.7%) admitting to forgetting this. South Australians were the worst at leaving other electrical appliances plugged in (54.2%). Meanwhile, Queenslanders were more likely to leave windows open (36%) or leave the stove or oven unattended while cooking (24.1%), echoing the “I’ll only be gone a moment” mindset we highlighted earlier. NSW and Western Australia sit somewhere in the middle but still show high rates of everyday slips, like charging devices on flammable surfaces or leaving doors unlocked. 

While the type of risk shifts between states, gender and ages, the message is the same: these everyday habits can be way too common, and even small oversights can carry serious consequences.