Does Renters Insurance Cover Broken Windows? What to Know

As a renter, few sounds cause more dread than the shattering of a window pane. Your mind races – who will pay for this damage? Will my security deposit be wiped out? What will my landlord say?

Whether an accident, weather event, or act of vandalism caused the broken window, you may wonder if your renters insurance policy covers the cost of repairs.

The answer is complicated. Renters insurance will not directly pay for damage to your rental property. But it may cover a broken window depending on the circumstances and what part of your policy applies.

Read on for a detailed overview explaining when and how renters insurance covers the cost of a damaged window.

Does Renters Insurance Cover a Broken Window in Your Home?

Standard renters insurance contains three main types of coverage:

• Personal property – Covers damage/theft of your belongings
• Liability – Pays for injury/damage you cause to others
• Loss of use – Covers hotel costs if you can’t live in your rental

So which of these covers a broken window in your apartment or rental home?

Unfortunately, none provide direct coverage for a window broken in your residence.

Here’s why renters insurance doesn’t pay for a damaged window in your own home:

• Personal property – Only covers your possessions, not the physical apartment itself
• Liability – Applies if you break a window belonging to someone else, not damage to your own place
• Loss of use – Only triggered if the unit is completely uninhabitable due to damage

A broken window alone does not make a rental unlivable. So loss of use coverage won’t apply.

Bottom line – renters insurance does NOT pay to replace a window broken in your own home. That falls under your landlord’s responsibility.

When Does Renters Insurance Cover a Broken Window?

While it doesn’t directly pay for a broken window in your home, renters insurance can provide coverage in certain scenarios:

You Accidentally Break a Neighbor’s Window

Let’s say you’re playing ball in your yard and hit a baseball through your neighbor’s window, shattering the glass.

Or your kids are playing outside and damage a window in the adjacent home with a stray kickball.

These types of accidents fall under the liability portion of your renters policy. Liability coverage pays for injury or property damage caused to another person for which you are legally liable.

So if your actions or negligence cause a broken window elsewhere, liability will pay to repair or replace the neighbor’s window. Coverage usually tops out at $100,000 or more.

To use your liability insurance:

1. The neighbor files a claim with their homeowners insurance

2. That insurer investigates and determines you’re at fault for the damage

3. Your liability coverage reimburses you for the cost of repairs (up to your policy limits)

Liability insurance protects renters who accidentally damage another person’s property, like breaking a window. This provides peace of mind just in case an errant baseball or other accident causes costly damage.

A Burglar Smashes Your Window During Break-In

Most landlords carry building insurance that covers vandalism and damage from crimes like burglaries.

But if a thief broke your window while breaking in and your rental is left uninhabitable, your renters policy may assist through loss of use coverage.

This provides reimbursement for temporary housing if a covered peril damages your apartment to the extent you can’t live there safely while repairs are made.

Hotels, meals, and other living costs are covered for a specified amount of time, often around 12 months.

So if a break-in leaves your rental completely unlivable, loss of use coverage can help pay the bills while you wait for your landlord to replace the smashed window and do other repairs required to make the unit habitable again.

Your Landlord Fails to Fix the Damage

As outlined above, your landlord’s insurance generally covers damage to the building itself for covered losses.

But what if weeks go by after you report a broken window and the landlord fails to fix it? This leaves your apartment exposed to the elements or at risk of intruders entering.

Most states require landlords to maintain safe, habitable living conditions for tenants. Failure to fix a broken window in a reasonable timeframe likely violates your state’s landlord-tenant laws.

If repeated requests fail to get the window repaired, you can:

• Report landlord violations to your local housing authority
• File a complaint in rental housing court
• Sue the landlord for triple damages in some cases

An attorney can help advise you on the best recourse in your jurisdiction to compel the landlord to replace a broken window left unrepaired.

Renters insurance itself won’t force a landlord to fix what they are legally obligated to, but it provides liability coverage if their neglect causes injury or damage to others.

Steps to Make a Renters Insurance Claim for a Broken Window

Making a claim on your renters insurance if you’ve broken an item in someone else’s home is straightforward:

1. Document the Damage

Take photos and video of the broken window right away as evidence. Make sure they clearly show the extent of damage.

2. File a Police Report

Especially for vandalism or other crimes, having an official report is key during the claims process.

3. Contact Your Insurance Provider

Call your insurance company or agent as soon as possible to begin your claim. Provide details on what happened and the documentation you have.

4. Submit Your Claim Formally

Work with your insurer to formally submit the claim in writing along with evidence like police reports and photos.

5. Get Status Updates

Stay on top of your claim status and provide any additional details the insurer requests.

6. Receive Claim Payment

Once approved, the insurer will reimburse you the amount owed for liability claims or loss of use coverage.

Having renters insurance provides peace of mind if you cause accidental damage. And it can motivate your landlord to fix broken windows promptly by putting liability pressure on them.

Is Your Landlord Responsible for Broken Windows?

In general, landlords are responsible for properly maintaining rental units in a safe, livable condition. This includes having secure windows without broken glass.

If a window breaks due to normal wear and tear or aging, the property owner typically must pay for replacement parts and repairs. They usually can’t force you as the tenant to cover the cost in this scenario.

However, if you or your guests directly cause damage to windows or other features, the landlord can utilize your security deposit to cover repair costs at move out.

To avoid blame, document any pre-existing window damage through photos and a written condition statement when moving in.

Responsibility also depends on the reason for breakage:

• Regular use – Landlord pays
• Extreme weather – Landlord pays
• Vandalism – Landlord pays
• Tenant negligence – Tenant pays

So if your kids shatter a window playing ball in the home, you’ll likely foot the bill. But for standard weather damage, it falls on the landlord.

Review your lease to see any clauses assigning financial responsibility for different types of property damage to confirm.

How Much Does It Cost to Replace a Broken Window?

A broken window repair isn’t cheap. Here are average prices:

• Glass replacement – $75 to $400
• New window unit – $150 to $1,500+
• Emergency after hours service fee – $100 to $200

Costs vary based on window size, glass type, custom shapes, and labor time. Having existing windows re-glazed tends to be more affordable than full window replacement.

Is Your Security Deposit at Risk?

Many landlords deduct the costs to replace a broken window from your security deposit when moving out.

Window repairs also frequently prompt landlords to withhold your entire deposit, even if other damages aren’t present. This leaves you to fight to recoup your remaining deposit amount.

To avoid deposit disputes, document any pre-existing window damage at move-in and report any new damage immediately in writing. This proves it occurred under the landlord’s watch, not yours.

Use your renters insurance liability coverage if you do accidentally break a window. This keeps expensive repairs from draining your security deposit.

Key Takeaways on Renters Insurance and Broken Windows

• Renters policies do NOT pay for windows broken in your own rental home or apartment. That falls under the landlord’s property insurance.

• Liability coverage will reimburse window repair costs if you break one belonging to someone else.

• Loss of use coverage can pay temporary housing costs if damage leaves your unit uninhabitable.

• Notify your landlord immediately and document all pre-existing and new window damage.

• Your security deposit is at risk if your landlord alleges you broke a window. Use renters insurance to avoid deposit loss.

While it doesn’t directly cover repairs to your own place, renters insurance provides valuable protection if you accidentally break another person’s window. And it motivates landlords to fix broken windows promptly by putting liability pressure on them.