Does Renters Insurance Cover Broken Windows?

Renting a new home is difficult enough as is. With moving in new furniture and setting up utilities being a some of the things to do upon moving in. But remembering to purchase renters insurance is one of the most important things you must do before moving in. There are also many questions that come with renters insurance policies. One of the most common is, “does renters insurance cover broken windows?”.

Similar to homeowners insurance, renters insurance covers any personal property inside the home listed under the policy. But any property damage done to the dwelling itself is not a part of your renters insurance coverage. So what happens when something in the home you’re renting breaks, like a window? Does renters insurance cover broken windows? In short, it depends. Here are the details you need to know if your renters insurance covers broken windows.

So What Exactly Does Renters Insurance Cover if a Window is Broken?

A broken window is basically inevitable, especially if you move into an active and lively neighborhood. Accidents happen more often than most people think. In fact, 1 in every 525 homes experience some sort of property damage. So what exactly happens if you become a part of that statistic? The answer lies with whose property was damaged.

The first thing that you must do is get familiar with the liability portion of your renters insurance. Although these vary from policy to policy, the basics are usually the same. The general consensus is if you are liable for another person’s property damage, then your renters insurance will cover the damages done.

So if the type of damage is a broken window, wall or door, it doesn’t matter. If the damage was by you or the broken water pipe from your apartment, you are liable for their damages. The same goes if someone else breaks your window. Their insurance should cover the cost for the damages and repairs they made against you.

So in cases like these, does renters insurance cover broken windows? The answer is yes. There is the off chance that your renters insurance will require some sort of investigation. So they may potentially deem you not liable for said damages. If this does happen, your insurance will refuse to pay for the other person’s repairs, leaving them with the bill. This is where the situation might get messy, as the other person can sue you for the cost of repairs. If you do go to court, your renters insurance may pay for the cost relating to any litigation as well.

You have to keep in mind though, this varies between policies. So it is a good idea to get an idea on what is included in the liability portion of your policy.

Does Renters Insurance Cover Broken Windows We've Broken Ourselves?

What happens when the broken window happens to us, by us? Does renters insurance cover broken windows when it is self-inflicted? Hate to break it to you, but your renters insurance will not cover broken windows you caused yourself.

It doesn’t matter if it was by accident or on purpose, renters insurance simply won’t provide coverage. The good news is that replacing a window typically does not cost much, depending on the type of window. Replacement costs usually range from $200-$1200 with the national average cost sitting at $600. Although it’s not ideal to pay for a replacement out of pocket, it beats having a permanent open window. Or worse, losing your security deposit.

What More Do You Need to Know About Your Renters Insurance?

Renters insurance coverage is limited. Typically it comes down to 3 things, including:

• Personal property protection
• Liability protection
• Additional living expenses protection

The best thing you can do is to understand your policy and how much the policy covers. This is because asking “does renters insurance cover broken windows?” may not be the only question you’ll ask yourself. Especially if you are planning to rent for the long term. A home is so much more than windows, and each structure is equally as breakable as windows after all.

 If you want additional coverage, tenants insurance is a great option to consider as it fills the holes renters insurance has. Tenants insurance is what covers the property damage done to the home you are renting. So even if the tenants cause the damage, you’ll have coverage. This is a great additional insurance option for renters to have. It helps pay any major damages done which will help you get your full security deposit back.

Having coverage is a great thing to have when renting a home. So make sure to become familiar with your policy to know what coverage you have. This way you are never left wondering “does renters insurance cover broken windows?”

Renters insurance is a must for anyone who doesn’t own their current residence. For more insights on the benefits of maintaining a renters insurance policy, talk to the staff at Insurance Pro AZ today! Doing so will provide you with all of the information to help you make the right decision regarding your renters insurance policy.

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