The townhouse I am renting was buglarized--by breaking out a window. Now the landlord is telling me that I must pay for the broken window.

Whay are my options?

Thank you,
tmathe

Did you make a police report of the crime? Did you report it to the landlord? Did you take pictures of the broken glass to verify that the glass was broken from the outside?

Was it a fixed glass or a slider? The importance is high because the cost varies greatly if someone has to come out or whether the frame can be taken in.

You need to convince the landlord it was not your fault of they have the advantage because in the end they can simply deduct the cost from your security deposit when you move.

[QUOTE=tmathe]The townhouse I am renting was buglarized--by breaking out a window. Now the landlord is telling me that I must pay for the broken window.

Whay are my options?



What does the lease say about damage? On one hand homeowners or renters could cover it; on the other it's your problem, damage which occurred during your tenancy.

This is something that would be covered under a renters policy. As the tenant you are responsible for the property with the exception of specific items that would be outlined in your lease agreement.

Check the agreement, see what it says, but I'll bet you will have to take care of the window.

Window breakage was something I always held my tennants liable for when I had rental policies. If I had to go and fix it for them, I would merely add it to next months rental fee. Since house insurance nomally has 1000 deductable or more esp on rental properteis, That is also why in all my rental agreements I stated they should get their own renters policy.

But your choice, if landlord is refusing to fix it, well leave it unfixed?
Or fix it. After you fix it, if you want to sue them for the cost, you can,
That is about your three choices
1. do nothing
2. fix it and you pay for it
3. fix it, you pay for it, then sue for the money back

Tell him you may pay for part of it but it is mostly if not all his problem

Quote:

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Originally Posted by redAjumper

tell him you may pay for part of it but it is mostly if not all his problem

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Sorry but you are incorrect - unless the lease states something else a broken window is the responsibility of the tenant. How it got broken is immaterial. If the tenant wants to pursue whoever broke it (which does not seem to be the case here) that's up to the tenant.

Hello t:

I don't think you are responsible for damage caused by third party criminal activity.

I seem to be in the minority of opinion, however, and I don't KNOW that my answer is correct. I'd refuse to pay and let a judge tell me I'm wrong.

excon