Does Renters Insurance Cover Broken Windows?

Renters insurance is designed to offer protection for your personal property as well as your personal liability. When it comes to structural elements of the home, including windows, renters insurance typically won't cover related incidents. However, there may be a case in which you could be found responsible for causing damage or destruction to someone else's window, and renters insurance could provide coverage for this.

An independent insurance agent can help you get set up with renters insurance if you still need it. They can also help you review your existing policy to determine exactly what's covered and what's not. But first, here's a closer look at whether and how renters insurance covers broken windows.

Table of Contents

Does Renters Insurance Cover Broken Windows?
How Does Renters Insurance Cover Liability Related to Broken Windows?
Renters Insurance Won't Cover Your Own Broken Window
What If a Window Gets Broken Due to a Named Peril?
How an Independent Insurance Agent Can Help

Does Renters Insurance Cover Broken Windows?

Renters insurance can provide some coverage for broken windows, but perhaps not in the way you may be expecting. For example, if a covered peril like a fire, windstorm, or vandalism broke your window and rendered your home unlivable, renters insurance could cover additional living expenses, or loss of use. This coverage can provide reimbursement for things like hotel rooms, takeout meals, additional gas mileage, and more while you have to live away from home while your unit undergoes repairs.

How Does Renters Insurance Cover Liability Related to Broken Windows?

Renters insurance can cover the cost of a broken window that belongs to another person if you were responsible for it. The way this works is under the liability coverage portion of your renters policy. This pays for the expenses associated with claims for which you're found liable, including property damage or bodily injury to a third party. 

If the insurance company determines you were liable for the broken window, your policy can provide liability coverage up to its limits in that section. Liability coverage under a standard renters insurance policy is generally $100,000, which is likely more than enough if the only issue is a broken window. You'd have to pay your policy's deductible out-of-pocket before receiving reimbursement.

Let's assume your daughter threw a ball that broke your neighbor's window. Your neighbor would file a claim with your insurance company. If the insurance company determined you were liable for the damage, your liability coverage could pay for the property damage. Or, if your insurance company determines you aren't liable, your renters insurance could pay for litigation costs if your neighbor decides to fight the coverage denial in court. 

Ready to Save on Renters Insurance?

Our independent agents shop around to find you the best coverage.

Request a quote

Renters Insurance Won't Cover Your Own Broken Window

You won't get reimbursement under your renters insurance policy if your own window breaks, regardless of whether it was intentional or negligent (i.e., accidental). This excludes damage caused by anyone covered by the policy, no matter how accidental the damage or destruction is. Along similar lines, renters insurance doesn't pay for maintenance. If the window is drafty, renters insurance won't pay for the replacement cost. 

What If a Window Gets Broken Due to a Named Peril?

Renters insurance does cover damage, loss, or destruction to your personal property due to named perils, but not to structural elements of your home. As a tenant, you're generally not responsible for covering damage to the dwelling or structural parts of your rented home, including windows. Those are the landlord's responsibility. So, even if a fire or other named peril damages or destroys your unit's window, the claim would have to be filed under the master landlord insurance policy. 

How an Independent Insurance Agent Can Help

Independent insurance agents can shop and compare renters insurance policies from multiple carriers for you. Ultimately, they'll get you matched to a policy that offers the best overall blend of coverage and cost. They can also help explain your coverage in detail and even file renters insurance claims for you. Better yet, they'll be there throughout the life of your policy to help update or change your coverage as necessary.