Window damage

[Carrie Westover]

After a visit to my rental property, I discovered 2 windows were broken. 

The tenant will be staying for at least another 2 1/2 months. I was originally going to use his deposit to pay for fixing the windows but is it smarter to have him front the money now and hold on to the deposit for anything else that may be damaged when he moves out?

Also, I won't be simply replacing the glass, I am going to replace the entire window since they happened to be the only 2 old aluminum windows in the house. Is it ethical to charge the tenant for the whole replacement? or should I pay the difference between what it would have cost to fix glass vs. replace window?

Thanks for your thoughts, experience!

[Chris Simmons]

Without knowing more details....how long they were tenant....quality of tenant etc, this is how i would approach it.

Get estimate for replacing the glass....even if that is not your intent.  This is your baseline cost.  Then get estimate for replacing the window.  They pay to fix what was there...you pay the difference and actually get the new windows.

Yes....get this done now and bill them, or take out of deposit and give them notice they have to replenish the deposit funds.  This is assuming you have this spelled out in the lease.  Best to just make them pay it now vs messing with all the deposit stuff, but if they don't or can't, that is another option.  

If you just wait until the end of the lease...then you are $300 or so already behind where you would have been if the windows weren't broken.

None of this addresses the how and why they were broken.  You may not want them there for another couple months.  If they have given their notice or you already know you won't renew their lease and they are tearing up the house...why wait for more damage?

This is where you knowing more details and having a feel for the tenant comes into play.