Tenant's home gets broken into, then landlords expects her to pay $500 dollars for negligent charges: 'Someone tried to break into my apartment how is this my fault?'

Author image for Inés Soubrie
Inés Soubrie • Writer and Editor
May 23, 2026 5:15 PM EDT

She didn't break the window. A burglar did. Her landlord sent her the bill anyway, and she wasn't having it.

When a property management company tried to call a criminal break-in attempt "tenant negligence," this tenant did exactly what everyone should do: went straight to the lease, read every word, and came back with receipts.

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    Woman sitting down watching her computer holding her glasses with one hand.
    via Getty Images

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • Let's get the facts straight before we get into any of this. Last Thursday, someone tried to break into this tenant's apartment using what appears to have been a crowbar. The outer window panes broke during the attempt. The inner panes stayed intact. All doors and windows had been locked. A police report was filed immediately. Emergency maintenance was contacted the same day.

    By any reasonable definition, this woman did everything right. And then the property management company sent her the bill.

    Their reasoning: the broken window constitutes negligent damage, which under the lease falls under tenant responsibility. Never mind that the damage was done from outside the building. Never mind that the lease specifically states tenants are responsible for damages caused by themselves or their guests. Never mind that a person attempting to break into someone's home with a crowbar is, by definition, a criminal, not a tenant, not a guest, not anyone whose actions this woman could have controlled or prevented.

  • 02
    Last Thursday, someone attempted to break into my son's window. We live in a halfway underground apartment. They tried using a crowbar or something and bent the frame and during that, the two OUTER window panes
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    broke. Inside panes were still intact. I made a police report as soon as I found out and also contacted emergency maintenance.
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    Cheezburger Image 10632630272
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    The apartment complex contacted a 3rd party vendor to come out and repair the windows and frame but they want to charge me for the damages. I've combed
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    Cheezburger Image 10632630528
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    through the lease and handbook and as far as I can tell, it only states that I'm responsible for damages caused by myself or guests. I didn't break the window nor did any guests. They're claiming it's considered
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    negligent damages and saying I'm responsible. I'm just confused how a random break in attempt can be considered negligent damages on my end? All the doors and windows were locked.
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    Should I fight it or pay the $500 deductible on my renters insurance and move on?
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    > 4:00 31 ... Hi P Tamra Lynch 10:39 AM to We are currently in the process of replacing your broken window pane and attempting to repair the window surround. This is considered a tenant charge, so you may want to reach out to your renter's insurance and file a claim. I do not have the charges applied to your account, but as soon as we get a cost from our vendor, I will let you know. Please let me know if you have any questions. Thank you, me 10:57 AM P Hi, I'm not sure how this is my fault or wh
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    Leaf Property Management 4:00 > Grand Forks Community Office P 701-330-4554 grandforks@silverleaf prop.co T me 11:08 AM P To 31 .. ... Rule 1.16 states that I should be charged for any damage caused by myself or any guests, I have read through the lease and did not see anything that states tenants are responsible for damages caused by random theft attempts. I've even read through the handbook. Can you show me where this rule is so in case insurance asks for it, I can provide it? ... P me 11:15 A
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    3:59 ✓ Patience, 31 ... The broken window would be considered negligent damages which the tenant is responsible for. Anything that is not normal wear and tear is tenant responsibility. This is common with any property management company. Again, you will need to submit a claim with your renter's insurance. ... P me 11:51 AM ... Help me understand how the damages are considered negligent on my end? My property is kept clean and tidy, someone random tried to break into my apartment. That is not my
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    3:59 Tamra Lynch 1:43 PM < to me • 31 ... It's in the resident handbook which is part of the lease agreement. Please keep in mind the examples of negligent damages are examples of SOME of the issues tenants can be charged for. This is not a list of only damages. I just copied and pasted the section that pertains to you. Normal Wear & Tear: Throughout your tenancy, we understand that your rental unit will sustain a certain amount of wear and tear. However, there is a fine line between normal wear
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    lea 3:59 exam iples of negligent damages are ment. Please keep in mind the 31 SOME of the issues tenants can be charged for. ☑his is not a list of only da☑ages jus☑ppie... and pasted the section that pertains to you. Normal Wear & Tear: Throughout your tenancy, we understand that your rental unit will sustain a certain amount of wear and tear. However, there is a fine line between normal wear and tear and negligent damage to your apartment. Below are some guidelines to help you understand the di
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    3:59 Tamra Lynch 1:43 PM It's in the resident handbook which is part. < me 3:51PM P to 31 ... ... There was no damage to my apartment. There was damage done to the property structure OUTSIDE of my apartment. The window did not get broken by me or my guests. I did not cause the damage a 3rd party did. The inside glass did not get broken and even if it did I still would not be responsible as it was the act of a criminal. Also all those things the handbook states are things done INSIDE of the apart
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    Conflicted woman dressed casually laying on her bed facing the ceiling with a window by her bed.
    via Meg Aghamyan

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • She went back to the lease anyway. And then the handbook. She read both thoroughly and found exactly what most people would find: nothing that specifically addresses criminal damage. Because why would it? Tenant negligence and criminal break-in attempts are not the same category of event. One is a worn carpet or a hole in the wall. The other is a crime scene.

    Her response to the property management company was calm, specific, and devastating. She pointed out that the damage was done to the outer structure of the building, not inside her apartment. She noted that the handbook's examples of negligent damage are all interior issues caused by the leasee or guests. She highlighted that criminal damage does not equal tenant negligence and that the building's property insurance, not her renter's insurance, is the appropriate place to file this claim. She even offered the police report reference number.

    Then she pointed out that the rule they cited states damages are chargeable at the time of move out, and her lease doesn't end until next March.

    Read your lease. Know your rights. And when someone tries to charge you for a crime someone else committed,  ask them to show you exactly where it says that.

    She did. They couldn't.

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    Woman with long brown hair sitting in a grey couch looking frustrated with her hands on her head.
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    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 18
    AntiHypeHeron Looks like he is just trying to get money from your rental insurance (easier) vs his insurance (dings that can cause red flags for rate hikes or policy cancellation). He definitely need some kinda back up in the lease terms- otherwise he's just trying to act stupid, and con man
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    Hasidic-guy This isn't your responsibility and you shouldn't pay. It's a money grab. The landlord is hoping you will go along since your insurance may pay, || doubt they will since it is damage to the property.
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    Kbern4444 You are not responsible for the outside of the building. They are with you on this one and hoping you just pay.
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    Baked Brie1993 Don't get into an argument. Use declarative statements. Keep it formal and concise. Be firm. Do not leave room for argument. Landlords thrive on tenant ignorance and fear. To building management team: I have received your request for compensation for damages due to an attempted break-in by a third party on DATE.
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    Structural damage due to a crime is a legal and insurance claim issue that must be handled by the police along with your property/vandalism insurance coverage. As such, I will have to politely decline your request for compensation and ask that you refrain from further solicitation on this matter as I was not directly involved.
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    In my limited capacity as a tenant, I have assisted by helping file a police report and statement. Attached is a copy for your records, along with the contact information of the police investigator assigned to the case. If you have any further inquiries about this matter, I will direct them to my lawyer for further consideration. Kindly,
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    Dapper_Platform_1222 I am so enraged on your behalf. I can't imagine working for a property manager and treating people this way all for like 40K per year.
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  • 25
    originalread So, by the Landlord's logic, if hail breaks a window, you're liable? If a Squirrel chews on the A/C wiring, you're liable? If a random drink driver plows their truck into the wall, you're liable? Landlord needs to pound sand.
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    IIII_Comedian3417 This person has no idea what they are talking about. Ur 100% correct. The landlord is covered for this with their insurance. The pm is not very bright
    via Ill_Comedian3417

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bad landlords landlords entitled money entitled people
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