A lot of people in Florida rent rather than own their residence. According to data cited by Best Neighborhood, “In Florida, 32..17% of people rent their homes or live in apartments.” When windows break or need replacement, many renters begin to wonder if they can order window installation on the homes they live in.
The short answer is: “Almost certainly not.” It would be highly unlikely that a rental agreement would give a renter, a temporary tenant, leave to make a permanent alteration to the home such as installing new windows. This holds true even when the new windows would clearly be an upgrade.
Why Can’t Renters Order Window Installation?
The biggest reason why a renter cannot, under normal circumstances, order new window installation work on the home they’re renting is that it is not their property.
As noted by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), tenants may not “destroy, deface, damage, impair or remove any part of the premises or property belonging to the landlord, nor permit any person to do so.” This is a standard clause in almost any written rental agreement. These elements of rental agreements are standardized mainly to ensure that they’re consistent.
The old windows in a home, even if broken, technically fall under the category of ‘part of the premises or property belonging to the landlord.’ So, removing them would be a breach of the rental agreement.
Are There Exceptions That Would Let Me Get Window Installation Done?
There may be some exceptions, but that would have to be spelled out in your rental agreement. For example, say that your landlord is a close family friend or family member. They may have a rental agreement with you that gives you more options for making renovations or updates to the home, especially if the plan is to have you reside there long-term or pass the property over to you after a set period of time.
However, this would be an incredibly rare exception, not the rule.
If a rental agreement doesn’t specify that you can make such updates to a home, the assumption should be that you aren’t allowed to order complete window replacement.
What About If a Window Breaks? Can I Get a New Window Installation Then?
Okay, what happens if the windows in your rental home break? What happens then?
According to HomRiver Group (a property management company), it is a core obligation of landlords to “provide a habitable living environment for their tenants.” So, if a component of the home critical to a renter’s health, comfort, and safety breaks (such as a window), then the landlord is responsible for repairs.
If the break is due to normal wear and tear or nature’s wrath, then the landlord would be responsible for all costs associated with the repair and would need to contact a window replacement company to handle the work themselves.
If the break happens because of the actions of the tenant, then the tenant would be responsible for the cost of repair or replacement, but it would still be the landlord who would need to find a window replacement company to handle the window installation, source the windows, etc.
In either case, regardless of who is financially responsible for the window installation/replacement work, it is the landlord who has final say on what windows get put in and who they work with.
Now, landlords are required to make repairs in a reasonable amount of time. If your windows break and need to be replaced, be sure to notify the landlord in writing via email, certified mail, or some other method that you can record and track to verify that you gave them the notification.
What Can I Do if I Want a New Window Installation in My Rental Home?
So, what can you do to get window replacement service in a rental property you live in? As a tenant, if you’re dead set on getting new windows, then the best thing you can do is to talk to your landlord and ask them if they’d be willing to make the upgrade to their property.
To convince them of the value, you might try to highlight the benefits of new window installation in a home, such as:
- Improved Energy Efficiency. Modern windows that meet ENERGY STAR standards can help reduce air conditioning costs, saving the landlord money in the long run on electric bills and even sparing some wear and tear on the AC system.
- Reduced Insurance Costs. A major benefit of installing new windows that are impact-rated is that it can help reduce insurance premiums. Florida Statutes Title XXXVII subsection 627.0629 specifies that “It is the intent of the Legislature that insurers provide savings to consumers who install or implement windstorm damage mitigation techniques, alterations, or solutions to their properties to prevalent windstorm losses.” Impact windows are a qualifying form of wind mitigation protection that could earn the landlord lower insurance rates.
- Enhanced Curb Appeal/Property Value. High-quality windows can be a selling point for a rental home, helping attract more renters and command higher rental rates for future tenants. This can be a particularly effective argument for getting a landlord to upgrade the windows in the home you’re renting.
You can also help point your landlord to well-known, trusted window installation and replacement companies that have decades of experience in Tampa Bay to put in the new windows in your rental home.
Ultimately, the decision to get new window installation work done is up to the property owner. This is a question that we get asked from time to time. But, although we’d love to replace the windows in your rental home, we cannot do so without the property owner’s written permission to do so.
Why Choose Karoly Windows for Window Installation?
Are you a property owner for a residential home who wants new windows installed the right way? Karoly Windows & Doors is your top choice in Tampa Bay!
We specialize in high-quality window installation for residential homes and strive to make every installation as perfect as possible. That’s why we:
- Use 100% In-House Labor. Karoly Windows never outsources window installation work to third-party contractors. When our truck pulls up, every installation tech in it is a Karoly employee. That’s one of the ways that we ensure consistent quality and attention to detail for all of our window installations.
- Partnered with Top Window Brands in Florida. Karoly Windows works with top-rated window manufacturers that specialize in the Florida market like Simonton and PGT. These brands are based in Florida and understand the requirements of residential windows here. They extensively test and vet their products to ensure that they can withstand the harshest conditions that Florida homes face.
- Back Every Installation with a Platinum Standard Lifetime Guarantee. We’re confident in our window installation work. So, every window we install comes backed by a warranty that covers labor for 25 years and materials for 50 years. If there’s a problem with your windows, we’ll fix it. Guaranteed.
This dedication to high-quality workmanship and using top-shelf products has consistently earned Karoly Windows & Doors rave reviews from our customers. We’ve earned the Nextdoor Neighborhood Fave award multiple times, Best of the Best designation in Tampa Bay for window installation, and have received hundreds of 5-Star reviews on Google, Angi, and more!
Reach out today to get a quote for window installation from the best window replacement company in Tampa Bay!
