Glass breakage – cover explained

When glass breaks it is never welcome. And while a glass being dropped may be an inconvenient mess to deal with, it is another thing altogether when there is a major breakage. If there’s a significant glass breakage at an investment property, chances are an insurance claim will be on the cards. But will it be covered?

Before we get into the nitty gritty, let’s be crystal clear about what is meant by glass breakage. To do that, we need to start with what is meant by “glass” in insurance terms.

So, what is glass?

Glass typically means fixed glass like windows, doors, skylights, shower screens, glass cooktops, mirrors fixed to the property and any other glass fitted to the property including glass tint. It also typically covers bathroom fixtures, like the shower base, sink, bath, lavatory pan and cistern.

If the contents of the property are insured (say you offer a fully-furnished property and have cover for your contents), “glass” also may include glass that forms part of any item of furniture, like a coffee or dining table, kitchen cabinets, wardrobe, dressing table or display cabinet. 

Are tenant’s items covered? 

Any glass owned by the tenant is not covered by the landlord’s insurance policy. Tenants need their own contents insurance to cover their personal possessions.

What isn’t glass?

Glass in television sets, radios, or any other computer or electrical equipment or mobile phones is not “glass” where glass breakage cover is concerned. It also doesn’t apply to glass in picture frames or clocks.

Do chips and cracks constitute glass damage?

The damage to fixed glass must be significant. If the item is simply chipped or scratched, or the crack does not extend through the entire thickness, then it is not generally covered.

What if a chip or crack leads to further glass damage?

Cover is only available if the item that is damaged was not already chipped or scratched before it was broken. For example, if the shower screen was already cracked and a bump by the tenant results in it breaking completely, it would probably not be covered because a lack of repair/maintenance contributed to the damage.

Does it matter how the glass breaks?

You should always refer to the PDS to determine when glass breakage is covered. Here are a few examples of how glass may break: 

• The damage may have been caused by accident, for example a backyard cricket match sees a ball smash the sliding door, or a heavy object is dropped through the glass coffee table.  

• The damage could also be caused by a malicious act, either by a tenant who, for example, seeks revenge on the landlord by taking to the bathroom suite with a hammer, or by a stranger, for example a vandal breaking all the garage windows.  

• The damage may be caused by an insured event, like a storm, for example, if hail destroys a skylight, or a tree topples through the conservatory. 

Whether it is covered depends on the policy you have and whether accidental and malicious damage, or insured events to glass damage is covered. Some policies may only cover certain scenarios, while others may cover all three.

What happens if the glass breakage leads to further damage?

There is a clause in insurance policies that relates to preventing further damage and loss. If glass is broken, the policyholder or their agent needs to take reasonable steps to try to stop more damage happening. For example, if a skylight is broken, a tarp could be put up to stop rain getting in. Or if a window is smashed, the broken pane could be boarded up. It is important to secure the premises quickly, so emergency repairs may need to be organised.

Need help?

If you have any questions or need to make a claim for broken glass, our Expert Care team can help – 1800 661 662. 

*While we have taken care to ensure the information above is true and correct at the time of publication, changes in circumstances and legislation after the displayed date may impact the accuracy of this article. If you need us we are here, contact 1800 661 662 if you have any questions.