Broken glass in holiday rental, not safety glass

[HighFibreDiet]

This is such a pain. We are leaving the holiday rental tomorrow, and yesterday ds2 ran into a bedroom door breaking the glass. It wasn't safety glass. It has broken into huge jagged pieces. I can get glaziers to knock out all the broken bits but they can't fit new glass for a few days - because it has to be safety glass by law, and has to go through the treatment process after measuring up. The landlady has said she wants it ready for the new tenants and she's expecting us to cover all the costs.

I will pay for the replacement but I rather suspect that all I can do is get the glass knocked out and she has to deal with the rest. After all, she should have made sure all the doors were safety glass in the first place.

Any advice?

Safety glass is not the same as toughened glass. So having safety glass there in the first place won't have prevented it breaking. Presumably there's a clause in the contract that makes you liable for all breakages, but I think you're right that she'll have to deal with it. You may find however that she doesn't go for the cheapest replacement. That glass with the wire mesh in might be cheapest.

Yes I did wonder about what glass she would choose but interestingly, she's leaving it up to me. I suspect it's because she's glad that I'm paying for it instead of threatening to sue her.

Safety glass wouldn't have prevented it breaking but it would have stopped it breaking into pieces with jagged edges, i.e. it would have been a lot safer once broken.

Even if you agree to pay it is not your responibility to arrange for the repair.

Enjoy the rest of your holiday and ask the landlord to send you the bill for the finished works.

If you have holiday insurance then contact them to see if you are covered.

Forgot to mention - you are only obliged to replace like with like. Get a glazier to do that.