I would ask for new screens, as without them the windows are not functional. Whether or not you'll get them is another thing entirely. But it's worth a shot.

Ask for them all to be replaced. If the landlord baulks at that, could you live with half of the windows having the correct screens? That would give you a bargaining point.

I don't think I have checked out the screens on the windows in 25 years of renting, so I don't think you were stupid. You saw windows and assumed you would be able to open them.

Ask your landlord first. You may want to find a place that will build the correct screens so you can pass that along. Many landlords are lazy and not knowing where to get screens made may have them do nothing. In my city proper screens are required for rental premits. Perhaps you could call your building and saftey or other rental enforcer to see if its to code.

I just had 5 screens made and 2 repaired. It was over $160! I live in a town around 100,000 and only could find a ma and pa hardware store to fix and rebuild them!

i RECENTLY MOVED INTO AN APT HERE IN FLA. SEVERAL SCREENS WERE MISSING. I USUALLY RUN A/C OR HEAT ANYWAY. TILL THE A/C QUIT WORKING. MY LANDLORD REFUSES TO MAKE TIMELY REPAIRS...AND OPENING MY WINDOWS ISNT AN OPTION(I LIVE ON A LAKE. I INFORMED HERE THAT FAILURE TO REPAIR THE UNIT PROPERLY AND INSTALL SCREENS WOULD RESULT IN RENT BEING WITHHELD