IrelandWhat deposit can my landlord charge?
In Ireland, your landlord can charge a deposit of up to one month’s rent for a standard tenancy under the Residential Tenancies Act 2004.
What the Law Says
The Residential Tenancies Act 2004 sets the legal limit on how much deposit a landlord can ask for from a tenant in Ireland.
Under Irish law, landlords are not allowed to charge more than one month’s rent as a deposit. This rule applies to all standard private residential tenancies regulated by the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB).
The deposit must be lodged with an approved tenancy deposit protection scheme — though the 2004 Act itself does not yet mandate this (a later amendment introduced protection requirements, but s.12 remains the core limit on deposit amount).
This cap helps protect tenants from excessive upfront costs and ensures fairness at the start of a tenancy.
Statutory TextA landlord shall not require a tenant to pay a deposit in respect of a tenancy which exceeds an amount equal to one month's rent payable in respect of the tenancy.
— Residential Tenancies Act 2004, s. 12 — Deposit
What to Do
Check your tenancy agreement to confirm the deposit amount charged.
If it exceeds one month’s rent, you can request a refund of the excess amount.
Contact the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) for advice or to make a complaint if your landlord refuses.
Keep records of all payments, including receipts and bank transfers.
Sources
Not legal advice. This article is general information based on publicly available sources, written for educational purposes. Laws change and individual situations vary. Consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction before acting on anything you read here. Last reviewed: 2026-06-08.