Your landlord ignored your deposit demand. Refer it to the RTB.
In Ireland a landlord's non-return of a deposit is decided by the Residential Tenancies Board — free mediation or €30 adjudication, ending in a binding Determination Order.
You sent a demand; the landlord ignored it, refused, or only returned part of your deposit. The next step in Ireland is not the small claims court — that route specifically excludes a landlord's failure to return a deposit. Deposit disputes are decided by the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) under the Residential Tenancies Act 2004.
The RTB gives you a choice. Free mediation works when there is still some dialogue and you want a binding agreement quickly. Adjudication costs €30: an independent adjudicator reviews the evidence at a hearing and issues a binding decision. Either path can end in a Determination Order — enforceable through the District Court if the landlord still does not pay.
A landlord may only keep part of a deposit for rent or bills genuinely owed, or for damage beyond normal wear and tear that they can evidence. The burden is on them. Your photos, the signed inventory, and proof the rent and bills were paid are usually decisive. Aim to refer the dispute within 28 days of the tenancy ending.
Legal mechanisms now in play
- RTB dispute resolution under the Residential Tenancies Act 2004 — the correct forum for deposit disputes (the small claims court is excluded)
- Free mediation, or €30 adjudication, ending in a binding Determination Order
- Determination Order enforceable through the District Court
- The landlord bears the burden of evidencing any deduction; normal wear and tear is not deductible
- The RTB can deal with your dispute even if the tenancy was never registered
RTB Dispute Resolution Application
Builds a structured case narrative to attach to your RTB application: the tenancy facts, your stage-1 demand and the landlord's response, what is wrong with the landlord's position, and the remedy sought — a Determination Order returning your deposit. Routes you between free mediation and €30 adjudication.
$19.00 ($9.00 if you bought our earlier letter — apply via the receipt URL or QR code in your first letter's PDF)
Start the RTB Dispute Resolution Application →Frequently asked
Can I use the small claims court for my deposit instead?
No. The District Court Small Claims Procedure specifically excludes a landlord's failure to return a deposit. The RTB is the correct route, and its decision (a Determination Order) is binding and enforceable through the District Court.
How much does the RTB charge?
Mediation is free. Adjudication costs €30. The RTB launched an online Dispute Resolution Centre to make applying straightforward — it is designed for people acting for themselves.
Is there a deadline to refer a deposit dispute?
The RTB advises referring a deposit-return dispute within 28 days of the tenancy ending. Apply promptly and keep your evidence — photos, the signed inventory, and proof that rent and bills were paid.
What if the tenancy wasn't registered with the RTB?
The RTB can still deal with your dispute. A landlord's failure to register does not bar you from the RTB's dispute resolution service.
How much does the next-step application cost?
$19 standalone, or $9 if you bought our original RTB deposit-return demand — your receipt URL or QR code applies the discount automatically.