Ireland RTB Rental Deposit-Return Demand
First-person self-help demand to a landlord or letting agent to return a rental deposit, sent before you refer the dispute to the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB). Explains that deposit disputes go to the RTB — not the small claims court — and that adjudication ends in a binding Determination Order. Republic of Ireland. You complete and send it in your own name.
Statute of Limitations Warning
Legal deadlines apply to your claim. You lose your right to act if you wait too long. Send notice as soon as possible.
Why this letter works:
- Cites the exact law: Automatically applies the correct state and federal statutes to your situation.
- Sets a firm deadline: Legally compels a response within the required statutory timeframe.
- Creates a paper trail: Designed to serve as Exhibit A if you need to escalate to an agency or court.
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What you'll get
Below is a real example. Your version will be personalized with your name, the exact statute that applies where you are, and the right deadline.
August 13, 2026
RE: Return of rental deposit for Apartment 2, 8 St Brendan's Terrace, Galway H91 XY42 — €1400.00
Dear Corrib Property Services,
I was the tenant of Apartment 2, 8 St Brendan's Terrace, Galway H91 XY42, from October 1, 2024 until June 30, 2026. At the start of the tenancy I paid you a deposit of €1400.00. I am writing to demand the return of €1400.00.
You say there is damage beyond normal wear and tear. A landlord may only deduct for damage that goes beyond normal wear and tear, and must be able to show evidence of it and its cost.
The only marks in the apartment were normal wear on the hallway paint after nearly two years. I have dated photographs from the day I moved out and the inventory from the start of the tenancy, and no receipts or quotes for the claimed repairs have been sent to me.
THE LAW
Under the Residential Tenancies Act 2004, my deposit must be returned to me promptly at the end of the tenancy. You may only retain part of it for rent or bills that are genuinely owed, or for damage beyond normal wear and tear that you can evidence. Disputes about a deposit are dealt with by the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB), not the small claims court.
MY DEMAND
Please return €1400.00 to me within 14 days of the date of this letter. If you say any deduction is justified, please send me a full breakdown and the receipts or evidence that support it.
If you do not, I will refer this dispute to the Residential Tenancies Board (rtb.ie). RTB mediation is free and adjudication costs €30. The RTB can make a binding Determination Order requiring you to return my deposit, which is enforceable through the District Court, and it can separately impose sanctions on a landlord who unlawfully withholds a deposit.
I would prefer to resolve this directly. Please treat this letter as my formal notice before I refer the matter to the RTB.
Yours sincerely,
This is a self-help template prepared using Commoner Law (commoner-law.com). It is general legal information and a letter you complete and send in your own name — it is not legal advice, and we are not a law firm or your solicitors. Tenancy deposit disputes in Ireland are dealt with by the Residential Tenancies Board, whose mediation and adjudication services are designed for people acting for themselves. Free guidance is available from Threshold and Citizens Information.
The full letter — including the statute citations for your state — is shown above. Only the recipient block, signature, and mailing instructions are masked. They appear in the PDF you download after payment ($19).
Your Action Plan
This letter is part of a formal escalation process.
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Your tenancy and deposit
Tell us about your tenancy and the deposit you paid. If your landlord will not return it, the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) — not the small claims court — resolves the dispute.
This letter will cite
Residential Tenancies Act 2004 (as amended). Deposit disputes are decided by the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB): free mediation or adjudication for €30, ending in a binding Determination Order.
A landlord may only keep a deposit for unpaid rent, unpaid bills, or damage beyond normal wear and tear. Refer a deposit dispute to the RTB within 28 days of the tenancy ending.
Before you start
What exactly do I get, and when?
A personalized PDF letter, written around the statute that applies to your situation, with the deadline and the consequence spelled out. It downloads the moment payment confirms, back here on commoner-law.com — there is no waiting period and no account to create.
How much is it?
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Is this legal advice?
This tool creates a self-help deposit-return demand letter that you complete and send in your own name. It is general legal information, not legal advice, and we are not a law firm or your solicitors. In Ireland, tenancy deposit disputes are resolved by the Residential Tenancies Board, not the small claims court. Rules and fees change over time — check the current position at rtb.ie before you apply.
What if I need to change something afterwards?
Tell us and we will either adjust the letter and send you the updated version at no cost, or refund you in full — your choice. If we can’t deliver what you paid for, the refund is automatic. Full terms are on our promise page.
Do I have to pay to know if I have a case?
No. The rights encyclopedia on this site is free and cites the same primary sources the letter does. Read the relevant guide first — plenty of situations are resolved by a phone call to a free statutory body, and where one exists we say so.