How long do landlords have to return a deposit?

Exceltrup · 03-06-2021 8:18pm #1

I moved out 3 weeks ago, and I've tried several times to get in touch with the landlord - I think he's ducking me. How long can they legally keep the deposit for? All I can find is a vague "prompt return" with no specific guidelines as to what this means.

MacDanger · 03-06-2021 10:41pm

Exceltrup wrote: »

I moved out 3 weeks ago, and I've tried several times to get in touch with the landlord - I think he's ducking me. How long can they legally keep the deposit for? All I can find is a vague "prompt return" with no specific guidelines as to what this means.

There are no specific guidelines. Raise a dispute with the RTB and let him know that you have done so. You can always cancel it if needs be

slystallone · 07-04-2022 3:48pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117342398#Comment_117342398

Did you go down the RTB route here as am having a similar situation myself.

MacDanger · 08-04-2022 3:17pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118894869#Comment_118894869

I think your question is probably for @Exceltrup rather than me. My advice would be as above - open a case now and you can cancel it if needed. I've had to go down that route before, it's pretty straightforward so long as you have all your paperwork in order

slystallone · 08-04-2022 5:05pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118899207#Comment_118899207

The only thing is in my case that I rented through an agent and now the agent is very slow to hand over contact details of the landlord to let us sort it out. When RTB requested landlord's phone number from the agent they were told there could be potential GDPR issues in handing over the number. I only have landlord's name on my contract and no other contact details of the landlord.

black & white · 08-04-2022 5:37pm

It depends on the condition of the house during walkthrough/handover, when I had tenants leaving if all looked well and we agreed on ESB reading, I usually gave them a cheque within a week, on 2 occasions I was stiffed when they FO'd without paying last months rent and only once did I not return the deposit, the house was wrecked and eventually needed just over 16k to bring it back to standard.

If you left the house in a reasonable condition, the landlord should return the money within a week or so (IMHO) if he needs to get estimates from tradesmen then understandably that may take longer. From the evasiveness of the agent as you described, you're going have to go official with it I'd say.