Marta's Deposit Story
Professional cleaning receipt protected her full deposit return
Marta rented a two-bedroom apartment in Dublin for three years. She had always kept the place immaculate, and when it came time to move out, she wanted to leave it in perfect condition for the next tenant. She hired a professional cleaning company to deep-clean the entire apartment — windows, carpets, kitchen, bathrooms, everything. The cleaners finished on a Friday afternoon, and Marta received an invoice and receipt for €450. She filed this away carefully in her documents folder, knowing it could be important.
Two weeks after moving out, Marta's landlord wrote to her saying the deposit would not be returned in full. The reason given was "professional cleaning costs required" — the landlord claimed the apartment was not left in a clean state and needed professional cleaning before the next tenant could move in. Marta was puzzled. She had hired professionals herself. But when she asked the landlord for proof of these cleaning costs, he offered nothing — no invoices, no receipts, no photographs taken before or after any cleaning work.
Marta decided to bring a claim to the Residential Tenancies Board. She submitted her cleaning receipt as evidence that she had already arranged professional cleaning before departure. The landlord provided no documentation to support his claim of additional cleaning costs. The RTB examined both positions and concluded that without evidence of actual cleaning expenses incurred by the landlord, the deposit could not be lawfully retained on these grounds. Marta's receipt proved she had fulfilled her obligation to leave the property clean. The board ordered the full deposit to be returned to her.
What the Law Says
Under Irish tenancy law, a landlord can only deduct from a deposit for genuine costs they have actually incurred — such as repairs needed beyond normal wear and tear, unpaid rent, or cleaning if the tenant left the property in an unusually poor state. The landlord must provide receipts, invoices, or other proof of these costs. Simply claiming a cost was incurred is not enough. A tenant who can show they have already had the property professionally cleaned, with a receipt as proof, has strong protection against deposit deductions for cleaning.
Important: Time Limits
If your landlord is keeping all or part of your deposit, you have six months from when the landlord should have returned it to bring a claim to the Residential Tenancies Board. After six months, you may lose the right to claim. Act quickly if you believe your deposit has been wrongfully withheld, and gather all evidence you have — receipts, photographs, emails, or witnesses.