Escrow protection
Deposits are held in escrow until the tenant has moved in. The landlord cannot take the money early, and the tenant cannot pull it back alone.
A better way to rent in Ireland
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Your deposit stays safe. Your landlord gets rewarded.
DepositSafe holds the rental deposit securely until the tenant gets the keys and confirms the home is as agreed. Tenants get greater peace of mind when renting from a distance. Landlords receive the full deposit by bank transfer, plus 0.5% cashback on the deposit, subject to the applicable terms.
14 Pembroke Road, D4
Dublin, Ireland
€1,600
Held securely in escrow, released to the landlord once the tenant confirms move-in.
Paid by Claire O'Brien
02 May
Funds held separately from operating accounts. Neither side can touch the deposit alone.
- 1 Pay into escrow The tenant pays the deposit. It is held securely in escrow until move-in.
- 2 Held until move-in Neither side can touch the money until the tenant confirms the home is as agreed.
- 3 Released, with cashback The landlord is paid by bank transfer, plus 0.5% cashback on the deposit.
1 month's rent
The most a deposit can be, as Irish law requires
AES-256
Encryption for documents and personal data at rest
PCI DSS L1
Payments processed by Stripe
0.5% cashback
A reward for landlords using DepositSafe
How DepositSafe works for both sides
A clear, documented process that gives tenants greater peace of mind and landlords an extra reward when the tenancy starts.
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1 of 3
Create & invite
The landlord creates a rental offer with the property details, lease terms and deposit amount. The tenant receives an invitation link to review and accept the offer.
Awaiting tenant14 Pembroke Road, D4Dublin, Ireland€1,600Deposit requested, 12-month leaseInvitation sent to Claire O'Brien01 May -
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Pay & secure
The tenant accepts and pays into escrow by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. The deposit stays held until move-in is confirmed, so neither side can access it alone.
In escrow14 Pembroke Road, D4Dublin, Ireland€1,600Held in escrow, untouchable by either sidePaid by Claire O'Brien02 May -
3 of 3
Move in & get rewarded
Once the tenant has the keys and confirms the home is as agreed, the deposit is released to the landlord by bank transfer. The landlord also earns 0.5% cashback on the deposit, subject to the applicable terms. If something is wrong, the tenant can report a problem before the funds are released.
Released14 Pembroke Road, D4Dublin, Ireland€1,600Deposit released + 0.5% landlord cashbackExample cashback on €1,600: €8 0.5%
Everything you need, nothing you don't
Identity verification (KYC)
Landlords are verified with government-issued ID before they are paid, and tenants can verify too. The deposit reaches the landlord only once the move-in is confirmed.
Full activity timeline
Every action is logged with timestamps and actor names.
- Contract created 01 May
- Offer accepted and paid 02 May
- Check-in confirmed 01 Jun
- Deposit released 02 Jun
0.5% landlord cashback
Landlords earn 0.5% cashback on the rental deposit when the move-in is confirmed, subject to the applicable terms. On a €1,600 deposit, that is €8. The cashback is separate from the deposit itself.
Report a problem before release
If the home is not what you agreed, report it with photos instead of confirming the move-in. The deposit stays held while our team reviews it with both sides.
Clear payments, tangible rewards
Once move-in is confirmed, the deposit is released to the landlord by bank transfer. The landlord also earns 0.5% cashback on the deposit, subject to the applicable terms.
Built for Irish tenancies
Deposits are capped at one month's rent, as Irish law requires, and the Residential Tenancies Board is always open to both parties.
One account, two sides
Secure a home before you arrive without sending your deposit without protection. DepositSafe holds your deposit until you have the keys and confirm the home is as agreed.
Landlords verify their identity before receiving funds. Read our guides to renting in Ireland from abroad and rental scams, or our guide for international students .
Let to tenants who cannot view in person, with the agreed deposit paid before they travel and held securely until move-in is confirmed. Once the tenant confirms, receive the full deposit by bank transfer and earn 0.5% cashback on the deposit, subject to the applicable terms.
A clearer process for both sides, with a tangible reward for landlords. Read our guide to letting to a tenant who cannot view .
Every contract, payment and move-in in one timeline, so a deposit conversation never depends on someone's memory.
Invite tenants by link and follow each deposit from payment to release.
Security that works for both sides
A documented deposit process that gives tenants greater peace of mind before move-in and rewards landlords when the tenancy starts.
AES-256 encryption at rest
Documents, payment info and personal details are all encrypted at rest.
Verified landlords
No deposit reaches a landlord who hasn't verified their identity with government ID and a selfie. Tenants can verify too, if they wish.
Deposits held in escrow
Deposits are released only after the tenant confirms the move-in. Neither side can access them alone.
Immutable audit trail
Every action is logged and timestamped. Nothing can be changed retroactively.
- 1Offer acceptedThe tenant accepts and pays in one step: card, Apple Pay or Google Pay.
- 2Deposit receivedFunds move to escrow immediately.
- 3Funds heldUntil move-in. Both sides verify their identity. Neither party can touch them.
- 4Move-in confirmedThe tenant confirms once they have the keys.
- 5Deposit releasedSent to the landlord by bank transfer.
Frequently asked questions
What is DepositSafe and how does it work?
DepositSafe holds rental deposits in escrow for residential tenancies in Ireland. It is built for tenants who secure a home before they can see it, from abroad or from another city. The tenant accepts the offer and pays in one step, by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. The deposit stays in escrow, out of reach of both sides, until the tenant has moved in. Once the tenant confirms the move-in and the landlord has verified their identity, the deposit is released to the landlord by bank transfer. If the home is not as agreed, the tenant reports a problem instead of confirming, and the deposit stays held while our team reviews it with both sides. Our guide explains how to rent in Ireland from abroad.
Is DepositSafe safe and secure?
Yes. Payments are processed by Stripe, a PCI DSS Level 1 certified provider, and every deposit is held in escrow, separate from both parties, and released to the landlord only after the tenant confirms the move-in. We enforce mandatory KYC identity verification, AES-256 encryption for sensitive data, and GDPR compliance. Our privacy policy explains what we collect and why.
Do landlords get cashback with DepositSafe?
Yes. Landlords earn 0.5% cashback on the rental deposit,
subject to the applicable terms. For example, on a €1,600
deposit, the cashback would be €8. The deposit itself is
released to the landlord by bank transfer once the tenant
confirms the move-in. See our
pricing page for full details.
What happens if there is a dispute over the deposit?
Before the move-in is confirmed, either side can report a problem. The deposit then stays in escrow while our team contacts both sides and reviews the evidence, and it is refunded to the tenant's card or released to the landlord. After release the deposit is with the landlord, as with any tenancy, and the Residential Tenancies Board is open to both sides for any dispute.
Which countries and currencies does DepositSafe support?
DepositSafe is available for residential tenancies in Ireland, with deposits in euro. Moving from the UK? See how deposit protection differs in Ireland and the UK.
How much does DepositSafe cost?
The tenant pays a service fee of 4% of the deposit plus a €2 fixed fee, added to the deposit when they pay by card: on a €1,600 deposit, that is €66. The fee is shown before payment. You can cancel within 14 days while the deposit is still held and get the fee back; once the deposit has been released or refunded, the fee is not refundable. Landlords pay nothing, and the full deposit reaches the landlord at release. The pricing page has worked examples.
Is DepositSafe the RTB's deposit protection scheme?
No. Irish law has provided for a tenancy deposit protection scheme run by the Residential Tenancies Board since 2015, but it has never been started, so today deposits usually sit with the landlord. DepositSafe is a private service that a landlord and tenant can choose to use now: the deposit is held in escrow until the tenant has moved in, and only then passed to the landlord. The RTB stays open to both sides for any dispute. Our guide explains why the scheme never started.
Can a tenant get their deposit back if something goes wrong?
Yes, while it is still in escrow. If the home is not available or not as agreed, report the problem instead of confirming the move-in: the deposit stays held, our team reviews it with both sides, and any refund goes back to the card you paid with. Once you confirm the move-in, the deposit is released to the landlord, so confirm only when you have the keys.
A safer move-in. A better deal.
Set up your rental contract in minutes and give both sides a better way to handle the deposit.
DepositSafe is opening to tenants and landlords in Ireland soon. Join the waiting list and we'll email you the moment it's live.