Waterford follows Ireland’s national rental deposit rules; there is no separate Waterford deposit protection scheme. For most private tenancies, a landlord generally cannot ask for a deposit or advance rent of more than one month’s rent, and the deposit should be returned when the tenancy ends unless lawful deductions apply. Possible deductions may include rent arrears, unpaid agreed charges or damage beyond normal wear and tear, and the landlord should explain and support these with relevant records. If you cannot agree, you can bring a deposit dispute to the RTB, which will decide the matter based on the tenancy’s facts.