Self-catering cottages in Ireland typically ask for a booking deposit worth 25-30% of your total stay, paid at the time you reserve, with the remaining balance due closer to arrival. On top of that sits a second, separate charge most first-time renters don't budget for: a refundable security or damage deposit, usually somewhere between €100 and €300, collected at check-in or a few days before you travel in 2026.
TL;DR
- Booking deposit on Irish self-catering cottages runs 25-30% of the total stay, paid when you reserve.
- A separate refundable security deposit of roughly €100-€300 is common and often missed in the headline price.
- Balance payments are usually due 4-6 weeks before arrival, not on check-in day.
- Sos Stays lists self-catering cottages you book directly with the owner across the Boyne Valley, Louth, Meath and the Mourne/Wexford coast.
- Deposit terms vary owner to owner - always get them in writing before you pay anything.
Why this matters
A deposit isn't one line item - it's two, and they behave differently. The booking deposit locks in your dates and comes off your final bill. The security deposit is a hold against breakages, not a fee, and it should come back to you.
Getting the two mixed up is how people end up arguing with an owner over money that was never theirs to keep. Knowing the split before you pay anything protects you either way.
How much deposit do self-catering cottages in Ireland require?
Most independent Irish self-catering cottages follow a similar pattern, though the exact figures sit with the individual owner, not a fixed industry rule.
| Deposit type | Typical amount | When it's paid | Refundable? | |---|---|---|---| | Booking deposit | 25-30% of total stay | At time of reservation | No - counts toward your total | | Security/damage deposit | \u20ac100-\u20ac300 | At check-in or a few days before | Yes, if nothing's damaged | | Balance payment | Remaining 70-75% | 4-6 weeks before arrival | N/A |
Smaller, family-run cottages sometimes skip the split entirely and just ask for the full amount upfront, especially for short midweek breaks. Always check which model you're being offered before you pay - it changes how much cash is tied up and for how long.
Booking deposit: 25-30% of your total stay
This is the money that actually secures your dates. Pay it, and the cottage comes off the market for those nights. It's non-refundable in most cases, though it's deducted from the final total rather than sitting on top of it.
Owners set this figure themselves, so a week in a two-bed cottage in the Boyne Valley and a week in a six-bed farmhouse on the Wexford coast can carry different percentages even at the same rough price point.
Security deposit: \u20ac100-\u20ac300, held not charged
This is the one people forget to ask about until they're mid-checkout. It's meant to cover breakages, extra cleaning, or damage - not to pad the owner's income. A genuine security deposit gets returned within a few days of you leaving, assuming the place is handed back the way you found it.
Ask upfront exactly how and when it's refunded - bank transfer, cash, or a card hold that simply gets released. If an owner can't answer that clearly, treat it as a flag.
Full payment upfront: some smaller cottages skip the split
A handful of smaller operators, particularly for one or two-night stays, ask for the entire cost at booking with no separate deposit stage. It's simpler for them to administer, but it means more of your money is committed earlier. Fine for a confirmed trip, less forgiving if your plans might shift.
Why deposit amounts vary
There's no regulator setting a fixed deposit percentage for Irish self-catering lets, so the number moves based on a handful of practical factors:
- Season - peak summer weeks and bank holiday stretches often carry higher, less negotiable deposits because demand is higher
- Length of stay - a week-long booking ties up more of an owner's calendar than a two-night break, which can push the deposit percentage up
- Property size - a cottage sleeping eight or ten usually carries a bigger security deposit than a two-bed for obvious reasons
- Direct booking vs. an agency - booking straight with the owner means you're dealing with their terms only, not an added platform fee stacked on top
- Cancellation policy - stricter cancellation terms are often paired with a higher upfront deposit
- Pets - bringing a dog can add its own small deposit on top of the standard security hold
Sos Stays lists self-catering cottages and guest houses you book directly with the person who owns the place, across the Boyne Valley, Louth, Meath and the Mourne/Wexford coast. That matters for deposits specifically - the terms come from the owner, not a third-party platform with its own markup layered on. Tinneshrule Farm Lodge, in Ferns, Co. Wexford, follows the same direct-booking pattern: you deal with the people who actually run the place.
Book direct, skip the markup
Self-catering cottages across the Boyne Valley, Louth, Meath and the Mourne/Wexford coast.
**Browse Sos Stays**
Is the security deposit refundable?
Yes, a genuine security deposit is refundable in full if the cottage is left undamaged and clean, typically returned within a few days of checkout. It's not a fee - it's held against breakages, and a reputable owner will confirm the refund method before you ever pay it.
When is the balance due on a self-catering booking?
The balance is usually due 4-6 weeks before arrival, well ahead of check-in day, not on it. Paying late can put your booking at risk, so calendar the date the same way you'd calendar the trip itself.
Do Irish self-catering cottages take a card hold instead of cash?
Some do - a credit card hold for the €100-€300 security deposit range is common, particularly with owners who manage several properties. It's released rather than charged if the cottage is handed back undamaged, functioning the same as a cash deposit without money actually changing hands upfront.
One last thing
The detail that trips people up most isn't the percentage - it's the timing of the refund. Ask an owner not just \"is the deposit refundable\" but \"how many days after I leave will I actually see it back.\" A vague answer there tells you more about a booking than the deposit figure ever will.
And if you're weighing a self-catering cottage against a hotel for the same trip, remember the deposit split works in your favour long-term - most of that money is either coming off your bill or coming straight back to you, not disappearing into a service charge.