MPs have voted in favour of a plan to limit the deposits tenants pay on rental property to a maximum of two months’ rent, excluding service charges.

The plan, which still needs to be approved by the senate, will cut a significant sum off the three-month deposits usually required in the non-rent controlled sector.

In addition, MPs say, landlords must refund the deposit within two weeks, and can only extend this if the tenant has damaged the property or is in rent arrears.

The motion was drawn up by Denk MP Stephen Baarle who said some landlords are earning money from the deposits by refusing to refund them or coming up with unsubstantiated claims about damage.