Which document must landlords in Montana provide regarding the conditions of a property?

In Montana, landlords are required to provide a lease agreement, which is a legally binding document that outlines the terms and conditions of the rental arrangement between the landlord and the tenant. This lease agreement serves multiple purposes — it clarifies the rights and responsibilities of both parties, establishes the duration of the tenancy, and includes details about the rental amount, payment due dates, and any rules governing the property's use.

By providing a lease agreement, landlords ensure that tenants have a clear understanding of their obligations while also protecting their own interests and rights as property owners. This document is essential for creating a transparent relationship and minimizing potential disputes between landlords and tenants regarding the condition of the property and other rental terms.

While the other choices may play roles in the overall rental process, they do not fulfill the specific requirement of outlining the conditions of the property, which the lease agreement does. For example, a rental application is used for screening potential tenants, an inspection report may be generated after an evaluation of property conditions but is not mandated for tenant provision, and a tenant background check serves to verify a potential tenant’s history rather than delineate property conditions.