Which document must landlords provide tenants regarding deposit protection?

Landlords are required to provide tenants with a Deposit Protection Scheme (DPS) certificate as a crucial step in ensuring that the tenant's deposit is safeguarded in accordance with legal requirements. This certificate serves as proof that the tenant's deposit has been securely held within a recognized deposit protection scheme.

The rationale behind this requirement is to protect tenants from unfair treatment regarding their deposits. The certificate typically includes details such as the amount of the deposit, the relevant scheme being used, and the information regarding how the tenant can reclaim their deposit at the end of the tenancy. Providing this documentation fosters transparency and helps build trust in the landlord-tenant relationship.

The other options, such as a rental agreement, landlord's insurance policy, and maintenance report, although important documents in a tenancy, do not specifically address the need for deposit protection. These documents serve different purposes and do not fulfill the legal obligation that landlords have to inform tenants about the protection of their deposits.