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Renting a home that was foreclosed in Kentucky: your rights

If you rent in Kentucky and your landlord's home was foreclosed, federal law usually gives you at least 90 days' written notice, and a lease signed before the sale often runs to its end. Kentucky has no separate statute for tenants in foreclosed homes. Which state rules apply also depends on whether your city or county adopted the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, so ask legal aid which rules cover you.

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Reviewed against Kentucky law and official sources on October 11, 2026. General information, not legal advice.

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Your rights as a renter in Kentucky, in order

  1. The federal floor: 90 days and your lease

    From the new owner's written notice

    Under the Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act, a bona fide tenant must get written notice at least 90 days before having to move. A lease signed before the foreclosure runs to its end unless the buyer will live in the home, and that buyer must still give 90 days' notice. Section 8 voucher holders get extra protection. See [tenant notice after foreclosure](/notices/tenant-notice-after-foreclosure/).

    Pub. L. 111-22 § 702; 42 U.S.C. § 1437f(o)(7)

  2. Rent you paid before notice still counts

    Until you get notice of the new owner

    Kentucky law says a tenant who pays rent to the former owner before getting notice of a conveyance does not suffer any damage for it. Once you learn of the sale, ask the new owner in writing where to pay, keep paying as your lease requires, and keep every receipt.

    KRS 383.100(2)

  3. Two sets of state rules

    Check with your city or county

    Kentucky lets cities and counties adopt the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act in full. Where it is in effect, it covers deposits, disclosures and lockouts. Where it is not, a tenancy at will can be ended with one month's written notice, but the federal 90 days is longer for a bona fide tenant.

    KRS 383.500, 383.195

  4. Where the Act applies: names, deposits, no lockouts

    Any time

    The landlord must give you in writing who manages the home and who receives notices, and that duty carries to a successor owner. Deposits must be kept in a separate account with signed move-in and move-out damage lists, or the landlord cannot keep any of it. A landlord cannot take possession by cutting off heat, electricity, water, gas or other essential services.

    KRS 383.585, 383.580, 383.690

  5. The new owner must go to court

    At least 3 days' notice of the hearing

    To remove an occupant, the new owner has to use a court process, such as a forcible detainer case in district court or a motion for possession in the foreclosure court after 10 days' written notice. In a forcible detainer case you must get notice at least 3 days before the hearing. If the court rules against you and you do not appeal within 7 days, it can issue a warrant of restitution for the sheriff.

    KRS 383.215, 383.245, 426.260

Common questions in Kentucky

How do I know if my Kentucky city follows the landlord tenant act?

Kentucky lets each city, county or urban-county government decide whether to adopt the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (KRS 383.500). Call your local government or legal aid and ask. The answer changes your deposit and lockout rights, but not your federal 90 days.

I paid this month's rent to my Kentucky landlord before I knew about the foreclosure. Do I owe it again?

KRS 383.100(2) says a tenant who pays rent to the former owner before notice of a conveyance does not suffer any damage for it. Keep your receipt, send a copy to the new owner, and ask in writing where future rent goes. Ask legal aid if the new owner demands the same month again.

Can a Kentucky city give renters more time after a foreclosure than state law does?

Since March 6, 2024, KRS 383.198 bars local governments from adopting or enforcing landlord tenant ordinances that conflict with state law. Federal law still gives bona fide tenants 90 days' notice. Ask legal aid which local rules still apply where you live.

Step by step

More on foreclosure in Kentucky

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What can stop it, and what happens if it goes ahead.

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Who to call, and what to do when a sale is scheduled.

Also in Kentucky

Property tax foreclosure Claim surplus funds Deficiency judgments HOA and condo liens Renters after foreclosure (this page)Letters you may get

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Sources for this page

  1. KRS 381.786: Planned communities subject to KRS 381.785 to 381.801
  2. KRS 381.785: Definitions for the Planned Community Act
  3. KRS 381.796: Assessment for common expenses; interest and late fees
  4. KRS 381.797: Elements of assessments; notice of charges
  5. KRS 381.799: Association's continuing lien
  6. KRS 381.9103: Application of the Kentucky Condominium Act
  7. KRS 381.9191: Assessments for common expenses
  8. KRS 381.9193: Lien for assessments
  9. KRS 383.100: Attornment
  10. KRS 383.195: Termination of tenancy at will
  11. KRS 383.198: Local landlord tenant ordinances
  12. KRS 383.215: Execution of warrant (forcible detainer)
  13. KRS 383.245: Warrant of restitution
  14. KRS 383.500: Local adoption of the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act
  15. KRS 383.580: Security deposits
  16. KRS 383.585: Disclosure
  17. KRS 383.690: Recovery of possession limited
  18. Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act, Pub. L. 111-22 § 702, note under 12 U.S.C. § 5220 (govinfo)
  19. KRS 426.005, Personal judgment in action to enforce mortgage or lien
  20. KRS 426.006, Other liens to be stated in action to enforce lien
  21. KRS 426.205, Sale of vacant and abandoned real property
  22. KRS 426.260, Motion for possession by purchaser
  23. KRS 426.500, Surplus proceeds of sale
  24. KRS 426.520, Appraisal of real property before judicial sale
  25. KRS 426.522, Public, judicial sale by licensed auctioneer (amended effective July 15, 2026)
  26. KRS 426.525, Mortgage foreclosure forbidden; rights of mortgagee after default
  27. KRS 426.530, Right of redemption
  28. KRS 426.540, Redemption right may be sold; report of sale
  29. KRS 426.560, Newspaper advertisement required in execution and judicial sales
  30. KRS 426.700, Time, place and terms of sale; notice
  31. KRS 426.705, Bond required of purchaser
  32. KRS 424.130, Times and periods of publication
  33. KRS 454.165, Personal judgment against defendant constructively summoned forbidden
  34. KRS 427.060, Homestead exemption; exceptions
  35. KRS 286.2-020, Required disclosure of Kentucky Homeownership Protection Center services
  36. KRS 380.010, Debt adjusting definitions
  37. KRS 380.030, Persons exempt from classification as debt adjuster
  38. KRS 380.040, Persons engaged in debt adjusting: prohibitions and registration
  39. KRS 380.060, Contract, disclosure and debtor's right to cancel
  40. KRS 380.110, Cause of action for violation of KRS Chapter 380
  41. Supreme Court of Kentucky Order 2024-40 (corrected, entered January 21, 2025), AP Part IV, Master Commissioners of the Circuit Court
  42. Jefferson Circuit Court local rules
  43. Jefferson Circuit Court Master Commissioner
  44. Kentucky Homeownership Protection Center, home page (HAF closure notice)
  45. Kentucky Homeownership Protection Center, Homeowner Assistance Fund eligibility page
  46. Kentucky Homeownership Protection Center, Foreclosure Process
  47. Kentucky Homeownership Protection Center, Resources
  48. U.S. Department of the Treasury, Homeowner Assistance Fund
  49. Kentucky Justice Online, Foreclosure (last updated August 20, 2024)
  50. Kentucky Court of Justice, Legal Self-Help
  51. Kentucky Attorney General, Consumer Complaints
  52. Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions, Submit an Online Complaint
  53. Kentucky Bar Association, Lawyer Referral Services
  54. Kentucky Department of Revenue, Homestead Exemption