Ky. Rev. Stat. ch. 383 § 383.010
Recovery of rent -- Interest -- Persons entitled to and liable for
Operative Text
383.010 Recovery of rent -- Interest -- Persons entitled to and liable for. (1) Rent may be recovered by distress, attachment or action, and shall bear six percent (6%) interest per annum from the time it is due. (2) If the owner or holder alienates or assigns his estate, term or the rent thereafter to fall due thereon, the alienee or assignee may recover the rent that falls due thereafter. (3) The personal representative of a person to whom any rent was due and unpaid at the time of his death shall have the same remedy by action or by distress, for the recovery of the arrears of such rent, that the decedent would have had if living. (4) A person entitled to rents depending upon the life of another may, notwithstanding the death of the latter, have the same remedy, by action or distress, for the rents in arrears, as he might have had if such person were living. (5) Rent may be recovered from the lessee or other person owing it, or his assignee or undertenant, or the representative of either by any of the remedies given in this chapter. But, the assignee or subtenant shall be liable only for the rent accrued after his interest began. (6) The same remedies to recover arrearages of rent due on a lease for life or lives shall be allowed as if the lease were for years.
Kentucky Revised Statute § 383.010 establishes the legal framework for how rent may be collected and who has the right to collect or the obligation to pay it. Unpaid rent accrues interest at six percent per year from the date it becomes due. When a landlord transfers ownership or assigns a lease, the new owner or assignee steps into the prior holder's shoes for rent falling due after the transfer, and similar continuity rules apply when either party dies — allowing estates and personal representatives to pursue or owe rent obligations. Subtenants and assignees of the original tenant are liable only for rent that accrued after their interest in the property began.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Ky. Rev. Stat. § 383.010, landlords and property managers should be aware that any unpaid rent legally accrues interest at six percent annually from the due date, which can affect the total amount recoverable in a collection action. When a rental property is sold or a lease is assigned, the new owner or assignee generally becomes entitled to collect rent that falls due after the transfer date, making it important to document the effective date of any ownership or assignment change. Operators should also maintain clear records distinguishing when a subtenant's or assignee's tenancy began, since § 383.010(5) limits their liability to rent accruing after that point.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Ky. Rev. Stat. § 383.010 defines who can collect rent from a tenant and under what circumstances, which is relevant if a property changes hands or a landlord's estate becomes involved in collecting unpaid amounts. Under § 383.010(5), if you are a subtenant or an assignee of the original lease, your financial exposure for back rent is generally limited to amounts that accrued after your interest in the property began — not debts that predate your tenancy. Tenants who have questions about whether a rent claim is being made by the proper party, or whether the amount claimed is accurate under these rules, may benefit from consulting a tenant-rights organization or legal aid office familiar with Kentucky landlord-tenant law.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 19, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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