Generally speaking, rights concerning real property must be secured by registration of the appropriate documents at the recorder of deeds office to be effective against a purchaser not party to the original contract. People, of course, rarely register rental contracts and that is, I assume, what you are talking about. I notice you live in Kentucky and a quick check reveals that your state appears to have adopted the Uniform Landlord ands Tenants Act. This contains the following language: 383.600 Limitation of liability. (1) Unless otherwise agreed, a landlord who conveys premises that include a dwelling unit subject to a rental agreement in a good faith sale to a bona fide purchaser is relieved of liability under the rental agreement and KRS 383.505 to 383.715 as to events occurring after written notice to the tenant of the conveyance. So it may be that the original landlord is liable to you under the terms of the contract.