Overdue Rent on Newly Purchased Property

[Joseph Waitkevich]

Hello all

My partners and I just purchased two 4-family homes in Houston, TX. As it turns out, there is overdue rent owed on both properties. Is this rent owed to us, the new owners, or the previous owner who sold the property. On one hand we bought the property, for all its risks and all its benefits and on the other, it was initially owed to the previous owner but perhaps was one of the reasons they chose to sell. Curious as to who is owed the rent in this situation and the legality of it all. Thanks!