Get Help Avoiding a Lien Sale from Brooklyn A

By Blair Childs-Biscoe

New York City will host a lien sale on June 3rd, 2025—pushed back two weeks from the original date of May 20th. Any property that has outstanding property tax, water, or sewage debt could be included in the sale and could be at risk of foreclosure. It’s possible that your property could be on the list without your knowledge. There are several ways to remove your property from the list, and Brooklyn A can help, but you need to act fast: the last day to take action is June 2nd. 

Read on to learn more and reach out to Brooklyn A if you need help at (718) 487-2300 or [email protected]. 

What is the tax lien sale? 

If you do not pay your property taxes, water and sewer charges, or other property-related charges, you may be at risk of being included in a lien sale. When you are included in the lien sale, the City of New York sells your debt to a tax lien trust made up of private investors and developers, who can charge high interest rates and fees on the debt, making it harder to pay off. Once your debt is sold in the lien sale, if you do not resolve your debt, a foreclosure action will be initiated against you.  

Your property may be on the lien sale list without you even being aware of it. There are several ways to remove your property from the lien sale list and protect it from foreclosure, detailed below. If your property is on the lien sale list, YOU MUST ACT BY JUNE 2 TO AVOID BEING INCLUDED IN THE LIEN SALE. 

How to find out if your property is on the lien sale list 

Many property owners may be on the lien sale list and not even know it! Here’s how to find out if your property is on the tax lien sale list: 

• Search for your property on the NYC Property Tax Lien Sale list: www.nyc.gov/liensale  
• The City sends notices alerting property owners that they are on the tax lien list. In early May the City will send out a 10-day notice to properties on the tax lien list. This will be the LAST notice the City mails out before the tax lien sale.
• If you receive a notice in the mail, DO NOT IGNORE IT!

There are 5 ways to remove your property from the lien sale list 

1) Pay what you owe. 

You must pay at least the minimum amount shown on the warning notice that you received in the mail. You will continue to be obligated to pay the amounts due on your property.

• View property taxes and relation charges here: www.nyc.gov/citypay  
• View water or sewer charges here: www.nyc.gov/dep  

2) Enter into a payment plan. 

There are several payment plan options for property taxes and charges, with special plans for property owners who meet certain income thresholds or have certain circumstances. To learn what payment plans you may be eligible for and sign up, visit www.nyc.gov/liensale or contact Brooklyn Legal Services Corporation A.  

 3) Apply for a property tax exemption. 

There are several types of property owners that can qualify for a tax exemption. The exemptions available are:

• Senior Citizen Homeowners’ Exemption (*eligible for extended deadline) 
• Disabled Homeowner’s Exemption (*eligible for extended deadline)
• Veterans Exemptions 
• Not-for-Profit Exemption 

Additionally, active-duty military personnel may request an exclusion from the lien sale by completing an affidavit. You can learn more about each of the exemptions and apply at www.nyc.gov/liensale, or contact Brooklyn Legal Services Corporation A. 

 4) Submit a Lien Sale Easy Exit Program application 

You can be removed from the lien sale if you are approved for the Lien Sale Easy Exit Program application. To be eligible:

• The property must be a one-, two-, or three-family home or condominium unit. 
• The property must be your primary residence. 
• You cannot own any other New York City properties. 
• The combined annual income of all owners and residing spouses must be less than $107,300. 
• New Yorkers who own homes through a trust were previously ineligible for Easy Exit but now qualify. Homeowners will be required to provide trust documents to confirm they are the beneficiary. Each beneficiary must be a resident of the property and meet the household income requirements in order to be eligible for Easy Exit. 

You can be removed via the Easy Exit Program up to three times in a 36-month period. 

If you are eligible for the Lien Sale Easy Exit Program, you can apply at www.nyc.gov/liensale or contact Brooklyn Legal Services Corporation A for assistance

5) Submit an emergency repair certification  

If you only owe HPD Emergency Repair charges, you may be eligible to be removed from the lien sale for one year if:

• The property is a one-, two-, or three-family residential property in tax class one. 
• You are the owner of the property and it is your primary residence. 

If you believe you eligible to submit an emergency repair certification, you can apply at www.nyc.gov/liensale or contact Brooklyn Legal Services Corporation A for assistance. 

Contact BKA for help with… 

• Entering into repayment plan with DOF and DEP (there are three different repayment plan options)
• Applying for various property tax exemptions 
• Assisting with applying for Easy Exit Application to be removed from the lien sale for a year 
• If your tax lien is sold and a foreclosure action is initiated against you, BKA may be able to provide you with representation in court in a tax lien foreclosure action 
• BKA may also be able to provide bankruptcy assistance to clients and if you are someone who is interested in filing for bankruptcy, you could potentially repay the debt owed to DOF in bankruptcy with much better terms than they offer