UPDATE: Lien Sale Outreach Session In Brooklyn; 5/9

A quick update on the lien sale outreach session at Brooklyn's Borough Hall-- the session date has been changed to Wednesday, MAY 9, 2012, from 12PM- 4PM.

WHERE: Brooklyn Borough Hall (Rotunda)
210 Joralemon Street
Brooklyn, N.Y.

ATTENTION: TWO Lien Sale Outreach Sessions In Brooklyn

It's lien sale season again! (You can read more about what a lien sale is here). There are two upcoming lien sale outreach sessions taking place at Brooklyn's Borough Hall:

April 4, 2012-
Join Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, the New York City Council Brooklyn Delegation, and representatives from New York City Department of Finance, Department of Environmental Protection, and Housing Preservation and Development for a Lien Outreach Session to assist Brooklyn residents in saving their homes from Tax Liens.

WHEN: Wednesday, APRIL 4, 2012
4PM- 7PM
WHERE: Brooklyn Borough Hall
210 Joralemon Street
Brooklyn, N.Y.

April 26, 2012-
(same details as above)

WHEN: Thursday, April 26, 2012
5PM- 7PM
WHERE: Brooklyn Borough Hall
210 Joralemon Street
Brooklyn, N.Y.

ATTENTION: 35th District Lien Sale Outreach Session

The Office of Council Member Letitia James will be hosting a 35th District Lien Sale Outreach Session on Monday, July 18, 2011 at--

Benjamin Bannekar Academy
77 Clinton Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11205

During the sale, unpaid water, sewer, and property tax debt will be sold by the City to private collection agencies, who are likely to impose heavy interest fees. You have until August 1, 2011 to settle your debt with the City and avoid the lien sale.

The outreach session is being sponsored by the NYC Department of Finance, the Department of Environmental Protection, and the Department of Housing Preservation and Development, who will be available to meet one-on-one.

Please be aware that some groups— such as veterans and seniors— may be exempt from the lien sale. Those individuals who are in exempted categories should fill out an “Exemption Eligibility Checklist”. For further information, please contact (212) 788-7081.

ATTENTION: 2011 NYC Lien Sale

Let’s Talk Lien Selling:
A lien sale is when the City sells debt to a private collector (known as a lien holder) who assumes the right to collect the debt, and move to foreclosure if owner remains in arrears. In a lien, the lienholder assumes the debt, not property. The lien sale is the City’s primary enforcement tool to collect delinquent debt owed by property owners

Property Tax Debt:
You are at risk if you own— a 1-3 unit residence, a condo/co-op, a small business with 1-2 residences, or vacant land zoned for residential use
-any of the above categories with minimum $1,000 in property taxes for 3+ years
You are at risk if you own— a 4+ units
-the above category with minimum $1,000 in property taxes for 1+ years

Water/Sewer Liens:
You are at risk if you own— a Tax Class 1 property other than a single-family residence
-the above category with minimum $2,000 in debt for 1+ years
You are at risk if you own— a Tax Class 2 multi-family home, a commercial property
-the above categories with minimum $1,000 in debt for 1+ years

Emergency Repair/ Alternative Enforcement Program:
You are at risk if you own— any property other than a 1-3 family residence
-the above category with minimum $1,000 in debt for 1+ years

All 1-3 unit properties will be excluded from the lien sale with the exception of non-owner-occupied 3-unit buildings in the Alternative Enforcement Program.

Property tax liens will NOT be sold on 1-3 family homes with the Veteran or Active Military Personnel Exemption; Senior Citizen Homeowner Exemption; Disabled Homeowner Exemption; or the Real Property Circuit Breaker Personal Income Tax Credit (PIT) for 2010.

Stats on At-Risk Properties:
-Total Eligible CityWide- 25, 937 (Brooklyn- 11,375)

Important Dates:
May 2- 90-Day Publication
May 3- 90-Day Mailing
June 1- 60-Day Mailing
July 1- 30-Day Mailing
July 22- 10-Day Publication & Mailing
August 1- Last Day to Pay

Customers can call 311 for questions related to the lien sale.

To be removed from the lien sale list, customers must either pay in full or enter into a payment agreement.
Department of Finance- for property and ERP/AEP debt
www.nyc.gov/liensale
For general lien sale inquiries:
(212) 504-4039
taxlien@finance.nyc.gov

Department of Environmental Protection- for water and sewer debt
www.nyc.gov/dep
(866) 622-8292
For general lien sale inquiries:
(718) 595-7000
ombuds@dep.nyc.gov

Housing Preservation and Development- for ERP/AEP debt
For general lien sale inquiries:
(212) 863-5300
taxlien@hpd.finance.gov

Lien Sale Outreach Dates:
Outreach sessions will be held in each borough from 5PM- 7PM.
Brooklyn’s session is—
July 28, 2011
Brooklyn Finance Business Center
210 Joralemon Street, 1st Floor
Please call Finance's Outreach Unit at 212-669-8745 for more information.

ATTENTION: DEP Upgrading to Automated Meter Reading System

The NYC Department of Environmental Protection is automating its water meter reading capabilities to increase billing accuracy and provide customers with the tools they need to better manage their water usage.

The Automated Meter Reading (AMR) system is connected to individual water meters that send daily readings. This new AMR technology will send accurate readings to a computerized billing system up to four times a day and will largely eliminate the need for estimated bills. Since it is an automated system, AMR eliminates the need for meter reading personnel to visit customer properties.

DEP is also providing AMR-installed customers with an online system that lets property owners view and manage their consumption on a daily basis. This application will be made available to residents of each borough on a rolling basis (in Brooklyn by 8/9). By the first week of September, the systems will be installed Citywide. They should be completely functional by January 1, 2011 at the latest.

Once AMR has been installed on a property, the customer will be able go online to register and view their consumption. This new tool will help customers manage their water consumption, including detection of any irregular patterns that could indicate a leek or other problem. Customers may also sign-up for email alerts, and online payments. Customers will receive a 2% credit on each upcoming bill for additionally paying bills online through automated debits.

DEP contractors continue to provide door-to-door installations of the AMR transmitters at no cost and will also be replacing some old water meters. DEP should also be contacted for adjustments to long-standing estimated accounts; the agency will only provide price adjustments for the past 24 months.

Non-payment of water bills over an extended period of time may lead to water liens (with the exception of excluded groups- SCHE, DHE).

Please give our office a call at (212) 788-7081 if you have any further questions. We have much knowledge.

State Senator Eric Adams and CM Letitia James Present Outreach Session For Those In Danger of Liens Sale; 4/13; PS 316; 5PM

State Senator Eric Adams and Council Member Letitia James present...

a special community outreach program for individuals behind on their water or sewer taxes.

"On Tuesday, April 13, we have arranged for representatives from both the Department of Finance and the Department of Environmental Protection to come to our district to enable you to make arrangements to begin
a payment plan. Representatives of the Department of Housing Preservation and Development will be present
with information on low-cost loans."

The information is as follows:

LIEN SALE HELP SESSION
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
PS 316– Elijah G. Stroud School
750 Classon Avenue
(between Sterling Place and Park Place)
5:00 PM - 8:00 PM

ATTENTION: 2010 Lien Sale Info & Habitat for Humanity Housing Application Available!

For those who are interested in more info about the 2010 Lien Sale (although, really, that was a ridiculously long post), we have the official FAQ/info from NYC Department of Finance. This would be especially useful to community boards, tenant associations, and other neighborhood groups. Those interested in an electronic copy for distribution, please send your email address to teamtish@gmail.com. Those looking for 10 hard copies, please send your mailing address to teamtish@gmail.com.

_____________________________________________

Habitat for Humanity- NYC has released an application for their forthcoming condo project located at 512-514 & 544 Lafayette Avenue and 118 Hart Street in Bedford-Stuyvesant. Our office has the requirement info, as well as the application, available for distribution. Those interested in receiving an electronic copy, please send your email address to teamtish@gmail.com. Those looking for a hard copy, please send your mailing address to teamtish@gmail.com.

Upon receipt, please note to review all documents carefully to ensure that you are eligible to apply for a condo; our office is available to distribute these materials only. We are not acting in collaboration with Habitat for Humanity to place residents in this housing.

thanks,
teamtish

ATTENTION: 2010 Lien Sale Information

Snow storms bring about lien sale season again, let's dive right in:

A lien sale is when the City sells debt to a private collector (known as a lien holder) who assumes the right to collect the debt, charge an additional 5% surcharge and 18% interest, and move to foreclosure if owner remains in arrears. In a lien, the lienholder assumes the debt, not property.

Property Tax Debt:
You are at risk if you own— a 1-3 unit residence, a condo/co-op, a small business with 1-2 residences, or a vacant land zoned for residential use.
[-any of the above categories with 3 years back taxes are at risk]
You are at risk if you own— a 4+ units
[-the above category with 1 year back taxes are at risk]

Property tax liens will not be sold on 1-3 family homes with the Senior Citizen Homeowner Exemption (SCHE), Disabled Homeowner Exemption (DHE), or the Real Property Circuit Breaker Personal Income Tax Credit (PIT); military personnel may also request an exemption.

Water/Sewer Liens:
You are at risk if you own— single-family and multi-family residences, as well as commercial properties, that have acquired water/sewer debt $1,000 or more for 1+ years.

Water/sewer liens will not be sold on 1-3 family homes with the Senior Citizen Homeowner Exemption (SCHE), Disabled Homeowner Exemption (DHE), or the Real Property Circuit Breaker Personal Income Tax Credit (PIT); military personnel may also request an exemption.

NYC Finance is making an effort to allow those who would be excluded from liens (SCHE, DHE) to resolve their debt through outreach sessions, data match of at-risk persons/mailings, and automated phone calls.

Stats on At-Risk Properties:
-Total Parcels CityWide- 24, 963 (Brooklyn- 11,017)
-In 2009- 4,792
-Total Liens CityWide- 53,184 (Brooklyn- 21,990)

Important Dates:
February 2- 90-Day Mailing & Publication
March 3- 60-Day Mailing
April 2- 30-Day Mailing
April 22- 10-Day Publication
May 7- Lasy Day to Pay
May 10- 2010 Lien Sale

Important Contacts:
Finance Tax Lien Ombudsperson- (212) 504-4039
Senior Citizen’s Tax Lien Ombudsperson- (212) 504-4037
Business & Community Outreach- (212) 232-1776
*Lien sale customers with any complaints or concerns should contact the Ombuds Unit at (718) 595-6628 or ombuds@dep.nyc.gov.

Brooklyn Outreach Session:
-April 8- Brooklyn- Finance Business Center
210 Joralemon Street, 1st Floor

Payment Options:
-All property and water/sewer payments must be received before May 7th (any payments sent after April 28th must be sent using an official bank check or money order sent to “NYC Department of Finance”).
-(Water)- Checks and money orders (with acct #) to “NYC Water Board, P.O. Box 410, Church Street Station, NY, NY, 10008”
Brooklyn Borough Office- 250 Livingston Street, 8th Floor
(between Hoyt and Bond Streets)
-Others who are at risk may pay through installment agreements; those eligible must make 5-20% initial down payment on delinquent balance (plus installment payments). Must see Finance Department for eligibility.
-May also pay online or in person at any Business Center.
-DEP has developed a Safety Net Referral Program, managed through the Ombuds Unit. Seniors, low-income customers, and those affected by the national mortgage and foreclosure crisis will be will be referred to other agencies in collaboration with this program.

Please give us a call at (212) 788-7081 if you have any further questions.

teamtish

REMINDER: CM James Sponsors Lien Sale Help Session TODAY; 4PM; PS 20

Just following up on this previous post. Please join us if you have not yet fulfilled settled you lien, or have any questions.

Info:

LIEN SALE HELP SESSION
April 16th, from 4:00pm-7:00pm
PS 20
225 Adelphi Street
(Between Willoughby & DeKalb Avenues)

If you have any questions, please contact Alfred Chiodo at (718) 260-9191.

teamtish

ATTENTION: CM James Sponsors Lien Sale Help Session; 4/16; 4PM; PS 20

Following-up on the information we posted regarding the 2009 lien sale (which is, effectively, everything you'd ever need to know about the 2009 lien sale); we'd like to let you know that our office has contacted the individuals on the 2009 Lien Sale list who live within the 35th District. If you are one of those individuals, and have not yet settled your outstanding liens, we hope that you attended the April 2nd Outreach Session at the Brooklyn Finance Business Center (210 Joralemon Street, 1st Floor). If you did not, we want to make you aware of a special outreach program sponsored by Council Member Letitia James.

On Thursday, April 16, we have arranged for representatives from both the Department of Finance and the Department of Environmental Protection to come to the 35th District so you can make arrangements to begin a payment plan. Representatives from the Department of Housing Preservation and Development will also have information on low-cost loans. The information is as follows:


LIEN SALE HELP SESSION
Thursday, April 16
PS 20
225 Adelphi Street
(between Willoughby & DeKalb)
4:00-7:00pm

Please be aware that there is a similar event on Tuesday, April 21, sponsored by Council Member Albert Vann, in Bedford Stuyvesant at the Boys & Girls School, 1700 Fulton Street (Utica/Schenectady), 5:00-8:00pm.

*Note that if you are a senior, or disabled, you may be eligible for a property tax reduction that could prevent the sale of a lien on your property. Properties owned by active duty military personnel may also be removed from the lien sale.

If you do not contact the City of New York by May 1, 2009, the City will sell a lien on your property. Please see our original post for more information.

teamtish

ATTENTION: The Center for New York City Neighborhoods, Inc. Can Help You If You're In Danger of Foreclosure

In these harsh economic times, Council Member Letitia James and Team Tish want to make residents aware that we are interested in gathering and sharing information regarding ways to assist those suffering. On March 9, 2009, Newsday reported that the New York City foreclosure auction (run by the California-based Real Estate Disposition Corp. and held at the Jacob Javits Convention Center) drew both bidders and protesters.

We remain committed to disseminating information that may be helpful to those who who are in danger of losing their home. If this describes you (or someone you know), please first view our post on the lien sale to learn how to ensure that your property has not had a lien placed on it for back debt. Additionally, we encourage you to contact The Center for New York City Neighborhoods, Inc. (CNYCN).

From their website:
“The Center for New York City Neighborhoods, Inc. (CNYCN) was created to address the local repercussions of the national foreclosure crisis. Through comprehensive citywide programming that includes legal services, housing counseling, and consumer education, CNYCN pursues multiple strategies to assist those at risk of losing their homes to foreclosure - both homeowners and renters alike. CNYCN seeks to support distressed homeowners retain their equity, and preserve New York City neighborhoods by limiting the negative impacts of foreclosure, property flipping, and abandonment. CNYCN is funded through grants from government agencies, foundations, and financial institutions…and was incorporated in 2007 as a not-for-profit corporation under the laws of New York State. CNYCN is a 501(c) charitable organization.”

Again, if you or a loved one are at risk of foreclosure, please contact CNYCN; you may fill out this form to understand what kind of assistance you may need, or call the Foreclosure Prevention Hotline at (646) 786-0888.

teamtish

ATTENTION: 2009 Lien Information

A lien sale is when the City sells debt to a private collector (known as a lien holder) who assumes the right to collect the debt, set fees and interest, and even move to foreclosure. The City may do this depending on how much is owed and how old the debt is. In a lien, the lienholder assumes the debt, not property.

The 2009 Lien Exemptions apply to:
PROPERTY TAXES-
-1, 2, and 3-family homes with Senior citizen Homeowner Exemption (SCHE); Disabled Homeowner Exemption (DHE); or Real Property Circuit Breaker Personal Income Tax Credit (Circuit Breaker PIT);
-active duty military personnel may also request an exemption.

WATER/SEWER EXCLUSIONS-
-1-family homes;
-2-and-3-family homes with SCHE, DHE, Circuit Breaker PIT.

*There are 24,111 “at-risk” properties in New York City; 10,670 in Brooklyn (highest number in all boroughs).
-20,089 of the total number (46,830) of liens sold in New York City from 1996-2008 were from Brooklyn properties.

*There are approximately 8,771 lien sale eligible accounts in Brooklyn (from a total of 260,503 “active” accounts), or 3.4% of accounts.
-of 8,771 eligible accounts, 7,057 of those accounts are made eligible due to water liens alone.

*DEP has the authority to conduct stand-alone lien sales on delinquent water and sewer accounts.

DEP Payment Incentive Program (PIP3):

*Through April 7, 2009, DEP will offer a Payment Incentive Program to Residential Mixed Use properties and Condos.
-Customers who make payments in full or enter into a payment agreement by that date, will have 100% of their late payment charges removed;
-Customers owing more than $2,500 after these reductions will be able to enter into a payment agreement on this reduced amount;
-Customers who don’t enroll will have to pay the full, original charged on their account. If the lien goes to sale, customers will pay an additional 5% surcharge and 18% per year in interest.

*As of January 2009, there were 4,000 Residential Mixed use and Condo Properties PIP3 eligible accounts with a total delinquency of approximately $85.3Million, including late payment charges;

*The total incentive being offered is nearly $15.4Million, leaving an approximate settlement amount of $70Million.

*For customers having difficulty making payment, DEP has developed a Safety New Referral program.
-Seniors, low-income customers, and those affected by the national mortgage and foreclosure crisis who request assistance via DEP’s call center will be referred to one of these partner agencies, who can enroll customers in programs of: mortgage and foreclosure counseling/legal advice, emergency grants to cover household expenses, assistance with energy costs, and food stamps.

DEP Contacts:
Brooklyn Office-(718) 923-2601

2009 Lien Sale Important Dates:

February 3: 90-Day Mailing & Publishing
March 3: 60-Day Mailing
April 1: 30-Day Mailing
April 22: 10-Day Publication
May 1: Last Day To Pay
May 4: 2009 Lien Sale

*There is a 2009 Lien Sale Outreach Session in Brooklyn on April 2, 2009 at the-
Brooklyn Finance Business Center
210 Joralemon Street, 1st Floor*

How to pay your water bill:
Send check or money order with account number to—
NYC Water Board
P.O. Box 410
Church Street Station
New York, NY 10008-0410

Bring check to Brooklyn office at—
250 Livingston Street
8th floor, btwn Hoyt and Bond Streets
(alt. entrance at Schermehorn Street)

PAY ONLINE at www.nyc.gov/dep

PAY over the TELEPHONE at (866) 622-8292 (must have DEP account number, bank number, and checking account routing number available)


*Those needing further information on the 2009 lien sale, or any of the programs mentioned are encouraged to visit www.nyc.gov/liensale, or call—

Finance Tax Lien Ombudsperson
(212) 504-4039

Senior Citizen’s Tax Lien Ombudsperson
(212) 504-4037

DEP Ombuds Unit and Dispute Resolution
(718) 595-6628

Customer Relations Helpline
(212) 504-4080

Business & Community Outreach
(212) 232-1776