‘Lien Sale Easy Exit Program’ to help New Yorkers Resolve Their Debt

Photo by Laura Tancredi on Pexels.com

Ahead of the Lien Sale, City leaders, Center for NYC Neighborhoods, PEU canvassers went out to share information and help residents get the help they need 

Raise awareness of the Lien Sale Easy Exit Program

Ahead of the Tax Lien Sale on May 20th, DOF, HPD, PEU, DEP and the Center for NYC Neighborhoods have been working diligently to get the word out to help eligible New Yorkers resolve their debt and stay in their homes. Those who do not pay their property taxes, water and sewer chargers, and other property-related charges are at risk of being included in the annual Lien Sale. The sale allows their debts to be sold to an authorized buyer, who then has the right to collect what is owed, and if there are still outstanding debts, the lien sale can be a first step towards foreclosure.  

New Yorkers have a number of options to get off the list. But they only have a few days left to take the necessary steps, and we are here to help. We encourage homeowners to visit nyc.gov/liensale to learn more.  

After receiving warning notices, New Yorkers have the options to pay what they owe, enter into a payment plan, apply for a property tax exemption, submit a Lien Sale Easy Exit Program application, and submit an emergency repair certification. DOF, DEP, HPD, PEU, the Center want to ensure that every New Yorker has the knowledge and ability to access these services, and leaders from these agencies joined PEU’s ongoing outreach efforts to help spread the word, which prior to today, had already reached thousands of homeowners through canvassing, digital campaigns, and phone outreach. 

Since March, PEU Specialists have knocked on nearly 6,000 doors to connect directly with homeowners and make critical information about available resources more accessible. With teams out five days a week for the past nine weeks, this sustained effort has focused on reaching older and disabled homeowners, as well as those in neighborhoods with the highest concentration of homeowners at risk. 

The program helps New Yorkers seek removal from the newly reinstated Lien Sale by providing those who qualify for the program with resources and assistance in accessing payment agreements or gaining extensions on payment due dates. The canvass aims to educate New Yorkers about all of the options that are available to them to avoid foreclosures.