City Councilman Al Vann: Get off the Lien Sale List Before May 16!

Did you know that Bedford-Stuyvesant has the highest percentage of property owners in the city who are on the lien sale list?  

This problem is very real, and to ignore it can be to the great detriment and misfortune of thousands of Bed-Stuy property owners!  

When you don’t pay your property taxes, water charges and other charges against your property, these charges are tax liens that may be sold in a tax lien sale by the city.

If your property has unpaid debt that qualifies for the lien sale, the City is authorized to sell your lien debt (the amount owed) to an authorized buyer. A lien servicing company, on behalf of the buyer, adds more fees and interest to your debt, so it is much better to take care of your debt before the City sells it.

The City sends at least four notices before a lien is sold. This year, the Lien Sale will take place on May 17, 2013. So the last day to pay your debt or enter into a payment agreement is on May 16, 2013.

If you haven't received any notices and you suspect you are on the list, check here! 

City Councilman Al Vann has provided the following steps homeowners can take to get off of the list.  

1.  Senior citizens, disabled homeowners, clergy, military, complete the Exemption Eligibility Checklist and mail it into the Department of Finance today!

2.  Visit a Deparment of Finance Business Center and work with a staff person to get off the list. The Brooklyn Business Center is located in the Brooklyn Municipal Building, located at 210 Joralemon Street, between Adams and Court Streets.

3.  Attend the 2013 Lien Sale Help Night on Monday, May 6, 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation, located at 1368 Fulton Street

4.  If you are homebound, call Councilman Vann’s legislative office at 212-788-7354 for telephone assistance.    

Also, volunteers from the “Know the Facts, Don’t Lose Your Home” Collective in April and early May will conduct home visits to all of the Bed-Stuy homeowners who are on the lien list. If you haven’t actd to get off the lien sale list by that time, please take advantage of their generous help!