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Lien sales
If you do not pay your property taxes, water and sewer charges, and other property-related charges, your property 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 an authorized buyer. The buyer then has the right to collect what you owe. This does not mean that your property has been sold, but if you do not resolve your outstanding debt, the lien sale can be a first step toward foreclosure.
The 2025 lien sale was held on June 3, 2025.
The last day to take action to remove your property from the sale was June 2, 2025.
Other information
What is a lien sale?
A lien is a legal claim against real property for unpaid property taxes or other property charges, including the interest due on the taxes and charges. The sale will transfer the unpaid liens to an authorized buyer. It is not a sale of the property, but if the taxes and/or charges are not paid or resolved, the new lienholder can begin a foreclosure proceeding in court.
Can anyone buy liens?
The City only sells liens to a single authorized buyer, and not to the general public. Please do not contact us about purchasing liens.
What kinds of debt are sold in a lien sale?
Property tax debt, water and sewer debt, and other property-related fees and charges, including Emergency Repair Program and Alternative Enforcement Program charges, are sold in a lien sale, along with any accrued interest on the debt.
Can my lien be sold even if I am in the process of disputing the tax or charge?
Yes. If you are in the process of contesting the assessed value of your property, or the amount of your other charges, you must pay the taxes and/or charges in full or enter into a payment agreement to prevent the sale. If your dispute is successful, you will be entitled to a refund of any overpayments you made.
What happens after a lien is sold?
Within 90 days after a lien sale date, the City notifies all property owners by mail of the terms and conditions under which the lien was sold, the name and address of the new lienholder, and the name of the lienholder's authorized representative whom the property owner should contact. The representative will also contact the property owner by mail to discuss payment arrangements.
Property owners should not deal with, or make payments to, anyone other than the new lienholder or their authorized representative named in the letter sent by the City.
When the City of New York bills your property for new taxes and charges, you must continue to pay them to the City.
What additional charges will result from the sale?
Once a lien is sold, the property owner then owes the taxes, charges, and accrued interest that were included in the lien sale to the new lienholder, not to the City. The amount owed increases once the lien is sold. The lienholder is entitled to charge:
- A 5% surcharge on the entire lien amount.
- Interest, compounded daily and payable semi-annually. For properties with an assessed value of $250,000 or less, interest on any charges sold will accrue at the rate of 5% per annum, compounded daily. For properties with an assessed value of over $250,000, interest on any Department of Finance charges sold will accrue at the rate of 18% per annum, compounded daily. These are the same interest rates that the City charges for delinquent property taxes.
- Administrative costs associated with the lien sale, including an estimated $300 to cover the costs of any advertisements and notices.
Can the new lienholder sell my property?
Yes, the new lienholder can sell your property, but not at first. Foreclosure can begin within one year after the lien sale date if you have not paid the lien in full or entered into a payment agreement with the new lienholder. However, the lienholder may begin foreclosure proceedings earlier than one year after the lien sale date if the semi-annual interest payment is not paid within 30 days of the payment due date, or if current taxes or charges remain unpaid for six months before the lien is paid in full.
If you have questions about the lien sale, please call 311 or send us a message.
Certain property tax exemptions can keep your property out of the lien sale. Learn about each of them and apply:
Active duty military personnel may request an exclusion from the lien sale by completing the Military Request for Relief form. For more information, visit the Military Request for Relief page.
Owners of certain one-, two-, or three-unit tax class one residential properties may choose to have their property foreclosed and transferred to an approved nonprofit organization after a lien is sold. You will then be able to remain in the home as a tenant at an affordable rent. Legal counseling is required. To begin the process, submit a Voluntary Foreclosure Program application. (The application will be available soon.)
Depending on your type of property, there can be as many as four conditions that make your property eligible for the sale. Use this table to understand the rules that apply to your property.
| Property Tax Debt | Water/Sewer Debt | AEP Debt * | ERP Debt * | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type of Property | Minimum Amount | Years Overdue | Minimum Amount | Years Overdue | Minimum Amount | Years Overdue | Minimum Amount | Years Overdue |
| 1 Family - Owner Occupied | $5,000 | 3 | See note below. | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
| 1 Family - Non-Owner Occupied | $5,000 | 3 | See note below. | $1,000 | 1 | $1,000 | 1 | |
| 2-3 Family - Owner Occupied | $5,000 | 3 | $3,000 | 1 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 2-3 Family - Non-Owner Occupied | $5,000 | 3 | $3,000 | 1 | $1,000 | 1 | $1,000 | 1 |
| Residential Condominium | $5,000 | 3 | $1,000 | 1 | $1,000 | 1 | $1,000 | 1 |
| Residential Cooperative Building | $5,000 | 3 | $1,000 | 1 | $1,000 | 1 | $1,000 | 1 |
| Developable Class 1 Vacant Land | $1,000 | 3 | N/A | N/A | $1,000 | 1 | $1,000 | 1 |
| Small Store or Office with 1 or 2 Apartments Above | $5,000 | 3 | $3,000 | 1 | $1,000 | 1 | $1,000 | 1 |
| Housing Development Fund Company (HDFC) Rental Building | $5,000 | 2 | $5,000 | 2 | $5,000 | 2 | $5,000 | 2 |
| All other | $1,000 | 1 | $1,000 | 1 | $1,000 | 1 | $1,000 | 1 |
*Only charges posted on or after Jan. 1, 2006, may be included.
Water and sewer debt: If you own a one-family house and you only owe water/sewer charges, but not property taxes, the City cannot sell a lien on your property. Although the water/sewer debt may not be sold, DEP may terminate your water/sewer service if the charges remain delinquent.
Abandoned properties and successive sales of liens may be subject to different eligibility requirements.
You may be eligible for a waiver of the 5% tax lien surcharge if: you are the owner of the property; the property has been your primary residence for the past 12 months; you do not own any other properties in New York City; and the combined annual income of all owners (whether they reside at the property or not) and of spouses who reside at the property is no greater than $107,300.
For more information, and to apply, please submit the Lien Sale 5% Surcharge Waiver Request.
Visit the lien sale archives page to access the lien sale list archives, status reports, and trust documents.