NYC Lien Sale and Payment Agreements: Frequently Asked Questions
Lien Sale Outreach Calendar
What is a lien sale?
All overdue water and sewer charges are considered a lien against your property. Under new legislation passed March 16, 2011, the City has the authority to sell this
lien to a third party, or lienholder, in a process called a lien sale. The following property types are eligible for the 2013 lien sale:
- Tax Class 1 mixed use, two and three family homes with $2,000 or more in water and sewer charges outstanding for a year or more
- Tax Class 2 multi-family homes including condos with $1,000 or more in water and sewer charges outstanding for a year or more
- All commercial properties with $1,000 or more in water and sewer charges outstanding for a year or more
When the City sells a lien, it is not selling the property. The new lienholder does not take title to the property. The lienholder purchases the right to collect the money that was previously owed to the City. Ultimately, however, if the property owner does not pay what is owed, the lienholder can begin formal foreclosure proceedings.
The 2013 lien sale process will begin on February 11, 2013. Customers will have until May 16, 2013 to arrange for payment, and those who do not will have the lien on their property sold on May 17, 2013.
What should I do if I receive a lien sale notice?
If you have received a lien sale notice by mail or if your property has been listed on a published lien sale list, it means that DEP’s records show that your delinquent water and sewer charges meet the eligibility criteria for the 2013 lien sale.
As a result, a lien for the entire delinquent amount will be sold in the 2013 lien sale, unless you resolve your debt by May 16, 2013.
The most important thing for you to do is contact the Department of Environmental Protection immediately by calling (718) 595-7000. You must arrange for payment, or, if you think that you do not owe the money, you must dispute the charges with DEP before May 6, 2013. If payment has not been arranged by May 16, 2013, and the charges are not in dispute, the lien on your property will be sold.
Who is eligible for the lien sale?
Under the new legislation, mixed use, 2 and 3 family homes are eligible if they owe $2,000 or more in water and sewer charges outstanding for a year or more. Multi-tenant residential properties, including condos and most commercial buildings are eligible for the lien sale if they owe $1,000 or more in water and sewer charges outstanding for a year or more.
Single-family homes and residential customers receiving the Senior Citizen Homeowners’ Exemption (SCHE), the Disabled Homeowners’ Exemption (DHE) or the State Personal Income Tax (PIT) Circuit-Breaker Tax Credit are exempt from the lien sale. Active duty military personnel may also request an exemption from the lien sale by completing an affidavit that provides information about their military service, their property, tax warrants, Environmental Control Board violations, etc. Download this affidavit at nyc.gov/liensale
How do I make a payment?
Customers can make payment by using any of the following methods:
- To pay by mail
Send your payment (check or money order) to:
NYC Water Board
P.O. Box 371488
Pittsburgh, PA 15250-7488
- To pay online
You can pay your bill online using a checking/savings account or a credit/debit card. To pay your bill online, you’ll need to register at My DEP Account. Go to www.nyc.gov/dep and click on the blue My DEP Account button to get started. Please note that a 2.45% fee applies to payments made with a credit/debit card.
- To pay by phone
Customers can pay their water bill over the phone by calling (866) 622-8292. This automated service lets you pay with a checking/savings account or a credit/debit card. A 2.45% fee applies to payments made with a credit/debit card.
- To pay in-person
Contact DEP’s call center at (718) 595-7000 to schedule an appointment with a DEP customer service representative at our central office or at one of our borough offices.
- Manhattan - 1250 Broadway, 8th Floor (Enter on 32nd Street)
- Bronx - 1932 Arthur Avenue, Room 601 (Corner of Arthur and East Tremont)
- Brooklyn - 250 Livingston Street, 8th Floor (Between Hoyt and Bond Street, alternate entrance at 233 Schermerhorn Street)
- Queens - 96-05 Horace Harding Expressway, 1st Floor (Between Junction Boulevard and 99th Street)
- Queens ��� 59-17 Junction Boulevard, 13th Floor(Central Office -enter on Junction Blvd.)
- Staten Island - 60 Bay Street, 6th Floor (Between Slossen Terrace and Hyatt Street)
Can I enter into a payment agreement?
If you have received a lien sale notice or would like to consolidate your debt, you may be eligible for a payment agreement, which will allow you to gradually pay off your debt over time. DEP is now offering payment agreements to customers with $0 down and a repayment period lasting anywhere from 1 to 10 years. Starting January 1, 2012, customers will receive a consolidated bill each month that combines interest, installments, and new water and sewer charges into one bill.
You must appear at our central office or any one of our borough offices listed above if you wish to enter into a payment agreement. The property owner should have a valid form of identification to enter into a payment agreement. If the property owner is unable to appear in person, they may send a representative with a notarized letter of authorization and a copy of the owner’s identification. Property owners’ representatives who wish to make a down payment may do so via mail, online, telephone, or in-person. Also, property owners’ representatives, who appear in person to pay, may do so with personal checks,money orders, certified checks, and bank/cashier’s checks.
For more information, please call (718)-595-7000.
What are the consequences of non-payment?
Eligible customers who do not arrange for payment by May 16, 2013 will have their water and sewer charges sold in the 2013 lien sale.
What happens after a lien is sold?
Within 90 days after the lien sale date, the City notifies all property owners by mail of (a) the terms and conditions under which the lien was sold, (b) the name of the new lienholder and (c) the name of the lienholder’s authorized representative whom the property owner should contact. The representative will also contact the property owner to discuss payment arrangements.
Are there any financial assistance programs available?
Multi family homeowners who are on the 2013 90-day lien sale list and are currently under threat of foreclosure or mortgage delinquency may apply for DEP’s Water Debt Assistance Program (WDAP). If qualified, DEP will remove their property from the upcoming 2013 lien sale and defer the debt until the property is sold, refinanced, or the owner has the ability to pay the debt. To learn more about the Water Debt Assistance Program, click on the link below.
How can I learn more?
For more information about the lien sale, or for specific information about your water and sewer account, call DEP’s customer call center at (718) 595-7000 Monday through Friday between 9am and 6pm, or Saturday between 9am and 2pm.
Extended Hours
DEP is not currently offering extended hours.
Ombudsman Office
In 2007, DEP opened the Office of the Ombudsman, a unit responsible for providing special assistance to all water and sewer account holders undergoing the lien sale process. To contact the Ombudsman, please call (718) 595-6628 or send an email to ombuds@dep.nyc.gov The Ombudsman will be offering extended hours during the 90-day lien sale period. However, extended hours for the Ombudsman’s office have not been established yet.
