A significant property lien sale is set to occur in Brooklyn, drawing attention to the plight of homeowners facing mounting debts after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Petal Sandiford, a 63-year-old home care worker, stepped into the Flatbush YMCA a few weeks ago with a singular focus: to rescue her late uncle’s house in Ocean Hill, Brooklyn, from being sold at the lien sale.
This lien sale, which has been a part of New York City’s property management system since 1996, allows the city to sell off municipal debts owed by homeowners to private trusts that seek to collect those debts and can potentially foreclose on properties if unpaid.
Initially slated for May 20, this year’s sale was postponed to June 3. This marks the first such event since late 2021, against a backdrop of advocacy and legislative attentiveness from City Council members who had previously let the program expire in early 2022 after criticism from homeowners.
The subsequent reforms aimed at addressing concerns about the economic repercussions felt during the pandemic have been viewed as insufficient by many affected homeowners.
Reforms included exemptions for seniors and veterans, as well as deferral options, but numerous homeowners report that they still struggle to recover from COVID-related disruptions. Many fear they might lose their homes entirely.
Often, the lien sale disproportionately impacts communities of color in Brooklyn, exacerbating existing financial distress.
When Sandiford arrived at the YMCA, she came prepared with a folder containing essential documents, including a notice revealing a staggering debt of $38,246.82 owed on her uncle’s property.
She provided evidence including her uncle’s death certificate and real estate succession documentation, showing her family’s connection to the property.
Despite having taken on financial responsibility for the home after her uncle’s passing during the pandemic, Sandiford was unaware of the outstanding debts that had accumulated before the city notified her.
“Most people do want to pay — they do want to pay their taxes. But we’re running into problems,” noted Jacquelyn Griffin, a senior staff attorney at Brooklyn Legal Services’ Neighborhood Economic Justice Project. Griffin explained that many heirs face obstacles in proving their ownership or claims to property, making it difficult for them to navigate the lien sale process.
These intricacies of property titles and succession are confusing and often leave heirs feeling overwhelmed and uninformed.
Sandiford remained cautiously optimistic that she and her cousin might qualify for the deferral program that could remove their property from Tuesday’s lien sale list.
The financial burden, estimated at thousands of dollars, remains daunting. “I’m just praying. I get a little sad every day,” she said, highlighting the emotional toll this experience has taken on her.
Simultaneously, Ryan Lavis from the Department of Finance reported that nearly 3,600 properties have been removed from the lien sale list as of last week, thanks to the deferral and exemption programs.
While the Department of Finance is committed to helping homeowners, many remain skeptical about the effectiveness of these measures. Kevin Wolfe, from the Center for NYC Neighborhoods, highlighted that property-related tax delinquencies have been on the rise since 2019, with many cases driven by unpaid water bills.
During meetings at the YMCA, siblings Joyce and Azmat Mckenzie also sought assistance due to a looming $28,000 water bill debt, having received the lien sale notice while trying to resolve their financial issues.
The couple shared their frustrations and fears about their long-standing family home, which they have occupied for nearly half a century.
Joyce expressed the dissatisfaction of having worked hard throughout their lives only to now feel the pressure of potential property loss.
Azmat highlighted the unbalance in America’s economic landscape, suggesting that it is the working class struggling the most despite their crucial role in society.
The Mckenzie siblings inherited their home after their mother’s passing, and throughout the years they’ve resisted pressure to sell from gentrifiers in their changing neighborhood.
For Judith Barnes, the lien sale notice surfaced at a particularly low point. She was already dealing with a staggering $350,000 debt following an emergency repair incident, which left her unable to meet her property tax obligations.
Barnes’ mixed-use property in Cobble Hill, purchased by her family in 1982, is now at risk despite her long history of maintaining it.
Following extensive repairs last year and believing she had a reprieve from lien sales, the unexpected bill drove home the harsh reality of her financial situation.
Feeling heartbroken at the possibility of losing her home, Barnes resolved to sell the building she had nurtured into a vibrant community hub.
Reflecting on her time there, she spoke of the countless memories crafted within its walls, which had once fostered a space for artistic expression through her indie opera company and other community activities.
“I don’t really right now have a plan for my life, and I’m sorry I couldn’t offer to the world what I could’ve before anymore,” Barnes lamented.
The distress surrounding these impending lien sales highlights the deep-rooted financial challenges faced by many Brooklyn homeowners.
As they struggle to meet unexpected debts amidst a shifting economic landscape, the human impact of policies surrounding property liens and municipal debts becomes increasingly apparent.
For Sandiford, Lyttle, the Mckenzie siblings, and Barnes, the risk of losing their homes due to financial instability is a stark reminder of the disparities exacerbated by systemic issues in property management and support services.
As they rally for assistance and reprieve, each homeowner’s story reveals not just a financial struggle but a deep-seated desire to retain their homes and the memories held within them.
image source from：https://www.thecity.nyc/2025/06/03/lien-sale-debt-housing-preservation-development-department/
