An Important Message from the NYC Division of Land Records to the customers of the NYC City Register.

We are writing to inform you of important changes to how and where you will be able to access land records for Manhattan and the Bronx. 

Beginning February 25, 2022, the Manhattan City Register research area will be permanently closed.

We will be moving the Manhattan microfilm from the Manhattan office to the first floor of the new Queens Consolidated Library.

As of February 28, 2022, all research involving Manhattan land records and microfilm will be conducted in the Queens Consolidated Library.

The Manhattan City Register’s Office will continue to handle document submission and pick up, payments, and certified copies of records that are available in ACRIS. 

Beginning March 4, 2022, the Bronx City Register research area will be permanently closed.

We will be moving the Bronx microfilm from the Bronx office to the first floor of the new Queens Consolidated Library.

As of March 7, 2022, all research involving Bronx land records and microfilm will be conducted in the Queens Consolidated Library.

The Bronx City Register’s Office will continue to handle document submission and pick up, payments, and certified copies of records that are available in ACRIS.

We apologize for any inconvenience and would be grateful if you would share this information with your colleagues.

If you have any questions about this notice, please contact the Department of Finance via our online customer service portal, www.gov/dofaccount.

Sincerely,

Colette McCain-Jacques

1 Deputy City Register

Division of Land Records

66 John Street, 13th floor

New York, N.Y. 10038

Telephone: 212-291-4714

Fax: 212-361-7132  

This excellent article appeared on the REALTOR. COM website.

It could be helpful to share with your attorneys doing residential work.

Here is the link

https://www.realtor.com/advice/buy/what-does-a-title-company-do-a-guide-for-first-time-homebuyers/

Citation from Feb 8 Title Tidbit

Town of Hempstead v. Oceanside Small Craft Marina, 64 Misc. 2d 4 (1970) & V
Durham v. Ingrassia (105 Misc.2d 191 (1980))

We received the following from the NYC Register

.......................................................................

We are writing to inform you of some important changes to how and where you will access Manhattan land record books and microfilm.

From January 24 through January 28, we will be moving the Manhattan land record books from the Manhattan office to the first floor of the new Queens Consolidated Library. You will still have access to the books and microfilm for research during this time, but you will need to submit a request 24 hours in advance.

• To request Manhattan land record books, please contact LandRecordsResearch@finance.nyc.gov.

• To request the Manhattan microfilm, please contact LandRecordsResearch@finance.nyc.gov or visit the Manhattan City Register’s Office. (Each customer will only be allowed to request five rolls of microfilm at a time.)

After January 31, 2022, customers will be able to research Manhattan books in the Queens office without submitting advance requests.

The Manhattan City Register’s Office, located at 66 John Street, will continue to handle document submissions and pick up, payments, and certified copies of records that are available in ACRIS.

Finally, please note that the records in our Bronx office will not be moving at this time and will remain in the Bronx until further notice.

We apologize for any inconvenience and would be grateful if you would share this information with your colleagues.

If you have any questions about this notice, please contact the Department of Finance via our online customer service portal, www.gov/dofaccount.

Sincerely,

Colette McCain-Jacques

1 Deputy City Register

Division of Land Records

66 John Street, 13th floor

New York, N.Y. 10038

Telephone: 212-291-4714

Fax: 212-361-7132  

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 20, 2021

Contact: simmonsc@finance.nyc.gov 

Department of Finance Extends the Fine and Interest Reduction Enabling Recovery (FAIRER) Program

FAIRER Program Extended 90 days for New Yorkers to Resolve Eligible Environmental Control Board (ECB) Judgments at a Reduced Cost from December 20, 2021 Through March 20, 2022

New York, NY— The Department of Finance today announced a 90-day extension of the FAIRER (Fine and Interest Reduction Enabling Recovery) Program, which was launched on September 20, 2021 to allow New Yorkers and others to pay a reduced amount to resolve eligible Environmental Control Board (ECB) judgments. The FAIRER Program, like the 2016 Forgiving Fines program, is an amnesty program for individuals and businesses who have unresolved judgments for ECB violations issued by agencies such as the Sanitation, Fire and Buildings Departments. Eligible violations can range anywhere from littering to working without a permit from the Buildings Department.

Local Law 81 of 2021 authorized the program and established different reduction amounts depending on factors such as whether an individual or business attended a hearing or whether the judgments occurred during or prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Local Law 81 established the program for three months and authorized the Commissioner of the Department of Finance to extend the program for an additional 90 days. Nearly 21,000 businesses and individuals have resolved their unpaid judgments under the FAIRER Program.

“At this pivotal moment for our City’s recovery, we must redouble our efforts to keep doors of opportunity open,” said Department of Finance Commissioner Sherif Soliman. “Over the past 90 days, more than 20,000 New Yorkers and others have stepped forward to resolve over 87,000 judgments by taking advantage of FAIRER. The program is designed to help them keep more money in their pockets while settling outstanding debt. Consistent with the spirit and the letter of the law, I am glad to extend the FAIRER program for an additional 90 days to continue the opportunity to wipe the slate clean at a reduced cost. I thank Mayor de Blasio and the City Council for the enactment of Local Law 81 and its option to extend relief.”

“I want to thank the NYC Department of Finance for recognizing the need to extend the FAIRER Program.  The extension will provide relief for New Yorkers and others in the small business sector, as well as private residents who have been affected by the COVID-19 Pandemic,” said New York State Senator Diane Savino.

“An unfortunate consequence of the COVID-19 Pandemic is the extreme financial hardship faced by many New Yorkers.  I want to thank the NYC Department of Finance for extending the FAIRER Program at a time that many homeowners are having a hard time paying their mortgage, keeping up with their taxes, and addressing various city fines.  The extension of this program should ease some of the financial burden on New Yorkers by reducing the cost of their Environmental Control Board fines,” said Assembly Member David I. Weprin, Chair, of the Committee on Correction.

"As we continue on our road to recovery, many small property owners and small businesses are still under heavy financial burden," said Council Member Peter Koo. "The extension of the FAIRER Program gives individuals and businesses more time to resolve outstanding ECB judgements issued by various city agencies at reduced amounts. By reducing fines for businesses, this program will help them recover at a faster pace, and in turn help our great City recover faster too.”

The FAIRER Program covers two types of judgments: those that only require payment and those that require both payment and corrective action. A compliance judgment is a judgment arising out of a notice of violation that includes an order requiring the correction of the violation. A compliance judgment may be resolved under the FAIRER Program only if the issuing agency issues a certificate of compliance or if the Department of Finance receives an electronic record indicating compliance on or before the last day of the FAIRER Program period.

The amount that customers can save will depend upon when their violations went into judgment and whether the party named on the violation (respondent) attended a hearing held by the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings:

To participate in the FAIRER Program, respondents or payors must pay their eligible reduced judgments in full at www.nyc.gov/mysummons and agree to the program’s terms and conditions no later than March 20, 2022.

For more information, including all FAIRER Program eligibility criteria, visit www.nyc.gov/fairer.