N.Y. Real Prop. Law §339-z
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Condominium Act — Lien for Common Charges; Priority

The common-charges lien. The board holds a lien on each unit for unpaid common charges with interest — but unlike Connecticut or Florida, New York gives it NO super-priority: the lien is subordinate to real-property tax liens, ALL sums unpaid on a first mortgage of record, and certain public-agency subordinate mortgages (an exclusive nonresidential condominium may opt into priority over mortgages by declaration). The section also contains New York's closest analog to an estoppel certificate: a grantor or grantee is entitled to a statement of unpaid common charges from the board, and neither is liable — nor is the unit encumbered — beyond the amount that statement discloses.

Status Active
Effective Apr 13, 2026
Verified Jul 8, 2026
Source Official text

Reviewed · New York changes feed

Statutory Text Verified Jul 8, 2026 · NYSENATE_GOV
§ 339-z. Lien for common charges; priority; exoneration of grantor and grantee. The board of managers, on behalf of the unit owners, shall have a lien on each unit for the unpaid common charges thereof, together with interest thereon, prior to all other liens except only (i) liens for taxes on the unit in favor of any assessing unit, school district, special district, county or other taxing unit, (ii) all sums unpaid on a first mortgage of record, and (iii) all sums unpaid on a subordinate mortgage of record held by the New York job development authority, the New York state urban development corporation, the division of housing and community renewal, the housing trust fund corporation, the New York city housing development corporation, or in a city having a population of one million or more, the department of housing, preservation and development. Upon the sale or conveyance of a unit, such unpaid common charges shall be paid out of the sale proceeds or by the grantee. Any grantor or grantee of a unit shall be entitled to a statement from the manager or board of managers, setting forth the amount of the unpaid common charges accrued against the unit, and neither such grantor nor grantee shall be liable for, nor shall the unit conveyed be subject to a lien for, any unpaid common charges against such unit accrued prior to such conveyance in excess of the amount therein set forth. Notwithstanding the above, the declaration of an exclusive non-residential condominium may provide that the lien for common charges will be superior to any mortgage liens of record.
Assessment
Ref Requirement
In a New York condo foreclosure the bank's first mortgage gets paid before the building's lien — there is no carve-out of months of charges like Connecticut's or Florida's.
Disclosure
Ref Requirement
Before closing, buyer or seller can demand a payoff statement from the condo board — and the number on that statement is binding. It is the nearest thing New York has to an estoppel letter.
Legal references last verified July 8, 2026. This content is educational and informational. It does not constitute legal advice. Consult a licensed attorney in your state for legal guidance specific to your situation.
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