Man Loses Dream Home After Unpaid Water Bill Surprise

A man in Brooklyn has lost his dream home, valued at approximately $800,000, due to an unpaid water bill that he claims he was unaware of. Filmore Brown expressed his distress after discovering that legal action had been taken against him without his knowledge, culminating in a foreclosure process that he never anticipated.

Brown, who purchased the home in 1996 and paid off the mortgage, said he had been working tirelessly for over 20 years, putting in seven-day weeks to secure his family’s financial future. He stated, “I don’t want anybody to go through what I’m going through. I cannot eat, I cannot drink, and I cannot sleep.”

The situation escalated when strangers attempted to drill the locks on his front door, as they were legally entitled to do so following the foreclosure notice. Brown learned that a $5,000 unpaid water bill had led to his home being sold to a group of investors, known as a trust, responsible for collecting debts on behalf of the city.

According to the NYC Department of Finance, several notices were sent to Brown regarding his unpaid bill and impending foreclosure. However, he insists he never received any communication about the situation. “It [the house] was stolen from me,” he lamented.

Court documents reveal that foreclosure proceedings were initiated against Brown in November 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. At that time, someone served him with legal papers at his home, detailing the trust’s actions to recover the unpaid debt.

Brown lives on the top floor of a three-unit building, renting out the lower two units to families. His legal team firmly supports his claims of ignorance regarding the unpaid bill. Lawyer Alice Nicholson stated, “He said he didn’t know anything about this and I believe him.” Another attorney, Yolande Nicholson, noted that Brown had recently paid a substantial water bill this year, suggesting he was not negligent in settling his financial obligations.

Yolande also highlighted a significant flaw in the system, stating, “Once Brown’s old bill was put into the trust, it didn’t show up on his current bills as the two payment systems aren’t connected.” She called for improved notification processes to protect hardworking individuals, particularly older homeowners, from similar predicaments. “There needs to be more done to make sure that these hardworking older people who paid off their mortgage and have fixed incomes don’t get into that kind of rut,” she added.

Reports indicate that approximately 6,800 older homeowners have entered a trust due to unpaid water bills, with many residing in communities of colour. In response to these issues, a spokesperson for the NYC Department of Finance stated, “Our goal is never to see a homeowner lose their property.”

The department has implemented reforms aimed at preventing situations like Brown’s, offering property owners more time and resources to resolve their debts. They have also enhanced outreach efforts for the current year’s lien sale by collaborating with non-profit organizations and conducting direct communication with homeowners.

As Filmore Brown grapples with the loss of his property, he hopes his experience serves as a cautionary tale for others facing similar challenges. The emotional toll of losing his “only dream” home is profound, leaving him determined to advocate for changes that will protect vulnerable homeowners in the future.