On Friday, May 16, New York State Sen. Jabari Brisport and Assemblymembers Jo Anne Simon and Brian Cunningham introduced a new set of laws to fight deed theft, an ongoing problem that has taken thousands of homes away from families, especially in Black and brown communities.
Deed theft happens when someone illegally takes the title (or deed) to a person’s home, often without the homeowner even knowing. It’s most common in neighborhoods where gentrification is pushing up housing prices. Between 2014 and mid-2023, the NYC Sheriff’s Office received nearly 3,500 complaints about deed theft. In that time, scammers stole properties worth more than $52 million.
“Housing is a human right, but under capitalism, our homes are treated as potential profit sources for the real estate industry – which drives gentrification and incentivizes deed theft,” said Senator Brisport.
In the past, laws mostly focused on punishing the thief after the crime happened. But this new package of bills is different, it’s about stopping deed theft before it happens and helping victims fight back.
The lawmakers stood with members of the December 12th Movement and people who have personally experienced deed theft. Many spoke about how families, especially seniors, have lost their homes to scammers and haven’t been able to get them back.
One of the victims is Ray Cortez, a 90-year-old man still fighting for the home he legally owns. His son, Ray Jr., said the new laws would finally give families like his a chance to get justice.
“This bill gives victims a way to take back what’s theirs and gives communities like ours a fighting chance to stay rooted, safe, and whole," said Assemblymember Brian Cunningham.
One of the bills, known as County Clerk Investigations, would allow County Clerks to stop a deed from being recorded if something looks suspicious. Instead of letting the transfer go through, they would alert law enforcement right away.
Another bill, called Private Right of Action, would give victims the power to sue the person or company that took their home. If they win in court, they could get money for damages and have their legal fees covered.
A third bill, Proof of Sale Price, would stop scammers from lying about how much they paid for a home. It would require them to show real proof, like a bank statement that the money was actually paid to the homeowner.
The final bill, Statute of Limitations Pause, would help people who lost their homes years ago but couldn’t take legal action in time. It would give all victims one year to file a case, even if the usual deadline has already passed.
Community members say this is an important step toward fairness in housing. For many families, it could be their first real chance to fight back against scams that robbed them of their homes.
If these bills become law, New York will be one of the first states to take strong action to stop deed theft before it happens and give victims the tools to reclaim what’s theirs.
