Access to the NYC Department of Environmental Protection’s (“DEP”) information system is no longer available
The title insurance industry was just advised by the NYC Department of Finance that, effective May 22, 2020, access to the NYC Department of Environmental Protection’s (“DEP”) information system is no longer available, and that information support will only be granted via an alternative (and inferior) information system.
While the title industry leadership and the New York State Land Title Association work on re-establishing the complete and unfettered access it previously relied upon, for the time being, the only available information is:
- Account numbers
- Account balances
We are no longer able to provide:
- Account status (active/inactive)
- Billing history
- Payment history
- Estimated charges (based on previous periods)
- Recent/Previous readings (including amounts and dates)
- Meter type
- Whether a property has annual or metered billing
- Meter numbers
- Covered periods
Accordingly, and starting immediately, we at Benchmark Title urge everyone to order “Title Read Letters” (Final Title Water/Meter Readings), especially on purchases, to protect all parties from unknown charges or discrepancies. We observe that “Innocent Owner Protection/Status” will only be granted by DEP if a Title Read Letter is ordered.
Tax searches and continuations are still available but, as noted above, with limited information on water charges.
We will continue to update you on developments with DEP as well as within the title industry, and invite you to visit our website at www.Benchmarkta.com
for a current open/close status list of all County Clerk and Municipal offices in New York State. These lists are updated daily.
As always, should you have questions, please contact the attorney or staff member assigned to your file. Of course, you can always reach Jean Partridge at (914) 250-2404 and Thomas N. DeCaro at (914) 250-2403. Click here for our staff directory.
Benchmark Title Agency, LLC.