NY A05337

Authorizes departments responsible for enforcing building and property maintenance codes in cities, towns, and villages to institute special proceedings to vest title of abandoned commercial and industrial property in the municipality.

Establishes abandonment criteria including: owner failure to collect rent or institute eviction proceedings for three consecutive months while property deteriorates; vacant property not properly sealed or guarded; property with unpaid taxes for one year or unresolved code violations lasting one year; or property with administrator appointed for six months with no foreclosure or termination motion filed.

Requires certification of abandonment, notice to owner, mortgagees, and lienors with 15-30 day response periods to dispute abandonment or commence foreclosure; allows alternative notice method using newspaper publication in three non-consecutive weeks over two months.

Upon court finding of abandonment, vests fee simple title in the municipality, barring and foreclosing all prior owners, lienors, and claimants from any rights or interests in the property.

Sunsets and repeals on June 30, 2025.