Cal. Civ. Code § 357
Judgment
Operative Text
§ 357. Judgment. The judgment in such action or proceeding, if in favor of the plaintiff, shall establish the penalty sued for as a lien upon such premises, subject only to taxes, assessments, water rates, mortgages and mechanics' liens as may exist thereon prior to the filing of the notice of pendency of the action or proceeding.
Under N.Y. Mult. Dwell. Law § 357, when a plaintiff wins an enforcement action or proceeding, the court's judgment converts the awarded penalty into a lien that attaches to the subject property. That lien is subordinate only to certain pre-existing encumbrances—specifically taxes, assessments, water rates, mortgages, and mechanics' liens that were already on record before the notice of pendency was filed. This means the penalty effectively becomes a secured claim against the real estate itself, not merely a personal obligation of the owner.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers subject to enforcement actions under N.Y. Mult. Dwell. Law § 357 should be aware that an adverse judgment does not result in only a personal money judgment—it can attach as a lien directly to the property. Compliant operators generally address any underlying violations promptly and monitor the status of any filed notices of pendency to understand how a potential lien would rank against existing encumbrances such as mortgages or tax obligations. Awareness of this lien mechanism is relevant when refinancing, selling, or otherwise transferring title to a dwelling subject to a pending or concluded § 357 action.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
N.Y. Mult. Dwell. Law § 357 establishes that a successful enforcement judgment creates a lien on the property, which can be a meaningful tool in ensuring that penalties for housing violations are not simply ignored by a property owner. Tenants and advocacy groups involved in or monitoring such proceedings may find it useful to understand that this lien priority structure—subordinate only to pre-existing taxes, assessments, water rates, mortgages, and mechanics' liens—affects how and when a judgment gets satisfied. Tenants seeking to understand how § 357 judgments interact with their housing situation may consider consulting a tenant-rights organization or legal aid provider familiar with New York's Multiple Dwelling Law.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 13, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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