Land Registry NY: How to Find Property Ownership Records in New York

When you’re looking at property in New York, the land registry NY, the official system that tracks who owns land and buildings across the state. Also known as property records, it’s not just paperwork—it’s the key to knowing if a building is legally owned, if there are liens, or if the seller actually has the right to sell. In New York, this system is managed county by county, with NYC having its own detailed database run by the Department of Finance. If you’re buying, renting, or even just researching a building, skipping this step is like driving blindfolded.

Related to this are property records NY, public documents that include deeds, mortgages, tax assessments, and ownership history. These records are accessible online through official portals like NYC’s Acris system, and they tell you who the current owner is, how much they paid, and whether taxes are paid up. Then there’s NYC building ownership, a specific focus on who controls individual buildings in the five boroughs. This matters because in New York, a single building can have dozens of owners through LLCs, trusts, or co-ops—making it hard to know who to contact about repairs, rent hikes, or sales. Many people assume Zillow or Realtor.com shows this info, but those sites often lag or guess. Only the land registry NY gives you the real, legal truth.

Why does this all matter? Because if you’re investing in a New York property, you need to know if the owner is legit, if there are unpaid taxes that could become your problem, or if the building has a history of code violations. Landlords in NYC must register with the city, and tenants can use these records to verify their landlord’s identity before paying rent. Buyers can check if a property has been flipped too many times or if it’s tied to a dissolved company. Even journalists and researchers use these records to uncover patterns in housing ownership.

The posts below cut through the noise. You’ll find step-by-step guides on how to look up who owns any NYC building, what to do if records are outdated, how to spot fake owners using LLCs, and how property registration rules vary between Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island. You’ll also see how these systems connect to bigger issues like rent regulation, tax appeals, and eviction notices. This isn’t theory—it’s what you need to protect your money, your rights, and your peace of mind in New York’s complex real estate world.