He had no idea until strangers started breaking into his home during the night 😳

A Brooklyn homeowner who had fully paid off his \$800,000 property is now facing the devastating loss of his home over a disputed \$5,000 water bill.

Filmore Brown, who purchased his three-unit building in 1996 and paid off the mortgage by 2019, told ABC 7 that he always kept up with his bills. Yet, his house was foreclosed without his knowledge after the New York City Department of Finance claimed he owed \$5,057.71 dating back to 2019. Notices and court documents were reportedly sent to his residence, but Brown insists he never received them.

He only realized something was wrong when contractors, holding legal rights to the property, appeared at night trying to access the home. Shocked, Brown described the experience as if his house had been “stolen.” His attorney, Alice Nicholson, said she believes her client truly had no knowledge of the foreclosure.

The city had sold Brown’s debt to a private trust, allowing investors to move forward with foreclosure even though the amount owed was less than 1% of the home’s value. His attorneys argue that because the old bill was transferred to the trust, it disappeared from his current statements, leaving him unaware.

“This is heart-wrenching,” said attorney Yolande Nicholson, noting that Brown has paid thousands in recent water bills and taxes.

Brown says he cannot eat, sleep, or drink from the stress of losing his lifelong home. While the Department of Finance acknowledged reforms meant to prevent such cases, his ordeal highlights the risks of small debts spiraling into catastrophic losses.