Here's What Happens When Someone Puts a Lien on Your House

Many or all of the products here are from our partners that compensate us. It’s how we make money. But our editorial integrity ensures our experts’ opinions aren’t influenced by compensation. Terms may apply to offers listed on this page.

A lien is a legal tool used by those you owe money to and ensures you'll repay them -- sooner or later. Here, we look at how liens work, who can place a lien on your property, and what you can do if a lien is placed.

What is a lien?

A lien is a legal claim against your property, and amounts to a guarantee that you can't sell it without repaying the outstanding debt. Interestingly, liens can be placed against other possessions too. For example, a creditor might put a lien on a vehicle or furniture you're still paying for. However, here we'll focus on liens placed on homes.