A lien (pronounced lean) is a legal right, claim, or interest in another person’s property that remains until a debt is paid or an obligation is fulfilled. For example, a lien may be placed on real property to secure a contractor’s claim for payment for work or materials provided to improve the property (a mechanic’s lien) or by a homeowners’ association to secure payment for unpaid dues or assessments against an individual homeowner.

There are many different types of liens related to real property and the laws regarding these liens may vary from state to state.

In Pennsylvania (PA), a lien is a legal claim against property to secure payment for a debt or fulfillment of an obligation. One common type of lien is the mechanic's lien, which contractors can file against real property when they have not been paid for work performed or materials provided. To place a mechanic's lien on a property, the contractor must follow specific procedures outlined in the Pennsylvania Mechanics' Lien Law of 1963. This includes serving a formal notice to the property owner and filing a claim with the court within strict timeframes. Another type of lien is one that homeowners' associations (HOAs) may place on a member's property for unpaid dues or assessments. The process for enforcing an HOA lien in PA is governed by the association's governing documents and state law, which may require notice to the homeowner and the opportunity to resolve the debt before the lien can be enforced. It's important to note that liens can affect the ability to sell or refinance property, as they typically need to be satisfied or removed before a transaction can proceed.