Cal. Civ. Code § 779
Presentation or settlement of accounts
Operative Text
§ 779. Presentation or settlement of accounts. The court shall require the keeping of written accounts itemizing the receipts and expenditures under an order issued pursuant to section seven hundred seventy-six or seven hundred seventy-seven of this article, which shall be open to inspection by the owner, any mortgagee or lienor or any other person having an interest in such receipts or expenditures provided, however, notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, such information as may be in the possession of the city of New York with the department charged with the enforcement of the housing maintenance code of such city shall be available from such department for inspection only by the owner, tenant of such property, or person having a recorded interest in the property. Upon motion of the court or the administrator or of the owner, any mortgagee or lienor of record or of any person having an interest, the court may require a presentation or settlement of the accounts with respect thereto. Notice of a motion for presentation or settlement of such accounts shall be served on the owner, any mortgagee or other lienor of record who appeared in the proceeding and any person having an interest in such receipts or expenditures.
Under N.Y. Real Prop. Acts & Proc. Law § 779, when a court issues an order placing a property under administrative management, it must also require that written, itemized records of all money received and spent under that order be maintained. Those records are open to inspection by the property owner, mortgage holders, lienors, and others with a financial interest in the property. In New York City specifically, related information held by the city department enforcing the housing maintenance code may be inspected, but only by the owner, a tenant of the property, or someone with a recorded interest. Any of those parties, or the court or administrator itself, may bring a motion asking the court to formally review or settle those accounts, with required notice given to all interested parties of record.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners subject to a court-ordered administration under the article that includes § 779 should be aware that they hold a right to inspect the itemized financial records kept by the administrator. Compliant practice among owners and their representatives generally involves monitoring those accounts and, where discrepancies or concerns arise, pursuing a formal presentation or settlement of accounts through a court motion. Owners should also ensure that any mortgagees or lienors of record who appeared in the proceeding receive proper notice if such a motion is filed, as § 779 requires it.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
N.Y. Real Prop. Acts & Proc. Law § 779 gives tenants of a property subject to a court-ordered administration a specific right to inspect relevant financial information held by New York City's housing maintenance code enforcement department. If a tenant believes the accounts are not being properly maintained or that funds are being mishandled, § 779 provides a pathway to seek court review through a motion for presentation or settlement of accounts. Tenants who want to understand how to exercise these inspection rights or pursue an accounts review may find it helpful to consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid provider familiar with housing court proceedings.
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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