Homeowners will be getting a reprieve from the city which will begin fixing sidewalks damaged by uprooted trees, a constant headache for homeowners.

“It will not happen overnight. I mean as much as I appreciate the gratitude, I also know my colleagues and I are all realistic,” Mayor Bill de Blasio said at a news conference on Sept. 10. He was joined by Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and state Sen. Jamaal Bailey, who represents Norwood, for the announcement at Community Board 12 in Wakefield.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) holds oversight of sidewalks. In the past, if a city-owned tree damaged a sidewalk in front of a home, the homeowner would have to foot the bill, which ran upwards of several thousands of dollars to fix. Homeowners would also be hit with a fine if they didn’t have it repaired themselves. If homeowners did not pay the city would put a lien on the home. The city has identified 50,000 homes that could have their liens lifted under the new policy. De Blasio emphasized homeowners should be patient in determining whether their lien can be removed as the city handles the backlog.

If the city is found at fault, DOT crews will remediate the problem. If the tree has been so severely uprooted it cannot be saved, the city Parks Department will have the tree removed.