Free SF apartment background check

538-542 Lombard St

North Beach, SF 94133 0063013 6 units · 3 fl · 1913

This building has a higher-than-average number of open problems nearby. Few open issues; problems get fixed quickly. A reasonable bet for a smooth tenancy.

NOVs (7y) vs. neighborhood
Compared to a typical building in North Beach
At or below average
avg 2.1
0
FewerMore

This building has 0 novs (7y), at or below the North Beach average of 2.1.

Rent & eviction protection

Is 538-542 Lombard St rent-controlled?

San Francisco's Rent Ordinance caps rent increases and provides eviction protection for most residential units built before 1979 with 2+ units. Here's how this building scores.

Built before 1979
Built 1913
2 or more units
6 units
Property type
Multi-Family Residential
Zoning
RM2
Likely rent-controlled. Building age and unit count suggest this property falls under San Francisco's Rent Ordinance.

Based on SF Assessor records. Not legal advice — confirm with the SF Rent Board.

Building characteristics
Units6
Floors3
Year built1913
Total area7,017 sq ft
Property typeMulti-Family Residential
Tax statusHome Owners
Blocklot0063013
Ownership

Registered owner per SF Assessor-Recorder (secured roll).

Owner name
Balistreri Joseph&Anne Tr
Mailing address
C/o Balistreri Property 540 Lombard St San Francisco CA 94133
Last sale
060999

Landlord portfolio

Other SF properties this owner holds, with risk grades for each.

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Multiple entrances & addresses

Included addresses

All street addresses sharing this blocklot that are covered by this report.

540 Lombard St, San Francisco, CA 94133
542 A Lombard St, San Francisco, CA 94133
538 Lombard St, San Francisco, CA 94133
540 A Lombard St, San Francisco, CA 94133
538 A Lombard St, San Francisco, CA 94133
542 Lombard St, San Francisco, CA 94133
Augrented Insights
Initial analysis

The three-story, six-unit multi-family residential building at 538-542 Lombard Street in North Beach, constructed in 1913, has undergone several significant renovations and improvements over the past two decades. Most recently, in 2024, the building received attention to its electrical system with the completion of subpanel replacement work at 540 Lombard. The building has seen substantial interior upgrades, including a comprehensive kitchen remodel in 2015 ($20,000) with new cabinets, flooring, and smoke detector installation, following earlier improvements in 2013 that included electrical updates, multiple appliance installations, and similar interior enhancements. Safety improvements have been prioritized, with regular inspections revealing past fire safety concerns that were promptly addressed, including the installation of fire extinguishers and repairs to wood stairs in 2006, all of which were abated by August 2006. Recent electrical upgrades, including a 2022 complete rewiring of living spaces, demonstrate ongoing maintenance commitment.

The property has experienced recurring issues with street trees, particularly in 2017 and 2020, though these were managed through proper channels and didn't significantly impact the building itself. Historical records show routine housing inspections in 1999, 2004, and 2006, with all violations being resolved. A sewer upgrade was planned in 2011, though this permit expired. The owners have consistently maintained the property, as evidenced by numerous completed permits for various improvements, including plumbing updates and interior remodeling. The building's maintenance history suggests a pattern of proactive upkeep, with particular attention paid to electrical systems, kitchen facilities, and safety compliance, though prospective tenants should note the age of the building and its systems.

AI-generated · may contain errors · check the source data tables below

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Risk rating

How 538-542 Lombard St's risk score is calculated

We trained a model on 7 years of SF DBI inspection data — notice of violation filings, complaint history, and owner track records. It estimates the probability that DBI inspectors will issue a Notice of Violation at this address in the next 12 months. Lower % = safer.

What the score means for you

Grade A–B — Low risk

DBI rarely finds violations here. Strong maintenance history and a clean complaint record.

Grade C — Moderate risk

Some past violations or complaints on record. Worth asking the landlord about any open issues before signing.

Grade D–F — High risk

Elevated violation and complaint history. DBI has found issues here before and is statistically likely to again.

Neighborhood percentile
51th percentile

Out of 362 buildings in this neighborhood, 177 are predicted to be safer.

RiskiestSafest
Predicted 12-month outcome
76%
No DBI
violation
24%
DBI violation
likely
Model explanation

What's driving this score

The three data points that most influenced this building's risk rating — ranked by the weight the model placed on each one.

Number of units

The number of units affects how the model reads complaint and violation totals — more units means more potential sources.

Building size

Total floor area — a proxy for building scale and the number of systems (plumbing, electrical, HVAC) that can fail.

Building permits, owner's portfolio

Permits pulled across all of this owner's buildings over 7 years.

12-Month severity forecast
No violation 58.4%
Moderate concern 15.5%
Severe concern 26.1%
Estimated probability of receiving a DBI Notice of Violation in the next 12 months at each severity level. Model: full_hgb_balanced.
Apartment reviews

538-542 Lombard St apartment reviews

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The story over time

538-542 Lombard St event timeline

Violations, complaints, fire incidents, permits, and buyouts — most recent records in order.

2025
Electrical Permit Mar 19
Upgrade 125 amp sub panel
Complete

See all 3 events

Full history back to 2022 — violations, complaints, permits, buyouts, and fire incidents.

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Every record we have

Full data for 538-542 Lombard St apartments

13 SF public datasets for this parcel — permits, violations, complaints, fire records, 311 calls, planning records, and buyouts.

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Cancel anytime · Data sourced from SF Open Data, DBI, SFFD, SF Rent Board & Planning

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