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1634-1638 Grant Ave

Telegraph Hill, SF 94133 0087008 3 units · 3 fl · 1913

Nothing on record for this building in the last seven years, and our model puts it at a low risk of maintenance problems over the next 12 months. No public enforcement record to go on. Walk the building, ask the current tenants how repairs get handled, and get any promises in writing.

NOVs (7y) vs. neighborhood
Records already on file, against a typical building in Telegraph Hill — not a forecast
At or below average
avg 1.2
0
FewerMore

This building has 0 novs (7y), at or below the Telegraph Hill average of 1.2.

Rent & eviction protection

Is 1634-1638 Grant Ave 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
3 units
Property type
Multi-Family Residential
Zoning
RH3
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.

Statewide backstop · AB 1482

California Tenant Protection Act of 2019

Even when a building isn't covered by local rent stabilization, the statewide Tenant Protection Act (AB 1482) may still apply. It caps annual rent increases and requires the landlord to state a legal reason to end most tenancies.

15+ years since occupancy
Built 1913
Annual rent increase cap
5% + CPI, max 10%
Just-cause eviction
After 12 months
Local rent control likely takes priority. This building appears to fall under the local ordinance above, which is stronger than AB 1482. Where a local just-cause ordinance applies, its rules govern instead of the state cap.

AB 1482 does not apply to single-family homes and condos unless owned by a corporation, REIT, or an LLC with a corporate member; to owner-occupied duplexes; or to deed-restricted affordable housing. The Act is in effect until January 1, 2030. Not legal advice — see the California landlord–tenant guide.

Building characteristics
Units3
Floors3
Year built1913
Total area2,808 sq ft
Property typeMulti-Family Residential
Tax statusNone
Blocklot0087008
Ownership

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

Owner name
Mailing address
Chow Lisa Lai Succ-trustee 841 Hawthorne Way Millbrae CA 94030
Last sale

Landlord portfolio

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

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Multiple entrances & addresses

Included addresses

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

1634 Grant Ave, San Francisco, CA 94133
1638 Grant Ave, San Francisco, CA 94133
1636 Grant Ave, San Francisco, CA 94133
Augrented Insights
Initial analysis

This three-unit multi-family residential building, located at 1634-1638 Grant Ave in Telegraph Hill, was constructed in 1913 and is owned by Wing Chow Tr. The property has undergone several significant renovations in recent years, most notably a comprehensive bathroom and kitchen remodeling project completed in March 2023 at a cost of $67,800, which included electrical work for new lighting, receptacles, and appliances, as well as plumbing updates. Prior improvements include electrical and plumbing upgrades in 2015 involving kitchen and bathroom renovations, and back staircase repairs in 2017, addressing approximately 10-15 treads. The building had several addressed violations in 2005 related to safety requirements including wood stairs repairs, fire extinguisher provision, and smoke detector installation, all of which were abated by November 2005.

Recent tenancy changes include two buyouts: one for $18,100 in November 2021 and another for $68,000 in October 2022, affecting one and two tenants respectively. The property has a history of maintenance and inspection follow-ups, including routine inspections in 2001, 2005, and 2010, with documented issues of peeling paint in 2006. While there was one recorded cooking-related fire incident with no civilian injuries, there have been no recent fire safety violations. The surrounding area has experienced periodic maintenance issues as evidenced by multiple 311 calls between 2020 and 2024, primarily related to street cleaning and sidewalk maintenance, though these external matters do not directly impact the building's condition. The most recent building improvements and consistent maintenance record, particularly the significant 2023 renovations, suggest active property management and ongoing investment in maintaining the building's infrastructure and systems.

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

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Risk rating

How 1634-1638 Grant Ave'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

Lower risk — safer than most nearby

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

Typical — about average for the neighborhood

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

Higher risk — riskier than most nearby

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

Neighborhood percentile
80thpercentile

Out of 684 buildings in this neighborhood, 137 are predicted to be safer. The band is relative to this neighborhood, so a share of every neighborhood falls in each colour.

RiskiestSafest
Predicted 12-month outcome
91%
No DBI
violation
9%
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.

Neighborhood location

Precise location is a proxy for neighborhood-level risk — some SF blocks have systematically higher DBI activity.

Building age

Older buildings tend to have more maintenance challenges; SF's pre-1906 earthquake housing stock carries distinct risk.

Owner's portfolio size

Number of SF parcels this owner is registered on — larger portfolios have distinct risk patterns.

12-Month risk forecast
Low failure risk 9%
Estimated probability of receiving a DBI Notice of Violation in the next 12 months. Model: full_hgb_balanced.
Apartment reviews

1634-1638 Grant Ave apartment reviews

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On the map

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The story over time

1634-1638 Grant Ave event timeline

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

2023
311 Request Sep 04
Other illegal parking
GOLD - MERCEDES - 4NKD667
311 RequestMar 25
Other illegal parking

See all 7 events

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

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Every record we have

Full data for 1634-1638 Grant Ave apartments

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

Side by side

How 1634-1638 Grant Ave compares to the neighborhood

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

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