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1048 Union St

Russian Hill, SF 94133 0098005 21 units · 4 fl · 1918

This building has a substantial enforcement record over the last seven years, and our model predicts continuing maintenance failures over the next 12 months. Read the records below before you sign. Ask which issues were resolved, get repair commitments in writing, and inspect the unit yourself.

NOVs (7y) vs. neighborhood
Records already on file, against a typical building in Russian Hill — not a forecast
Above average
avg 1.9
5
FewerMore

This building has 5 novs (7y), above the Russian Hill average of 1.9.

Rent & eviction protection

Is 1048 Union 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 1918
2 or more units
21 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.

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 1918
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
Units21
Floors4
Year built1918
Total area171,950 sq ft
Property typeMulti-Family Residential
Tax statusNone
Blocklot0098005
Ownership

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

Owner name
Mailing address
Theodore Max Kniesche, Jr / 1572 Union St San Francisco CA 94123
Last sale

Landlord portfolio

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

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Augrented Insights
Initial analysis

This four-story, 21-unit multi-family residential building in Russian Hill, constructed in 1918, has undergone significant maintenance and improvement work over recent years, with the most pressing current issues revolving around stucco remediation and fire safety compliance. Most recently, in October 2024, the building began work to remove asbestos-containing stucco from its facade, with a follow-up permit in November 2024 for additional stucco work. A notable fire safety violation was issued in December 2023 regarding sleeping area requirements, though the building is generally considered to have addressed its most critical seismic vulnerabilities through Tier 2 soft story improvements. The property has undergone substantial electrical and plumbing upgrades, including a new heat pump system in 2024, domestic boiler installation in 2022, and a fire alarm system upgrade in 2023 to meet current fire code requirements. The building has seen significant unit improvements, with three apartments (Units 2, 6, and 8) receiving comprehensive kitchen and bathroom remodels between 2019-2022, and infrastructure improvements including sewer piping replacement in 2020 and a new roof installation in 2018.

Historical records reveal the building has faced several maintenance challenges, particularly between 2003-2009, when issues such as water damage, heating problems, and alarm system deficiencies were documented. However, these violations were resolved, often through prompt corrective action. The property has maintained an active maintenance schedule, with regular updates to key systems including the fire alarm system, plumbing, and electrical infrastructure, though the recent sleeping area requirement violation indicates there may still be some outstanding regulatory compliance issues. The building's management has generally addressed violations and complaints in a timely manner, with most issues being resolved or abated within reasonable timeframes. Recent improvements suggest ongoing investment in the building's infrastructure, though the presence of asbestos remediation work and a recent fire safety violation indicates some legacy building system issues remain to be fully resolved.

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

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Risk rating

How 1048 Union 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

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
4thpercentile

Out of 1133 buildings in this neighborhood, 1088 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
17%
No DBI
violation
83%
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.

Neighborhood location

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

12-Month risk forecast
High failure risk 83%
Estimated probability of receiving a DBI Notice of Violation in the next 12 months. Model: full_hgb_balanced.
Apartment reviews

1048 Union St apartment reviews

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On the map

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The story over time

1048 Union St event timeline

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

2026
Fire Complaint Jul 23
Extinguishers
Electrical PermitMay 14
Unit #19 install remodel wire as needed for an electric heater in bedroom remove existing apartment sub panel from closet relocate apartment subpanel as needed to allow for code compliance

See all 28 events

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

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Every record we have

Full data for 1048 Union St apartments

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

Side by side

How 1048 Union St compares to the neighborhood

This building against comparable properties in Russian Hill. Toggle filters to narrow the peer group.

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

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